Basic M4 Carbine Course- Lesson 1

Title: Basic M4 Carbine Course- Lesson 1

Type: Dry Practice (No live ammunition)

Time: 1 hour

Venue: Weapon Training Classroom

Students: 12

Student Equipment: 12 X M4 Carbines

12 X USGI 30 round M4 magazines

30 X dummy 5.56mm rounds per student (360)

Instructor Equipment: 1 X M4 Carbine

1 X USGI 30 round M4 magazine

30 X dummy 5.56mm rounds

1 X Civilian 30 round M4 Magazine (Magpul)

1 X 20 round M4 magazines

1 X 60 round M4 magazine

1 X 50 round M4 drum magazine

3 X Stripper Clips loaded with 10 dummy rounds each

1 X Stripper Clip Loader or spoon

1 X USGI bandolier

Assistant Instructors (AI'S): 2 (Names)

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

Prior to arrival of students:

- Write lesson title on board.

- Set up classroom chairs.

- Place 30 dummy 5.56mm rounds under each chair.

- Prepare stripper clips with dummy rounds for demonstration.

- If used, load/check PowerPoint.

On arrival of students:

- Instructor Safety Check all weapons.

- Check all magazines, no live rounds.

- Safety declaration, check no live rounds brought into classroom.

- Seat.

- Place 1 X M4 carbine, 2 x 30 round magazines under chair.

- Designate Safe Direction for the student practice.

CONDUCT OF LESSON

This lesson, Basic M4 Carbine-Lesson 1, teaches positive control, external and internal nomenclature, the cycle of operation for the M4 carbine and its magazines. I am the primary instructor (if first time with students, give name and background) and I will be assisted by (introduce the assistant instructors).

No Review

Introduction

EXPLAIN- M4 carbine users must know the parts, both external and internal, and the correct names for parts that make up the M4 carbine before they can train on the weapon. The parts of the weapon form group's, each group working together function the weapon, and this will be explained and demonstrated as we progress. Also, all weapons should be handled in a manner known as positive control or confidently and safely.

Objective

EXPLAIN- At the conclusion of this lesson, you will know the external and internal nomenclature of the M4 carbine, how the carbine functions and the types, capacity and parts of typical magazines used with the M4. You will also understand and be able to demonstrate positive control of the weapon.

External Nomenclature

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Have students follow along with their own weapons)- The standard, government issue M4 carbine is a 5.56mm caliber, gas operated, direct impingement, magazine fed, air cooled, selective fire weapon with the following specifications:

• Caliber-5.56mm
• Weight-Appx. 6.5 lbs. or 2.95kg (unloaded)
• Total length-Thirty-three inches (stock extended)
• Maximum effective range (depending upon training)-600 meters

Pick up your weapons from under your chairs. As I point out and name the parts of the weapon, follow along on your weapon. Many civilian manufacture M4 carbines have slight variations to the external nomenclature and I will discuss or point out as necessary. From the front of the weapon moving backwards:

• Flash Suppressor is located at the end of the barrel. It is designed to reduce the amount of muzzle flash created when the bullet leaves the barrel. Some are designed to help stabilize the muzzle during automatic or rapid fire.
• Rifled Barrel normally 14.5" in length for military and law enforcement, 16" in length for civilians. A groove cut into the inside of the barrel is known as the rifling and turns the bullet as it moves down the barrel aiding accuracy.
• Front Sight Assembly which consists of a front sight post that can be moved up and down for adjustment, a bayonet stud, and a mounting bracket for the gas tube.
• Forward Sling Swivel or the forward attaching point for a sling. The location and type will differ depending upon the manufacturer.
• Hand Guard, again, differs depending upon manufacturer.
• Slip Ring. This is spring loaded, forced up over the ends of the hand guard keeping the ends of the hand guard in place. Some hand guards are not removable.
• Receiver consisting of both the upper and lower receivers which house the internal groups.
• Pivot pin and Takedown pin.
• Ejection Port where spent cases are ejected.
• Dust Cover used to keep foreign objects from entering the ejection port.
• Standard Rear Sight. An adjustable flop aperture type of sight with normal range setting from 0 to 300 meters and designed for windage adjustments.
• Magazine Well, where the magazine is seated in the rifle.
• Magazine Release button allowing the magazine to disengage from the magazine well when pressed.
• Bolt Release which locks the bolt to the rear when the magazine is empty and releases the bolt when pressed.
• Bolt Forward Assist which manually pushes the bolt forward and assists in seating bolt.
• Selector Safety Switch is a firer operated, three position switch. The SAFE position prevents the weapon from firing. The SEMIAUTO position allows firing one round each time the trigger is pulled. The AUTO position allows continuous firing or automatic fire while the trigger is pulled to the rear.
• Trigger. Allows weapon to be fired.
• Trigger Guard to protect the trigger. Can be opened so the weapon can be fired while wearing mittens.
• Charging Handle used to cock the weapon and to place a round into the chamber. This will be covered in the cycle of operation.
• Pistol Grip.
• Stock which contains the buffer assembly.
• Rear Sling Swivel or the rear attaching point for the sling.

Ask if any questions

Point to a part and ask students to name the part/correct as needed

Internal Nomenclature

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Conduct a safety check and disassemble the M4)- Having conducted a safety check prior to disassembling the M4, I will now disassemble and identify the major groups or assemblies for the M4 together with their individual parts. You will see these again during Lesson 2, for now, just pay attention to the names of the groups and parts.

• The Upper Receiver Group.
• The Lower Receiver Group.

Removing the Bolt Carrier Group or Assembly from the Upper Receiver we have:

• The Bolt Carrier Group or Assembly.
• The Charging Handle.

Further disassembling the Bolt Carrier Group:

• The Firing Pin Retaining Pin.
• The Firing Pin.
• The Cam Pin.
• The Bolt.
• The Bolt Carrier.

In the Lower Receiver Group, you will observe the trigger mechanism and hammer with the hammer mechanism. None of these are to be disassembled by the shooter. This is as far as the normal user will disassemble the weapon. This is sometimes referred to as field stripped and all user cleaning and maintenance can be carried out at this point.

Ask if any questions

Point to a part and ask students to name the part/correct as needed

Functioning and the Cycle of Operation

EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE- The Cycle of Operation or how the weapons functioning is important for the user to know as malfunctions within the cycle often mirror this sequence. This understanding correlates directly with the ability of the user to fix a malfunction, something which is vital in a combat. The cycle assumes the weapon is loaded and ready to fire. The firer presses the trigger and the cycle begins. I will point out parts as I explain:

• Firing. The trigger is pulled releasing the hammer, which hits the firing pin, striking the cartridge primer which ignites the powder in the bullet casing. The rapidly expanding gases push the bullet out down the barrel.
• Unlocking. As the bullet travels down the barrel, gas tapped from the barrel through the gas tube is redirected to the bolt carrier key. This pushes the carrier to the rear, and unlocks the bolt from the barrel extension via the cam pin moving within the carrier cam.
• Extracting. The rim of the expended cartridge case is grasped by the claw on the extractor on one side, while pressure is exerted on the opposite side of the case by the ejector. With this, the case is pulled from the chamber.
• Ejecting. Once the case is extracted and clears the barrel extension, the ejector forcefully pushes the case, as the extractor continues to pull it to the rear. This push-pull of the ejector-extractor expels the case from the rifle.
• Cocking. The bolt and bolt carrier moving to the rear, cocks the hammer via the underside of the rear of the carrier.
• Feeding. The bolt and bolt carrier, after moving fully to the rear and compressing the buffer spring, is pushed forward by the releasing buffer spring and strips a fresh cartridge from the feed lips of the magazine.
• Chambering. After stripping a fresh cartridge, the bolt and carrier continue forward pushing the cartridge up the feed ramps and into the chamber.
• Locking. The pressure of the action spring pushes the carrier completely forward, and the cam surface engages the cam pin, turning the bolt, locking it into the barrel extension, and snapping the extractor around the case rim.

When the last round in the magazine is fired, the Bolt Carrier Group will automatically lock to the rear. With experience, this is often felt by the firer who instantly recognizes the weapon magazine is empty.

Ask if any questions

Ask students questions about the Cycle of Operation

Types of Magazines, Magazine Parts and Magazine Filling

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Use sixty round, fifty round drum, twenty round, disassembled and assembled thirty round magazines)- There are many different types of magazines available for the M4 Carbine ranging from these sixty round straight magazines and these fifty round drum magazines to these twenty round straight magazines. The most common by far are these thirty round straight magazines. Most magazines are made up of four or five basic parts and nomenclature depends upon the manufacturer. For the standard M4 thirty round magazines, the parts consist of the following:

• Magazine box.
• Follower.
• Spring.
• Floorplate.

In some cases, a Base Plate which fits over the Floorplate. Not all magazines are made to be disassembled by the user.

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Use dummy rounds and empty magazines)- Magazines have a front and back and rounds are inserted into the magazine with the bullet facing the front. This is the front of the magazine and the rounds are inserted with the bullet facing front. Each round is pushed down until it is seated and the rear of the round is flush against the rear of the magazine. Count your rounds as you load the magazine to ensure they are fully loaded or with the required amount for training. If loading for duty or combat, load the number of rounds the magazine is engineered to hold regardless of the environment.

Ask if any questions

IMITATE & PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Have students practice loading magazines with dummy rounds.)

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Use stripper clips loaded with dummy rounds, stripper clip guide and assembled magazine)- USGI ammunition comes preloaded on ten round stripper clips in thirty round boxes contained in a bandolier. The bandolier stitching at the bottom can be removed and a loaded thirty round magazine inserted for carry. A stripper clip guide or loaders (sometimes called spoons) are used to load magazines quickly. In Lesson 2 you will be taught how and why to take care of magazines.

Positive Control

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- When handling any weapon, firearms users should handle the weapon confidently and safely with complete control of the weapon. This is known as positive control and is often referred to as the Ready Position. Positive control of the M4 Carbine is as follows:

• Shooting hand (right hand for right-handed individuals) takes a firm grip of the pistol grip.
• Non shooting hand firmly grips the hand guard or forward grip if fitted. Do not grip too tightly, just tight enough to support and control the weapon.
• Muzzle is pointing up or down depending upon the training requirements. Most training environments require the muzzle to be pointed down.
• Finger is off the trigger, laying along the Upper Receiver pointing forward and the Selector safety Switch is on Safe.

The user can maintain positive control of the weapon in this manner even when moving around. If the weapon is fitted with a sling allowing the weapon to hang on the front of the body, both hands can be removed and the weapon is still considered under positive control.

IMITATE & PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Have students practice positive control, the Ready Position, for the weapon with instructors correcting as necessary.)

Final practice, if any

Ask if any questions

Ask the students questions for final confirmation

Summary

EXPLAIN- Knowing the parts of the M4 and how it works is a prerequisite to learning everything else needed to be proficient with the weapon. Demonstrating positive control of your weapon indicates confidence and knowledge. Being proficient with your weapon maybe the difference between living or dying. Remember, individual parts of the weapon form groups and the groups working together function the weapon. But it all starts and ends with the shooter.

Look Forward

EXPLAIN- Your next lesson is Lesson 2 which covers safety, disassembly, cleaning, maintenance and reassembly of the M4.

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