Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction

M4 RIFLE SYSTEM
Consists of a Rifle, a Magazine, and a
Sling. It Is a Lightweight, Gas
Operated, Air-Cooled, Magazine Fed
Shoulder Fired Weapon That Can Be
Fired Either in Semi-Automatic or
Three Round Bursts.

M4 SPECIFICATIONS
CALIBER: 5.56 mm
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,970 fps
WEIGHT: w/MAG – 7.5 lbs
MAX EFF RANGE:

w/o MAG – 6.49 lbs

500M (Point) / 600M (Area)

MAX RANGE: 3600M
LENGTH: 29.75 inches (BS closed)/33.0 inches
(BS open)
BARREL RIFLING

1:7 Ratio

PROCEDURE FOR CLEARING THE M4 RIFLE
•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

Point the muzzle in a designated SAFE DIRECTION. Attempt to place selector lever on SAFE. If weapon is not cocked, lever cannot be placed on SAFE.
Remove the magazine by depressing the magazine catch button and pulling the magazine down.
To lock bolt open, pull charging handle rearward. Press bottom of bolt catch and allow bolt to move forward until it engages bolt catch. Return charging handle to full forward position. If you have not done so before, place the selector lever on SAFE.
Visually (not physically) inspect the receiver and chamber to ensure these areas contain no ammo.
With the selector lever pointing toward SAFE, allow the bolt to go forward by pressing the upper portion of the bolt catch.
Place the selector lever on SEMI and squeeze the trigger.
Pull the charging handle fully rearward and release it, allowing the bolt to return to the full forward position.
Place the selector lever on SAFE.
Close the ejection port cover.

DISASSEMBLY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Remove Sling
Remove Handguards
Remove Upper and Lower Receiver
Remove Bolt Carrier group and Bolt
Remove Charging Handle
Disassemble Bolt Carrier group
a. Firing Pin Retaining Pin
b. Firing Pin
c. Bolt Cam Pin
d. Bolt
e. Extractor and Extractor Pin
7. Remove Buffer & Buffer Spring

MAINTENANCE
1.

UPPER RECEIVER (w/light coat CLP)
a. All areas of powder fouling, corrosion, dirt, and rust
b. Bore and chamber
c. Locking Lugs
d. Gas tube

2.

BOLT CARRIER GROUP (w/light coat CLP)
a. Outer and inner surfaces
b. Carrier key
c. Firing pin and recess
d. Locking lugs and bolt
e. Ejector

3.

LOWER RECEIVER GROUP
a. All areas of powder fouling, corrosion and dirt.
b. Wipe dirt from trigger mechanism
c. Clean buffer, buffer spring and inside lower receiver extension

INSPECT
WHILE YOU ARE CLEANING YOUR M4
RIFLE YOU SHOULD BE INSPECTING
ALL PARTS FOR CRACKS OR
FRACTURES, CHIPS, BENT OR
MISSING PARTS.

LUBRICATE
1. LIGHTLY LUBE - Barely Visible to the
Eye. This is to be performed for weapons cleaning or prior to operation of the weapon system. 2. HEAVY LUBE - Heavy Enough So That It
Can Be Spread With Your Finger. This is to be performed to the weapon system prior to turning in the weapon to the arms room.

CAUTION
Never use an excessive amount of lubricate on your weapon system.
If your weapon system is not clean, adding CLP is not the answer. You will have to perform weapons maintenance on the spot.

CAUTION
Now you will need to reassembly your M4 weapon system and perform a functions check.
A functions check MUST be performed after the weapon system is reassembled. If a part of the system is missing or if the system was not reassembled correctly your weapon system will fail the functions check.
It is preferred to find a error while at a place where it can be corrected easily. If you at a range and a weapon fails a functions check the soldier may not be able to qualify with their weapon

FUNCTIONS CHECK FOR M4 RIFLE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Weapon will start in the SEMI position.
Pull charging handle to the rear and release.
Place selector switch on SAFE.
Pull the trigger; the hammer should not fall.
Place the selector on SEMI.
Pull the trigger and hold to the rear; the hammer should fall.
While holding the trigger back, pull the charging handle to the rear and release it.
8. Release the trigger and pull it again; the hammer should fall.
9. Place the selector on BURST.
10.Pull the charging handle to the rear and release.