SSG Raven Z. S. Black I 1 st TMCA, BDE S-2 “Assist, Protect, Defend” M – 249 Squad Automatic Weapon ( S.A.W. )

SSG Raven Z. S. Black I

1st TMCA, BDE S-2

“Assist, Protect, Defend”

M – 249Squad Automatic Weapon

( S.A.W. )

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m-249-dvic536.jpg

• TASK: Familiarize soldiers with the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).

• CONDITIONS: Given a block of instructions on the M-249 SAW, be able to meet the Standards.

• STANDARDS: Soldiers must be able to disassemble and separate into proper groups, and reassemble the M-249 SAW correctly with no deficiencies. Soldier must also have a basic working knowledge of the M-249 and their responsibilities while at the firing range.

RISK ASSESSMENT

LOW

M-249 S.A.W. PMI

M-249 S.A.W.• Features: The Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), or 5.56mm

M249 is an individually portable, gas operated, magazine or disintegrating metallic link-belt fed, light machine gun with fixed headspace and quick change barrel feature. The M249 engages point targets out to 800 meters, firing the improved NATO standard 5.56mm cartridge.

• The SAW forms the basis of firepower for the fire team. The gunner has the option of using 30-round M16 magazines or linked ammunition from pre-loaded 200-round plastic magazines. The gunner's basic load is 600 rounds of linked ammunition.

M-249 S.A.W.• Background: The SAW was developed through an

initially Army-led research and development effort and eventually a Joint NDO program in the late 1970s/early 1980s to restore sustained and accurate automatic weapons fire to the fire team and squad. When actually fielded in the mid-1980s, the SAW was issued as a one-for-one replacement for the designated "automatic rifle" (M16A1) in the Fire Team. In this regard, the SAW filled the void created by the retirement of the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) during the 1950s because interim automatic weapons (e.g. M-14E2/M16A1) had failed as viable "base of fire" weapons.

M-249 S.A.W. Background Con’t. –• Early in the SAW's fielding, the Army identified the need for a Product Improvement

Program (PIP) to enhance the weapon. This effort resulted in a "PIP kit" which modifies the barrel, handguard, stock, pistol grip, buffer, and sights.

The M249 machine gun is an ideal complementary weapon system for the infantry squad platoon. It is light enough to be carried and operated by one man, and can be fired from the hip in an assault, even when loaded with a 200-round ammunition box. The barrel change facility ensures that it can continue to fire for long periods. The US Army has conducted strenuous trials on the M249 MG, showing that this weapon has a reliability factor that is well above that of most other small arms weapon systems. Today, the US Army and Marine Corps utilize the license-produced M249 SAW.

Primary function: Hand-held combat machine gun

Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing, Inc.

Length: 40.75 inches (103.81 centimeters)

Weight/With bipod and tools: 17.00 pounds (7.718 kilograms)

200-round box magazine: 6.92 pounds (3.14 kilograms)

30-round magazine: 1.07 pounds (.49 kilograms)

Bore diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)

Maximum effective range: 3281 feet (1000 meters) for an area

target Maximum range: 3600 Meters Rates of fire: Cyclic: 725 rounds per minute Sustained: 50 rounds per minute Unit Replacement Cost: $4,087

M-249 S.A.W.

M-249CYCLE OF

FUNCTIONINGThe M249 automatic riflemen must recognize and correct stoppages when they know how the weapon functions. The weapon functions automatically as long as ammunition is fed into it and the trigger is held to the rear. Each time a round fires, the parts of the weapon function in a cycle or sequence. Many of the actions occur at the same time.

( “men” denotes both male and female soldiers or unisex )

The cycle is started by putting the first round of the belt in the tray groove or by inserting the magazine into the magazine well. Then the trigger is pulled, releasing the sear from the sear notch. When the trigger is pulled to the rear, the rear of the sear is lowered and disengaged from the sear notch. This allows the piston and bolt to be driven forward by the expansion of the operating rod spring. The cycle stops when the trigger is released and the sear again engages the sear notch on the piston

M-249CYCLE OF

FUNCTIONING

(1) Feeding. As the bolt starts its forward movement, the feed lever is forced to the right, causing the feed-pawl assembly to turn in the opposite direction. This forces the feed-pawl assembly over the next round in the belt, and it is ready to place the next round into the tray groove when the rearward action occurs again. As the bolt moves to the rear after firing, the feed roller forces the feed lever to the left. The feed lever is forced to turn, moving the feed pawl to the right. This places a round in the tray groove.

M-249 CYCLE OF FUNCTIONING

(2) Chambering. As the bolt travels forward, the upper locking lug engages the rim of the round. The pressure of the front and rear cartridge guides holds the round so that positive contact is made with the upper locking lug of the bolt. The front cartridge guide prevents forward movement of the link as the round is stripped from the belt. The upper locking lug carries the round forward. The chambering ramp causes the nose of the round to be cam-med downward into the chamber. When the round is fully seated in the chamber, the extractor snaps over the rim of the round, and the ejector on the rail inside the receiver is depressed.

M-249 CYCLE OF FUNCTIONING STEPS

(3) Locking. As the round is chambered, the bolt enters the barrel socket. The upper and lower locking lugs contact the bolt camming surfaces inside the barrel and start turning the bolt clockwise. The action of the bolt into the slide assembly, as the piston continues forward, turns the bolt to complete its 90-degree (one-quarter turn) clockwise rotation. Locking is now complete.


(4) Firing. After the bolt is fully forward and locked, the piston continues to go forward, independent of the bolt, for a short distance. The slide assembly carries the firing pin through the face of the bolt. The firing pin strikes the primer of the round and the primer fires the round.


(5) Unlocking. After the round is fired and the bullet passes the gas port, part of the expanding gases go into the gas regulator through the gas plug. The rapidly expanding gases enter into the gas cylinder from the gas regulator, forcing the piston to the rear. As the piston continues to the rear, the slide assembly, also moving to the rear, causes the bolt to begin its counterclockwise rotation. The upper and lower locking lugs of the bolt contact the bolt camming surfaces inside the barrel socket and, as the bolt continues toward the rear, it completes a one-quarter turn counterclockwise. The rotation and movement to the rear unlocks the bolt from the barrel socket.


(6) Extracting. Extracting begins during the unlocking cycle. The rotation of the bolt loosens the cartridge case in the chamber. As the piston and bolt move to the rear, the extractor pulls the cartridge case from the chamber.


(7) Ejecting. As the cartridge case is pulled from the chamber, the bolt passes by the ejector. This causes the ejector clip to expand, forcing the ejector to push the expended cartridge. The extractor grips the right side of the cartridge and causes it to spin from the weapon as it reaches the ejection port. The empty belt links are forced out the link ejection port as the rearward movement of the bolt causes the next round to be positioned in the tray groove


(8) Cocking. The piston assembly acts against the firing pin, pulling the firing pin from the primer of the spent cartridge case. The action of the piston assembly, continuing to the rear with the firing pin, releases the compression of the firing pin spring. As long as the trigger is held to the rear, the M249 AR will continue to complete the eight steps of functioning automatically. When the trigger is released and the sear again engages the sear notch, the cycle of functioning is stopped and the weapon is cocked. To prevent undue wear to the sear and sear notch, the automatic rifleman must hold the trigger firmly to the rear during firing.


Major Component Pictures

# 2. Barrel Group# 1. Operating Rod Group

# 3 Hand-guard Group


# 4. Butt-stock & Buffer Assembly Group

# 5. Trigger Mechanism

Group

# 6. Gas Cylinder Group


# 7. Bipod Group# 8 Receiver Group

Type M855 Ball Light materiel targets and personnel

M193 Ball Range Training

M856 Tracer Observation of fire, incendiary effects,

and signaling.

AMMO TYPES for the M-249

AMMO TYPES for the M-249

M196 Tracer Training.

M199 Dummy During mechanical training

M200 Blank During training when simulated live fire is

desired. (A blank firing attachment must be used to fire this ammunition.)

Firing Positions

Prone Position: Notice the non-firing hands position & the placement of soldiers

cheek.


Firing Positions

Hip Position: Will not be used at Range!

Firing Positions

Kneeling Position:Note the weapon is fired the same way the M16A2 is fired.

Disassemble M2491) Clear Weapon, SAFETY FIRST!

2) Ensure bolt is forward and feed tray is closed

3) Separate parts into proper groupingTo clear Weapon:

2) Charge weapon (pull cocking handle rearward). Be sure bolt is locked in rear position. Push charging handle forward until you hear it click.

3) Push Safety to right (No RED band visible)4) Raise Feed Tray Assembly. Look for any debris inside chamber,

magazine well and Feed Pawl Assembly. Close Cover Assembly, and ensure it locks in place.

5) Place Safety to left (RED band visible). Hold cocking handle to rear, pull trigger, and ride bolt forward to close and lock.

Assemble M2491) Assemble M2492) Perform function check

To Perform Function Check:1) Ensure safety is to left (RED band visible) and charge weapon by pulling the cocking handle

to the rear to lock the bolt (cock the weapon). Push cocking handle forward until you hear it click.

2) Push safety to the right (RED band not visible).3) Pull the trigger (Nothing should happen).4) Push safety to left (RED band visible). Pull charging handle to the rear and pull the trigger

riding the bolt forward, simultaneously watching link exit the weapon.5) Pull cocking handle to rear locking the bolt in place and placing it on safe (RED band not

visible). Clear the weapon using the procedures for clearing the M249.6) Push safety to left (RED band visible). Pull cocking handle to the rear. Pull the trigger and

ride the bolt forward.

Assembled M249

Machinegun, 5.56MM, M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon


M-249 MARKSMANSHIP FUNDAMENTALS

The four fundamentals for firing the M249 are steady

position, aim, breath control, and trigger

control.

A. Steady Position.

In automatic fire, position is the most important aspect of marksmanship. If the automatic rifleman has a good zero, aims his weapon correctly, and properly applies a steady hold in firing a burst of three rounds, the first round of that burst will hit the target at the point of aim. However, this is not necessarily true of the second and third rounds. The first round hits the aiming point the same as when a round is fired singularly.


M-249 MARKSMANSHIP FUNDAMENTALSSteady Position ( Cont. )

The recoil from the first and subsequent rounds will progressively disturb the lay of the weapon with each round of the burst. The relationship between the point of impact of the first and subsequent rounds of the burst depends on the stability of the automatic rifleman's position. His body, directly behind the weapon, serves as the foundation, and his grip serves as a lock to hold the weapon against the foundation. The better the body alignment and the steadier the grip, the less dispersed the rounds of a burst of automatic fire will be.

B. Aim. To aim the M249 AR, the automatic rifleman must align the sights, focus his eye, obtain a correct sight picture, control his breathing, and maintain trigger control.

(1) Sight alignment. Align the rear sight aperture (peep sight) with the sight post of the hooded front sight. Then, align the front sight post in the center of the rear peep sight. An imaginary horizontal line drawn through the center of the peep sight should touch the top of the front sight post, while an imaginary vertical line through the center of the rear peep sight should bisect the front sight post.


(2) Focus of the eye. A good firing position places the eye directly on line with the center of the rear sight. Focus on the tip of the front sight post. The natural ability of the eye to center objects in a circle and to seek the point of greatest light (center of peep sight) aids in providing correct sight alignment.

(3) Sight picture. A correct sight picture has the target, front sight post, and rear sight aligned. The sight picture consists of sight alignment and placement of the aiming point on the target. Align the tip of the front sight post in the center of the rear peep sight and then align the sights with the target. Align the top of the front sight post on the center base of the target.


C. Breath Control. Two types of breath control are used. When firing single shots, as in zeroing, the automatic rifleman stops breathing after most of the air has been exhaled during the normal breathing cycle. He fires before he feels any discomfort. During automatic fire, ideally, the automatic rifleman exhales and stops his breath when pressing the trigger. He does not have time to take deep breaths between bursts. He must hold his breath before each burst or adapt his breathing by taking quick shallow breaths or taking deeper breaths between several bursts. D. Trigger Control. Pressing the trigger straight to the rear and releasing it helps control the number of rounds in each burst and prevents disturbing the lay of the weapon. For a three-round burst, the automatic rifleman presses the trigger to the rear, says "Press, release;" and releases the trigger.


Learning Follow Up…

Q) What is the maximum range of the M249 to an area target?

A) 1000 meters

Q) What does SAW stand for when talking about the M249?

A) Squad Automatic Weapon

Q) What are two of the three positions you can fire the M249?

A) Prone, Hip or Kneeling

• TASK: Engage Targets With The M249 Machine Gun

• CONDITIONS: Given a zeroed M249 machine gun, linked 5.56-mm ammunition, and engage-able targets.

• STANDARDS: All targets engaged are hit.

Step # 1. Assume a stable, prone firing position.

Step # 2. Fire the weapon using the correct sight picture.

Engage Targets with the M-249


STEP # 3. Pull the trigger correctly.

STEP # 4. Apply correct traversing and searching techniques.

STEP # 5. Observe and adjust fire.


STEP # 6. Engage three types of battlefield targets.

- POINT?

- AREA?

- MOVING?


RANGE SAFETY!• OBEY ALL COMMANDS FROM THE TOWER

• DO NOT LOAD OR FIRE UNTIL DIRECTED TO SO

• CONSIDER THE WEAPON LOADED AT ALL TIMES

• ANYONE CAN CALL CEASE-FIRE

• NO HORSE-PLAYING

• HELMENT AT ALL TIMES WHILE ON THE RANGE

• SMOKING AREAS

THE END

Pending Any Questions…

Documents

SSG Raven Z. S. Black I 1 st TMCA, BDE S-2 “Assist, Protect, Defend” M – 249 Squad Automatic Weapon ( S.A.W. )