CARE, CLEANING AND LUBRICATION
Paragraph | |
In garrison and camp |
30 |
Preparatory to firing |
31 |
After firing |
32 |
On the range or in the field |
33 |
Preparation of carbines for storage |
34 |
Cleaning carbines as recieved from storage |
35 |
Care and cleaning in cold climates |
36 |
Care and cleaning in hot climates |
37 |
Field inspection |
38 |
30. IN GARRISON AND CAMP. -- a. Care and
cleaning in garrison and camp include the care of the carbine necessary to
preserve its condition and appearance during the periods when no firing is being
done. Carbines in the hands of troops should be inspected daily to insure proper
condition and cleanliness. Training schedules should allow proper time for
cleaning carbines on each day when carbines are used in training. for special
care in extreme climates refer to paragraphs 36 and 37.
b. (1) The bore of the carbine will always be
cleaned by inserting a cleaning rod into the muzzle end. When cleaned, with
carbine fully assembled, the bolt should be held in the open position by
inserting a piece of wood between the forward face of operating slide cam lug
and right rear face of hand guard (or receiver). The operating slide stop is
designed for holding the bolt in its rearmost position, but if a cleaning rod
longer than the authorized one is used the end of the rod may strike the face of
the bolt and release it. To protect the face of the bolt, a piece of rag should
be stuffed into the receiver. The magazine should be removed before cleaning the
bore.
(2) To clean the bore, assemble a cloth patch
to the cleaning rod and insert the rod into the bore at the muzzle end. Move it
forward and backward several times the entire length of the bore and chamber and
replace with a new patch. Repeat until a patch comes out clean. When issue
patches are not available, patches should be cut to approximately 2 ½
inches square to permit their being forced through the bore without bending the
cleaning rod. Then saturate a patch with the oil currently used for lubrication
and preservation of small arms and push it through the bore, holding the
carbine, top up, so that some of the oil will flow into the gas port. (OIL,
lubricating, preservative, light, is a good preservative when available).
CAUTION: In cleaning the bore, care must be taken
not to foul the cleaning patch in the gas port.
c.
To clean the screw heads and crevices, use a small cleaning brush or a small
stick. To clean the metal surfaces, wipe& with a dry cloth to remove
moisture, perspiration, and dirt, then wipe with a clean cloth containing a
small quantity of OIL, lubricating, preservative, light. This protective film
will be maintained at all times. To clean the outer wood surfaces of the
carbine, wipe off the dirt with a lightly oiled cloth and clean with a soft dry
one.
d. After cleaning and protecting the carbine
as described above, place it in the gun rack without covering and without a plug
in the muzzle or bore. Muzzle covers, gun covers, rack covers, and plugs must
not be used because they cause sweating and promote rust. However, when squad
rooms are being swept, the gun racks may be covered to protect the carbines from
dust. Covers must be removed after the rooms have been swept.
31. PREPARATORY TO FIRING. -- Before firing, the
following procedure will be observed to assure the efficient functioning of the
carbine. (Refer to paragraphs 36 and 37).
a.
Dismount the main groups.
b. Remove all dirtand oil
from bore and chamber with clean patches.
c. Remove
any carbon on the piston head and in the gas cylinder.
d. Thoroughly clean and lightly oil all metal parts
using OIL, lubricating, preservative, light.
e.
Do not oil the bore or chamber, as hazardous chamber pressures may
develop. (See paragraph
51).
f. Lightly lubricate the following points,
with a drop of oil from oiler rod.
(1) Bolt lugs
(locking and cam).
(2) Bolt guideways in reciever.
(3) Cocking cam on rear of bolt, and firing pin
tang recess.
(4) Operating slide spring guide.
(5) Operating slide guideways in barrel.
(6) Operating slide (handle) guideway in receiver.
(7) Contacting surface of reciever and operationg
slide.
(8) Operating slide (handle) camming
aperature.
(9) Piston shank.
CAUTION: Do not oil face or underside of
bolt as oil may thus get into chamber of the barrel.
g. A drop of oil should occasionally be placed on
the operating slide stop, magazine catch and magazine retainer plunger, trigger
pin, hammer pin and hammer plunger.
h. Lubrication
should be applied lightly, as too much oil cllects grit and foriegn matter
which will cause undue abrasive wear and possible malfunction.
i. When bore and mechanism have been cleaned and
oiled as described, assemble the carbine and rub all outer surfaces with a
lightly oiled rag.
32. AFTER FIRING. -- The bores of all carbines must
be thoroughly cleaned by the evening of the day on which they are fired. They
should be cleaned in the same manner for the next 3 days. (Refer to paragraphs
36 and 37).
CAUTION: Under no circumstances
will metal fouling solution be used in this carbine.
a. Immediate cleaning after firing, or as soon as
possible. -- Hold the carbine bottom side up, so that no cleaning fluid (or
water) will enter the gas port in the bore. Run several patches saturated with
CLEANER, rifle bore, through the bore. If rifle bore cleaner is not available,
warm soapy water (issue soap) or warm water alone should be used. Remove pache
from cleaning rod and assemble the cleaning brush to the rod end. Run brush back
and forth through the bore several times while bore is still wet. Care should be
taken to insure that the brush goes all the way through the bore before the
direction is reversed, and that the chamber is thoroughly cleaned its entire
length. The diameter of the chamber in the carbine is so neat that of the bore,
that additional cleaning should not be, as a rule, necessary. After using the
brush, run several wet patches through bore and chamber, removing them from the
breech end. Following this by dry, clean patches until patches come out clean
and dry. Saturate patch in OIL, lubricating, preservative, light, and push it
through the bore and chamber, holding the carbine, top side up, so that some of
the oil will flow into the gas port in the bore.
CAUTION: In cleaning
the bore care must be taken not to foul the cleaning patch in the gas port.
b. Complete cleaning. -- This cleaning should be
done with the groups dismounted, and as soon as possible after that described in
subparagraph a above. If the carbine is to be fired the next day, proceed as in
paragraph 31. If the carbine is not to be fired in the next few days, repeat
procedure in subparagraph a above for 3 days. In addition, the following
instructions will be observed:
(1) Gas cylinder and
piston. -- After extensive firing, remove the piston. Clean out all excess
carbon from gas cylinder and from head of piston. Care should be used when
removing carbon not to scratch gas cylinder or piston unnecessarily. Check gas
port in barrel after cleaning to make sure it is free, a test piston for freedom
of action in gas cylinder and through piston nut when reassembled. In rearward
position, piston should protrude about ¼ inch.
(2)
Exterior surfaces. -- Wipe off the exterior of the carbine with a dry cloth to
remove dampness, dirt, and perspiration. Wipe all metal surfaces with OIL,
lubricating, preservative, light, and the stock and hand guard, with OIL,
linseed, raw.
33. ON THE RANGE OR IN THE FIELD. -- The carbine
must be kept clean and free from dirt and properly lubricated with lubricating
oil. To obtain its maximum efficiency the following points must be observed.
(Refer to paragraphs 36 and 37).
a. Never fire a
carbine with any dust, dirt, mud, or snow in the bore.
b. Keep the chamber clean and free from oil and
dirt.
c. Never leave a patch, plug, or other
obstruction in the chamber or bore. Neglect of this precaution may result in
serious injury.
d. If the carbine gives indications
of lack of lubrication and excessive friction, apply additional lubricating oil
to the parts listed in 31 f. Excessive friction exists if the empty cases are
being ejected to the right rear, and oil should be applied at the first
opportunity as failures to feed and eject will occur if the condition is not
corrected.
e. Keep a light coating of oil on all
other metal parts.
f. Remove the carbon the gas
cylinder and the piston head when necessary. (Sluggish action of carbine may
indicate clogged piston).
g. In general, it should
not be necessary to remove any of the parts of the carbine in the field for
cleaning, except to dismount the barrel, receiver and trigger housing group from
the stock. Due to position of gas port, the gas cylinder and piston should not
require cleaning often. However, if the mechanism becomes very dirty, the part
groups may be removed from the carbine (paragraph 14) and the necessary cleaning
and lubrication accomplished.
h. During range
firing, a selected and qualified man should be placed in charge of the cleaning
of carbines at the cleaning racks or tables.
34. PREPERATION OF CARBINES FOR STORAGE. -- a. OIL,
lubricating, preservative, light, is the most suitable oil for preserving the
mechanism of carbines. The oil is efficient for preserving the mechanism of
carbines. This oil is efficient for preserving the polished surfaces, the bore,
and the chamber for a period of from 2 to 6 weeks, dependent on the climatic and
storage conditions. Carbines in short term storage should be inspected every
five days and the preservative film renewed if necessary.
b. COMPOUND, rust preventive, light, is a semisolid
material. This compound is efficient for preserving the polished (metal)
surfaces, the bore, and the chamber for a period of 1 year or less, dependent on
the climatic and storage conditions.
c. The
carbines should be cleaned and prepared with particular care. The bore, all
parts of the mechanism, and the exterior of the carbines should be thoroughly
cleaned and then dried completely with rags. In damp climates, particular care
must be taken to see that the rags are dry. After drying a metal part, the bare
hands should not touch that part. All metal parts should then be coated either
with OIL, lubricating, preservative, light, or rust preventive compound,
depending on the length of storage. (See a and b above). Application of the rust
preventative compound to the bore of the carbine is best done by dipping the
cleaning brush in rust preventative compound and running it through the bore two
or three times. (Cleaning brush must be clean). Before placing the carbine in
the packing chest see that the bolt is its forward position and that the hammer
is released. Then, handling the carbine by the stock and hand guard only, it
should be placed in the packing chest, the wooden supports at the butt and
muzzle having previously been painted with rust preventative compound. Under no
circumstances should a carbine be placed in storage contained in a cloth or
other cover or with a plug in the bore. Such articles collect moisture which
causes the weapon to rust.
35. CLEANING OF CARBINES AS RECIEVED FROM STORAGE.
-- a. Carbines which have been stored in accordance with paragraph 34 will be
coated with either OIL, lubricating, preservative, light,or COMPOUND, rust
preventative, light. Carbines recieved from ordnance storage will, in general,
be coated with heavy rust preventative compound. Use a light oil or SOLVENT, dry
cleaning, to remove all traces of the compound, or oil, particular care being
taken that all recesses in which springs or plungers operate are cleaned
thoroughly. After using the dry cleaning solvent, make sure it is completely
removed from all parts. Then follow instructions contained in paragraph 30. If
the carbine is to be fired immediately, follow instructions contained in
paragraph 31.
NOTE: Failure to clean the firing
pin and the recess in the bolt in which it operates may result in gun failure at
normal temperatures, and will most certianly result in serious malfunctions if
the carbines are operated at low temperature areas, as rust preventative
compound and other foreign matter will cause the lubricating oil to congeal or
frost on the mechanism.
b. Dry cleaning solvent is
a petroleum distillate, of low inflammability and noncorrosive, used for
removing grease. It is generally applied with rag swabs to large parts and as a
bath for small parts. The surfaces must be thoroughly dried immediately after
removal of the solvent. To avoid leaving finger marks, which are ordinarily acid
and induce corrosion, gloves should be worn by persons handling parts after such
cleaning. Dry cleaning solvent will attack and discolor rubber.
36. CARE AND CLEANING IN COLD CLIMATES. -- a. In
temperatures below freezing, it is necessary that the moving parts of the
carbine be kept absolutely free from moisture. It has been found that excess oil
on the working parts will solidify to such an extent as to cause sluggish
operation or complete failure.
b. The metal parts
of the carbine should be taken apart and completely cleaned with SOLVENT, dry
cleaning, before use in temperatures below 0° F. The working surfaces of parts
which show signs of wear may be lubricated by rubbing with an oiled cloth. At
temperatures above 0° F, the carbine may be oiled lightly after cleaning by
wiping with a slightly oiled cloth using OIL, lubricating, preservative, light.
c. (1) Immediately upon bringing indoors, the
carbine should be thoroughly oiled, using OIL, lubricating, preservative, light,
because moisture condensing on the cold metal in a warm room will cause rusting.
After the carbine has reached room temperature, it should be wiped free of
condensed water vapor and oiled again.
(2) If
carbine has been fired, it should be thoroughly cleaned and oiled. The bore may
be swabbed out with an oily patch and when the weapon reaches room temperature,
thoroughly cleaned and oiled as prescribed in paragraph 32.
(3) Before firing, the carbine should be cleaned
and oil removed as prescribed in paragraph b above. The bore and chamber should
be entirely free of oil before firing.
37. CARE AND CLEANING IN HOT CLIMATES. -- a.
Tropical climates. (1) In tropical climates where temperature and humidity are
high, or where salt air is present, and during rainy seasons, the carbine should
be thoroughly inspected at frequent intervals and kept lightly oiled when not in
use. The groups should be dismounted at regular intervals and, if necessary,
disassembled sufficiently to enable the drying and oiling of parts.
(2) Care should be exercised to see that unexposed
parts and surfaces are kept clean and oiled, such as the underside of the
barrel, recoil plate recess, gas cylinder, piston, spring wells and like parts
and surfaces.
(3) In hot climates, OIL,
Lubricating, preservative, light, should be used for lubrication.
(4) Wood parts should also be inspected to see that
swelling due to moisture does not bind working parts. (In such cases shave off
wood only enough to relieve binding). A light coat of OIL, linseed, raw, applied
at intervals and well rubbed in, withthe heel of the hand, will help to keep
moisture out. Allow oil to soak in for a few hours and then wipe and polish wood
with dry clean rag.
NOTE: Care should be taken
that linseed oil does not get into mechanism or on metal parts as it will gum up
when dry. Stock and hand guard should be dismounted when oil is applied.
b. Hot, dry climates. -- (1) In hot dry climates
where sand and dust are apt to get into the mechanism and bore, the carbine
should be wiped clean daily or oftener if necessary. Groups should be dismounted
and disassembled as far as necessary to facilitate thorough cleaning.
(2) Oiling and lubrication should be kept to a
minimum, as oil will collect dust which will act as an abrasive on the working
parts and foul the bore and chamber. OIL, lubricating, preservative, light, is
best for lubrication where temperatures are high, and should be lightly applied
only to surfaces of working parts showing signs of wear.
(3) In such climates, wood parts are apt to dry out
and shrink, and a light application of raw linseed oil applied as in
subparagraph a (4) above, will help to keep wood in condition.
(4) Perspiration from the hands is a contributing
factor to rust on account of acid present in perspiration, and metal parts
should be wiped dry frequently.
(5) During sand or
dust storms, breech and muzzle should be kept covered if possible.
38. FIELD INSPECTION. -- The carbine should be
inspected at intervals for operation and functioning. In such inspections, dummy
cartridges should be used if available; use of live ammunition is prohibited.
a. With dummy cartridges in the magazine, retract
and release the operating slide, to load and eject the dummy cartridges. During
the operation check the following points:
(1)
Smooth functioning of operating slide and bolt; they should reciprocate smoothly
and easily, without undue looseness.
(2) Conplete
locking of bolt, and continued forward movement of the operating slide; the
slide should continue to move forward about 5/16 inch after the bolt is fully locked.
(3) Grip of extractor on cartridge and action of
ejector; extractor should grip base of cartridge firmly and ejector throw it off
the bolt as soon as cartridge is clear of reciever; if cartidge is not extracted
or is carried to rear before ejection, extractor claw may be damaged, extractor
plunger or spring broken or missing, or ejector spring weak or broken.
(4) Position of cartridge in mouth of magazine;
magazine follower should position cartridge in line with bolt and fully up
against lips of magazine. If otherwise, the magazine spring may be weak or tube
or follower dented or burred.
(5) Engagement of
sear with hammer; sear should engage with sear notch in hammer when bolt is
about halfway retracted. A distinct click may be heard as sear slides forward
into the sear notch in hammer under force of sear spring. The bolt should always
be fully retracted to insure copmplete engagement and retention of sear. If
click is not heard or trigger pull appears to be light or excessively heavy, the
sear and sear notch in hammer should be examined for burs, foreign matter in the
searnoch or weak or broken sear spring. Trigger pull should not be under 4
pounds nor over 6 pounds.
b. Functioning of the
parts given below should be checked as indicated.
(1) Bolt. -- With operating slide assembled to bolt, and spring and guide
disassembled from slide, reciprocate bolt by means of the operating slide
handle. The bolt and slide should move freely in their guideways. The bolt will
check slightly (with hammer cocked) as it rides over the hammer on its rearward
movement. If binding of bolt and slide is apparent, disengage slide from bolt
and operate individually to ascertain point of binding. Burs may occur in bolt,
or operating slide guideways, on bolt locking shoulders in reciever, lugs of
bolt or operating slide. Such burs should be removed (stoned to a polish) with a
fine grained sharpening stone.
(2) Trigger. --
Trigger should move forward under force of trigger spring when released from
rearward position. If trigger does not move forward positively, trigger spring
may be broken, disengaged, or bent.
(3) Safety. --
Safety should block trigger when pushed fully to the right and release trigger
when pushed fully to left.
(4) Magazine catch. --
Magazine catch should return to position smartly when released after it is
pressed to left to disengage from magazine. If action is sluggish, examine for
burs, foreign matter or lack of lubrication.
(5)
Front band. -- Front band should be secured at all times, with screw drawn down
snugly and locking spring engaged positively with front band lying behind nose
of locking spring. If spring will not depress, look for foreign matter in stock
aperature. If spring does not engage positively with front band, look for bent
spring.
(6) Rear Sight. -- Force of rear sight leaf
spring should hold one segment of leaf upright at all times. If spring action is
not positive, spring may be broken or foreign matter present under leaf or
spring.
(7) Recoil plate. -- Recoilplate should be
snugly seated in its aperature and screw drawn down tightly. Looseness of
recoilplate or reciever retaining lug in plate aperature will cause barrel and
reciever group to become loose and eventually damage stock and/or reciever. Burs
arising from improper positioning of lug in plate, when assembling, should be
peened down before stoning so as not to reduce metal on lug.
(8) Piston. -- Piston may reciprocate sluggishly
due to excess carbon on piston head or in gas cylinder. Piston should
reciprocate in gas cylinder and through piston nut (about ¼ inch) when barrel is
shaken. The piston nut should be kept tight at all times.
NOTE: If piston becomes "frozen" in gas cylinder, due to rust or carbon,
soak with penetrating oil for about one hour, and then work loose and shake out.
Loosening may be helped by working with a prick punch or similar tool through
gas port hole in outside of gas cylinder. When removed, piston and gas cylinder
should be thoroughly cleaned, oiled and examined for burs, and gas port examined
for foreign matter.
(9) Operating slide spring
guide. -- Operating slide spring and guide should work freely in well in
reciever. If binding is apparent, look for bent guide or foreign matter in well.
(10) Operating slide. -- Operating slide should not
become disengaged from reciever when reciprocated. If this happens, look for
bent handle or excessively worn retaining lugs on operating slide body.
(11) Operating slide stop. -- Operating slide stop
is for the purpose of "hanging" the bolt in the open position. If stop spring
becomes broken, stop may catch in retention aperature in reciever when slide
reciprocates. If nose of stop or edge of retaining aperature becomes worn, stop
is apt to slip and fail to hang bolt. In such a case stop or spring should be
replaced and/or carbine sent to ordnance unit for repair.