To unload the launcher, press the barrel latch and move the barrel forward. The expended casing is automatically extracted and ejected.

CLEANING AND LUBRICATING AFTER FIRING

Clean dust, dirt, and mud from all surfaces of the handguard assembly, the sight assembly, and the receiver assembly with a clean, dry cloth. Remove powder fouling from the heat shield of the handguard using rifle bore cleaner (RBC). Wipe the inside of the barrel with a cloth soaked in rifle bore cleaner. Remove any deposits or residue inside the barrel by using a bore brush.

Press the barrel latch and move the barrel forward until the barrel stop is engaged. Lubricate the barrel assembly track by applying a light coat of semifluid lubricating oil recommended by the armorer. Wipe all exposed metal surfaces with a cloth saturated with the recommended lubricant. Touch up any scratched or worn surfaces with a solid film of lubricant. Before applying the lubricant, wipe the surfaces with a dry-cleaning solvent to ensure they are thoroughly cleaned of all foreign matter. Separate the upper and lower receiver groups on the rifle. With the launcher cocked, remove the backplate and follower, flush inside the trigger housing with rifle bore cleaner, wipe dry, and lubricate with the recommended lubricant. This action should be done only under the supervision of an armorer.

GRENADE LAUNCHER AMMUNITION

The cartridges used with the launcher, as shown in figure 13-5, are fixed types of ammunition that consist of two major assemblies: the cartridge case and the projectile.

Five standard A types of 40-mm ammunition are used with the launcher: high explosive (HE), high explosive airburst (HE airburst), high explosive smokeless and flashless, high explosive dual purpose (HEDP), and training practice (TP). These cartridges are ready for use as issued. No prior preparation of the rounds is required other than removal from the packing and insertion into the weapon.

Figure 13-5.-Cartridges used with grenade launcher, M203.