Basic M4 Carbine Course- Lesson 2

Title: Basic M4 Carbine Course- Lesson 2

Type: Dry Practice (No live ammunition)

Time: 2 hours

Venue: Weapon Training Classroom

Students: 12

Student Equipment:12 X M4 Carbines

12 X USGI 30 round M4 magazines

Instructor Equipment:1 X M4 Carbine

1 X USGI 30 round M4 magazines

3 X dummy 5.56mm rounds

1 X M4 Carbine cleaning kit complete with solvents and oil

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

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

Prior to arrival of students:

- Write lesson title on board.

- Set up classroom chairs.

- If used, load/check PowerPoint.

On arrival of students:

- Instructor Safety Check of 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 2, teaches safety, disassembly, cleaning, maintenance, reassembly and function checks for the M4 carbine. I am the primary instructor (if first time with students, give name and background) and I will be assisted by (introduce the assistant instructors).

Review

EXPLAIN- The previous lesson, Lesson 1, covered nomenclature, functioning and M4 carbine magazines. As I come around, name the part of the weapon I point out.

Here are some questions for you:

What is the first step in the cycle of operation?

Why is it important to know the cycle of operation?

How many rounds does the standard USGI magazine hold?

Introduction

EXPLAIN- Firearms users must handle firearms safely so as not to endanger themselves or others needlessly. There are general firearms safety rules and there are specific firearms safety rules known as the cardinal safety rules. The weapon safety check, along with religious observance of the safety rules, would prevent every negligent discharge of a firearm.

Objective

EXPLAIN- At the conclusion of this lesson, you will know firearms safety, specifically the firearms cardinal safety rules, know how and when to conduct a safety check of the weapon, disassemble, clean, maintain and re-assemble and perform a function check of your M4 carbine.

General Safety Rules

EXPLAIN- Safety is everyone's obligation. All individuals handling firearms, and around others handling firearms, have a direct responsibility to ensure safety protocols are followed strictly. The following general safety rules are standard practice:

• Range and classroom discipline will be enforced. Firearms ranges and classroom are potentially dangerous environments and no horse play or other distractions are allowed.
• All firearms and ancillary equipment must be serviceable and safe to use and it is a user responsibility to ensure. Firearms instructors are responsible for double checking students under their instruction have serviceable and safe equipment.
• No individual can be permitted to participate in firearms training under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription drugs.
• Ammunition must be safe and, especially if using reloaded ammunition, must be checked by qualified instructors.
• When not in use, firearms will be stored securely, unloaded and inaccessible to unauthorized persons.
• Hearing and eye protection is mandatory during all live fire firearms training. Protection must be of a type which meets acceptable standards established by the instructor.

Cardinal Safety Rules

EXPLAIN- The Cardinal Safety Rules are strictly enforced at all times by all competent firearms users. There is no room for compromise with the Cardinal Safety Rules. The Cardinal Safety Rules must be learned, understood fully and applied always. The Cardinal Safety rules are:

• Always maintain muzzle discipline. Never allow your muzzle to point at someone or something unintentionally. Never point your muzzle at someone in jest. Always be aware of the direction your muzzle is pointing and keep it pointed in a safe direction until you decide otherwise. A safe direction is a direction where negligently discharging a round will not hit a person or inflict serious damage.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until you have identified your target and made the decision to fire.
• Be sure of your target and what is around it. There may be innocents around when involved in a shooting and care must be taken not to inadvertently hit them.
• Assume every firearm you handle is loaded and perform a safety check first. Never take someone else's word a firearm is unloaded.

Ask if any questions

Ask students to state the Cardinal Safety Rules one-by-one

The M4 Carbine Safety Check

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- As referenced above, the Safety Check is an inherent part of firearms safety and should be the first, hands on action learned by new firearms users. The Safety Check is not a drill and should be conducted deliberately with attention to the actions being performed. The Safety Check for the M4 Carbine is as follows:

• Maintaining positive control of the weapon, point the weapon in a safe direction. Keep your finger off the trigger.
• Place the selector safety switch to the safe position.
• Physically check for a magazine fitted to the weapon (you may be performing check at night).
• If a magazine is fitted, press the magazine release and remove it. Put it away.
• Grasp the charging handle, vigorously pull the charging handle to the rear and watch to see if anything is ejected from the ejection port. Allow the charging handle to go forward and vigorously pull it to the rear two or three times more. Holding the bolt carrier group to the rear, press the bottom of the bolt release and ease the bolt carrier group forward under control until it stops. The bolt carrier group is now locked to the rear and the charging handle can be pushed all the way forward.
• Look and feel to ensure there is no round in the chamber. Use the index finger of the non-shooting hand up through the magazine well to feel for an empty chamber.
• When satisfied the chamber is empty, hit the bolt release with the heal of the non-shooting hand allowing the bolt carrier group to go forward.
• The weapon is now considered safe and empty.

In most training environments, this is the end of the Safety Check for the M4 Carbine. In some training environments, M4 Carbine users are required to leave the Bolt Carrier Group locked to the rear and the Selector Safety Switch on Safe while moving around or when grounding weapons on a firing line. In these environments complete the Safety Check and then perform the following additional steps:

• Grasp the charging handle, vigorously pull the charging handle to the rear and watch to see if anything is ejected from the ejection port.
• Holding the bolt carrier group to the rear, press the bottom of the bolt release and ease the bolt carrier group forward under control until it stops. The bolt carrier group is now locked to the rear and the charging handle can be pushed all the way forward.
• Place the Selector Safety Switch on Safe.

Some firearms environments release the hammer by placing the selector safety switch to fire, pulling the trigger and then leaving the switch on Semi-auto. This is most prevalent in military environments where weapons are not stored with the hammer down and the hammer spring compressed.

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (If necessary)- Left-handed shooters perform the same actions but will use the right hand to reach over and under in order to reach the required parts of the weapon. When pressing the bottom of the bolt release to ease the bolt carrier group forward under control until it stops, it may be necessary to move the left hand away from the pistol grip.

IMITATE, PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Demonstrate the Safety Check again and have the students slowly imitate each step of the Safety Check in time. When satisfied actions are correct, gradually allow students to speed up, then allow to practice in their own time with oversight.)

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE (Use a dummy round in the chamber of an M4 and have students see and feel the round in the chamber.)- If there is a round in the chamber, this is what it looks and feels like. If, after performing the Safety Check to this point, you still have something in the chamber, repeat the following steps:

• Grasp the charging handle, vigorously pull the charging handle to the rear and watch to see if anything is ejected from the ejection port. Allow the charging handle to go forward and vigorously pull it to the rear two or three times more. Holding the bolt carrier group to the rear, press the bottom of the bolt release and ease the bolt carrier group forward under control until it stops. The bolt carrier group is now locked to the rear and the charging handle can be pushed all the way forward.
• Look and feel to ensure there is no round in the chamber. Use the index finger of the non-shooting hand up through the magazine well to feel for an empty chamber.

If there is still something in the chamber, leave the bolt carrier locked to the rear and seek qualified assistance. If in a combat or emergency situation, release the bolt carrier group and disassemble the weapon to a point where you can use a tool or fingers to remove the round or spent case. We will cover disassembly next.

Ask if any questions

Disassembly

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- Before disassembling any weapon for cleaning, the first action is to conduct a Safety Check.

• Maintaining positive control of the weapon, point the weapon in a safe direction. Keep your finger off the trigger.
• Place the selector safety switch to the safe position.
• Physically check for a magazine fitted to the weapon (you may be performing check at night).
• If a magazine is fitted, press the magazine release and remove it. Put it away.
• Grasp the charging handle, vigorously pull the charging handle to the rear and watch to see if anything is ejected from the ejection port. Allow the charging handle to go forward and vigorously pull it to the rear two or three times more. Holding the bolt carrier group to the rear, press the bottom of the bolt release and ease the bolt carrier group forward under control until it stops. The bolt carrier group is now locked to the rear and the charging handle can be pushed all the way forward.
• Look and feel to ensure there is no round in the chamber. Use the index finger of the non-shooting hand up through the magazine well to feel for an empty chamber.
• When satisfied the chamber is empty, hit the bolt release with the heal of the non-shooting hand allowing the bolt carrier group to go forward.
• The weapon is now considered safe and empty.

We can now disassemble the M4 Carbine according to the following steps. Be sure to place the parts down in order, especially at night:

• Remove the sling if attached.
• Push the rear Takedown Pin to the opposite side as far as it will go.
• Holding the weapon at the point of balance and across one knee, allow the Lower Receiver Group to drop while keeping the Upper Receiver Group open end facing up.

• Pull the Charging Handle back slowly until the Bolt Carrier Group protrudes from the rear of the Upper Receiver.
• Remove the Bolt Carrier Group and set it down.
• To remove the Charging Handle, pull back slowly until it disengages from the notch and drops down. Set it down.

• Push the Pivot Pin to the opposite side as far as it will go and separate the Lower Receiver Group from the Upper Receiver.
• Remove the Firing Pin Retaining Pin from the Bolt Carrier.
• Push the Bolt backward into the locked position. Tip up and allow the Firing Pin to fall free from the rear of the Bolt Carrier.
• Rotate the Cam Pin ninety degrees and remove.
• Remove the Bolt from the Bolt Carrier.

As stated in Lesson 1, disassembling the M4 Carbine to this point is sometimes called field stripping and the normal user would go no further.

Ask if any questions

Cleaning & User Maintenance

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- Clean all parts using a hard brass wire brush, 5.56mm patches and cloth. Dry all parts with a clean, dry cloth. Pay particular attention to the following areas:

• With a bore brush or chamber brush soaked in a bore cleaner, clean the inside and outside of the Bolt Carrier, especially the inside of the gas key and bolt recess.
• Use the chamber brush to reach all the way into the bottom of the bolt recess in the front of the Bolt Carrier.
• Clean all carbon from the bolt. Be careful not to damage the gas rings on the rear of the bolt.
• Clean dirt and carbon from the locking lugs. Brass shavings and dirt buildup in the locking recess will cause the bolt to jam.
• Dirt and carbon buildup under the extractor will not allow the extractor claw to snap over the rim of the cartridge. Clean these areas with a brass wire brush.
• Remove dirt and carbon from all the pins.
• Dry all parts and apply a generous coat of oil.
• Clean the inside of the Upper Receiver, the Chamber, and the locking recesses of the barrel extension. Use the chamber brush soaked in bore cleaner to remove dirt and carbon. Dirt and carbon buildup in the chamber may cause the weapon not to properly chamber a round or lock.
• Dry the chamber and receiver area well using patches, rags, Q–tips, or pipe cleaners.
• Soak a cleaning patch and bore brush in bore cleaner.
• Push the cleaning rod straight through the bore until the brush exits the flash suppressor.
• Unscrew the bore brush.
• Withdraw the rod.
• Reattach the bore brush.
• Repeat several times.
• Repeat the process with clean cloth patches until the last patch comes out clean.
• Pass a lightly oiled patch through the bore.
• Apply a light coat of oil to all metal bearing surface areas and the inside of the Upper Receiver.

After cleaning, thoroughly inspect the weapon. Ensure all captured pins are correctly positioned. Check for damage to outside of weapon. Check front sight and rear sight drum for damage. Carefully inspect the following parts for damage:

• Extractor.
• Extractor Retaining Pin.
• All parts of the Bolt Carrier Group.
• Gas Rings.
• Firing Pin.

Ask if any questions

Assembly

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- Reassemble the M4 Carbine in reverse order to the disassembly steps as follows:

• Insert the Bolt into the Bolt Carrier ensuring the Cam Pin holes are aligned and the beveled edge is face up.
• Replace the Cam Pin and rotate ninety degrees. If it does not fit, turn the Cam Pin around so the holes are correctly aligned.
• Pull the Bolt forward and insert the Firing Pin from the opposite end of the Bolt Carrier allowing it to fall all the way down into place.
• Reinsert the Firing Pin Retaining Pin from left to right.
• Join the Upper and Lower Receivers, pushing the Pivot Pin all the way in after lining up the holes.
• Replace the Charging Handle by inserting it into the Upper Receiver and sliding into the notch. Do not push the Charging Handle all the way in at this point.
• Making sure the Bolt is forward in the Bolt Carrier Group, line up the top edge of the Bolt Carrier Group with the inside rail of the Charging Handle and insert all into the Upper Receiver until they go all the way in and a click is heard.
• Bring the Upper and Lower Receivers together, aligning the holes and push in the Takedown Pin.
• Refit the sling.

Ask if any questions

IMITATE, PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Demonstrate the disassembly and assembly again and have the students slowly imitate each step-in time. When satisfied actions are correct, gradually allow students to speed up, then allow to practice in their own time with oversight.)

Function Check

EXPLAIN & DEMONSTRATE- The function check is performed to ensure the weapon is operating properly and no mistakes were made while reassembling the weapon. The steps verify the safety and semiautomatic modes are working as intended. For each of these modes, conduct the following actions:

• Place the selector on safe.
• Pull the charging handle to the rear and release.
• Pull the trigger.
• The hammer should not fall.

The Safety mode is working.

• Place the selector on semiautomatic.
• Pull the trigger and keep it depressed.
• The hammer should fall.
• Holding the trigger, pull the charging handle to the rear and release.
• Release the trigger. The trigger and sear reset with an audible click.
• Pull the trigger. The hammer will fall.

The Semiauto mode is working. If you experience anything else, there may be a problem with the weapons functioning and it should be checked by a qualified armorer.

Ask if any questions

IMITATE, PRACTICE AS MUCH AS TIME PERMITS (Demonstrate the Function Check again and have the students slowly imitate each step-in time. When satisfied actions are correct, gradually allow students to speed up, then allow to practice in their own time with oversight.)

Final practice, if any

Ask if any questions

Ask the students questions for final confirmation

Summary

EXPLAIN- Safety is non-negotiable. It is everyone's responsibility. Knowing and, more importantly, obeying the Cardinal Safety Rules at all times is the way to avoid tragic mistakes. A functioning weapon is second only to expertise in using it. Cleaning and maintaining your weapon are vital to keeping it functioning. To clean it you must know how to take it apart and put it back together.

Look Forward

EXPLAIN- Your next lesson is Lesson 3 which covers Fundamentals of Marksmanship for the M4, Loading and Unloading.

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