CLEARING THE RIFLE
The following maintenance procedures (clearing,
field-stripping, assembling, etc.) for the M16 service
rifles are written for the right-handed Sailor. The
left-handed Sailor can reverse the hand directions for
these procedures for the M16
NOTE
Unless specifically stated otherwise, the
following discussion of the M16 rifle applies
equally to both the M16A1 and M16A2.
The first precaution you should take in handling any
weapon is to make it safe by clearing it. To clear the M16
rifle, place the butt against the right thigh and proceed as
follows:
1. Point the selector lever toward SAFE (fig. 11-8,
view A). If the weapon is not cocked, the selector lever
cannot be pointed toward SAFE. If that is the case, do
11-5
Student Notes:
COMPONENT
M16A1
M16A2
Barrel
Lighter barrel because of ammunition fired Heavier barrel because of ammunition fired
Sights
Rear sight uses a windage drum for
windage (fig. 11-5)
Front sight is same as the M16A2 (fig.11-6)
Rear sight is adjusted by means of a
windage knob for windage and an elevation
knob for elevation (fig.11-7)
Selector assembly
Has semiautomatic or fully automatic
features
Has a semiautomatic or burst (three rounds)
feature
Ammunition
Fires a 5.56-mm round and a 62-grain
NATO round
Fires a 5.56-mm round and a 62-grain
NATO round
Hand guards
Round and ridged, making them stronger
and easier to grip than the M16A1 hand
guards. They are also interchangeable.
Figure 11-5.—M16A1 windage drum.
Figure 11-6.—Front sight for the M16A1 and the
M16A2 rifle.
