The rifle fires semiautomatically or automatically when you move the selector lever to the desired position. (See fig. 3-5.) With the selector lever in the semiautomatic position, the rifle fires one round each time you pull the trigger. With the selector lever in the automatic position, the Ml6A1 rifle continues to fire until the magazine is empty or you release the trigger. The M16A2, mentioned earlier, cannot fire fully automatically, but fires in short bursts of three rounds. When the rifle is fired in either SEMI or AUTO, the bolt locks in the open position when the last round from the magazine has been fired.

MALFUNCTION, STOPPAGE, AND IMMEDIATE ACTION

A malfunction is the failure of a weapon to function satisfactorily, usually because of excessive friction caused by dirt, improper lubrication, or carbon buildup. To correct this problem, you must clean the weapon. A stoppage is any interruption in the cycle of functioning caused by faulty action of the weapon or faulty ammunition To connect this problem, you should replace either the worn or broken part or the ammunition.

Immediate action is the action you take to correct the stoppage without analyzing the cause. Immediate action to clear a stoppage in the rifle is as follows:

1. Strike the forward assist assembly to ensure the extractor has engaged the round. Tap upward on the bottom of the magazine to ensure that it is fully seated. Pull the charging handle fully to the rear. Watch for the ejection of a complete cartridge or cartridge case.

2. If a cartridge or case is ejected, release the charging handle to feed a new round (do not ride the charging handle forward). Then strike the forward assist assembly to assure complete bolt closure. Attempt to fire the weapon. If the weapon fails to fire, inspect it to determine the cause of the malfunction and take the correct action.

3. If the cartridge or case is not ejected, check for around in the chamber. If the chamber is clear, release the charging handle to feed a round, strike the forward assist assembly, and attempt to fire. If the weapon still fails to fire, clear and inspect it to determine the cause of the malfunction and take the correct action.

4. If a cartridge or case is visible in the chamber, you must remove it before attempting to reload or recycle the rifle. Remove the stuck cartridge or case by inserting the cleaning rod into the bore from the muzzle end of the rifle and tapping the cartridge or case.

MISFIRE AND COOK OFF

These malfunctions rarely happen when you fire only authorized and properly maintained ammunition in properly maintained and operated weapons. However, you must understand the nature of each kind of malfunction as well as the proper preventive and corrective procedures in order to avoid personal injury or damage to your rifle. The following procedures for removing chambered cartridges associated with these malfunctions are given below:

1. MISFIRE. A misfire is a complete failure to fire, NOT a delay in firing that may be caused by a faulty firing mechanism or a faulty element in the propelling charge explosive train.

2. COOK OFF. A cook off is a functioning of any or all of the explosive components of a cartridge chambered in a hot weapon because of the heat from the continued firing of the weapon. When this happens, attempt to remove the cartridge before 10 seconds elapse. If a cartridge is chambered in a hot rifle and can neither be fired nor removed, keep your rifle trained in a safe direction. Then allow for a minimum of 15 minutes to elapse before taking any further corrective action.