071-311-2025 (SL1) - Maintain an M16-Series Rifle

1.   Clear the rifle.

a.
Remove the magazine from
the rifle if there is one present.

b.
Cock the rifle.

c.
Turn the selector to SAFE
(figure 071-311-2025-1).

Figure 071-311-2025-1.
Selector lever on safe

Note. The selector cannot be turned to SAFE unless the rifle
is cocked.

d.
Lock the bolt open (figure 071-311-2025-2).

Figure 071-311-2025-2.
Locking the bolt open

(1) 
Pull the charging handle
rearward.

(2) 
Press the bottom of the
bolt catch.

(3) 
Allow the bolt to move
forward until it engages the bolt
catch.

(4) 
Return the charging handle
to the forward position.

(5) 
Ensure the selector is on
SAFE.

e.
Inspect the receiver and
chamber to ensure they do not contain
ammunition (figure 071-311-2025-3).

Figure 071-311-2025-3.
Inspecting the chamber

f.  Allow the bolt to go
forward by pressing the upper portion
of the bolt catch (figure 071-311-2025-4).

Figure 071-311-2025-4.
Releasing the bolt

2.   Disassemble the rifle.

a.
Verify the rifle is clear.

b.
Remove the sling.

c.
Remove the handguards if
you can see dirt or corrosion through
the vent holes (figure 071-311-2025-5).
Handguards on the M16A2 are
interchangeable because they are
identical.

Figure 071-311-2025-5.
Removing the handguards

WARNING:
Use care to
avoid bending or denting the gas
tube while removing the handguards.

d. Push the takedown pin as
far as it will go and pivot the upper
receiver from the lower receiver
(figure 071-311-2025-6).

Figure 071-311-2025-6.
Pushing the takedown pin

e. Push the receiver pivot
pin (figure 071-311-2025-7).

Figure 071-311-2025-7.
Pushing the receiver pivot pin

f.  Separate the upper
and lower receivers (figure 071-311-2025-8).

Figure 071-311-2025-8.
Separating the upper and lower
receivers

g. Pull back the charging
handle (figure 071-311-2025-9).

Figure 071-311-2025-9.
Pulling the charging handle

h.
Remove the bolt carrier and
bolt (figure 071-311-2025-10).

Figure 071-311-2025-10.
Removing the bolt carrier and bolt

i.   Remove the
charging handle (figure 071-311-2025-11).

Figure 071-311-2025-11.
Removing the charging handle

j.   Remove the
firing pin retaining pin (figure 071-311-2025-12).

Figure 071-311-2025-12.
Removing the firing pin retaining pin

k. Put the bolt assembly in
the locked position by pushing in the
bolt (figure 071-311-2025-13).

Figure 071-311-2025-13.
Bolt in the locked position

l.   Remove the
firing pin by allowing it to drop out
of the rear of the bolt carrier into
your hand (figure 071-311-2025-14).

Figure 071-311-2025-14.
Removing the firing pin

m.   Remove the
bolt cam pin by turning it one-quarter
turn and lifting it out (figure 071-311-2025-15).

Figure 071-311-2025-15.
Removing the bolt cam pin

n. Pull the bolt assembly
from the carrier (figure 071-311-2025-16).

Figure 071-311-2025-16.
Removing the bolt assembly

Note. Perform steps o through r when the parts are dirty or
damaged.

o. Remove the extractor pin
by pushing it out with the firing pin
(use care not to damage the firing
pin) (figure 071-311-2025-17).

Figure 071-311-2025-17.
Removing the extractor pin

p. Lift out the extractor and
spring (figure 071-311-2025-18),
taking care so the spring does not
separate from the extractor.

Figure 071-311-2025-18.
Removing the extractor and spring

Note. Press the top of the extractor to check spring function.

q.
Release the buffer by
pressing the buffer and depressing the
retainer.

r.  Remove the buffer
and action spring separating the
buffer from the spring (figure 071-311-2025-19
and figure 071-311-2025-20).

Figure 071-311-2025-19.
Separating the buffer and spring

Figure 071-311-2025-20.
Separating the buffer and spring
(continued)

s.
Do not disassemble the
rifle further.

3.   Clean the rifle by removing carbon buildup and
lubricating according to lubrication
instructions. Make sure you remove any
excessive oil from the bore before
firing.

Note. After firing ball or blank ammunition, clean the weapon
one time only with CLP. Under all but
the coldest arctic conditions, use
only CLP to lubricate the rifle.

a. Clean the upper and lower
receiver group using CLP to remove
powder fouling in the upper receiver
(figure 071-311-2025-21).

Figure 071-311-2025-21.
Cleaning the receivers

b. Clean the bolt carrier
group, wiping the following parts with
swabs and other parts from the
small-arms maintenance equipment case
(figure 071-311-2025-22).

Figure 071-311-2025-22.
Cleaning the bolt carrier group

(1) 
The outer and inner
surfaces of the bolt carrier.

(2) 
The carrier key.

(3) 
The firing pin recess and
firing pin.

(4) 
The firing pin hole with a
pipe cleaner.

(5) 
The carbon deposits and
dirt from the locking lugs.

(6) 
The areas behind the bolt
ring and under the lip of the
extractor.

c.
Clean the following rifle
parts, lightly lubricating with CLP
(figure 071-311-2025‑22).

(1) 
Lugs in the barrel
extension, bore, and chamber.

(2) 
Bolt carrier.

(3) 
Slide cam pin area.

(4) 
Piston rings.

(5) 
Outside the bolt body.

(6) 
Inside the bolt carrier
key.

(7) 
Firing pin and firing pin
recess.

(8) 
Outside surface of the
protruding gas tube with a worn bore
brush.

(9) 
Buffer.

(10)
Action spring.

(11)
Inner surfaces of the lower
receiver extension.

(12)
Inside the lower receiver.

(13)
All other components.

4.   Inspect disassembled rifle bolt assembly (figure 071-311-2025-23).

Figure 071-311-2025-23.
Inspecting the bolt assembly

a.
Identify defective or
missing components.

b.
Report deficiencies to the
armorer.

WARNING:
Do not
interchange bolts between rifles.

5.   Assemble the rifle.

a.
Insert the spring and
buffer (figure 071-311-2025-24).

Figure 071-311-2025-24. Placing the spring and buffer

b.
Insert the extractor and
spring (figure 071-311-2025-25).

Figure 071-311-2025-25.
Placing the extractor and spring

c. Push the extractor pin in
(figure 071-311-2025-26).

Figure 071-311-2025-26.
Holding the extractor pin in

d.
Slide the bolt into the
carrier until the bolt cam pin hole in
both the bolt carrier and the bolt are
aligned (figure 071-311-2025-27).

Figure 071-311-2025-27.
Placing the bolt in the carrier

e. Place the bolt cam pin by
putting it in the bolt carrier,
turning it one-quarter turn (figure 071-311-2025-28).

Figure 071-311-2025-28.
Replacing the bolt cam pin

f. 
Drop in the firing pin to
seat it (figure 071-311-2025-29).

Figure 071-311-2025-29.
Placing the firing pin

g. Put the firing pin
retaining pin in the bolt carrier to
seat it (figure 071-311-2025‑30).

Figure 071-311-2025-30.
Placing the firing pin retaining pin

h. Pull the bolt back (figure
071-311-2025-31).

Figure 071-311-2025-31.
Pulling back on the bolt

i.  
Place the charging handle
by engaging it, then pushing the
charging handle part of the way in
(figure 071-311-2025-32).

Figure 071-311-2025-32.
Placing the charging handle in the
receiver

j.   Slide the bolt
carrier into the upper receiver
(figure 071-311-2025-33).

Figure 071-311-2025-33.
Placing the bolt carrier

k. Push the charging handle
and bolt carrier together in the upper
receiver (figure 071-311-2025-34).

Figure 071-311-2025-34.
Placing the charging handle and the
bolt carrier

l.  
Join the upper and lower
receiver (figure 071-311-2025-35).

Figure 071-311-2025-35.
Joining the upper and lower receivers

m.   Engage the
receiver pivot pin (figure 071-311-2025-36).

Figure 071-311-2025-36.
Engaging the receiver pivot pin

CAUTION:
The selector lever must be on SAFE
before closing the upper receiver

n. Close the upper and lower
receiver groups, seating the takedown
pin and ensuring the selector switch
is on SAFE (figure 071-311-2025-37).

Figure 071-311-2025-37.
Seating the takedown pin

o.
Put the handguards in place
(figure 071-311-2025-38).

Figure 071-311-2025-38.
Placing the handguards

p.
Replace the sling (figure 071-311-2025-39).

Figure 071-311-2025-39.
Placing the sling

6.   Disassemble the magazine without removing the
follower from the spring.

a. Release the base catch
(figure 071-311-2025-40).

Figure 071-311-2025-40.
Releasing the base catch of the
magazine

b. Remove the base (figure 071-311-2025-41).

Figure 071-311-2025-41.
Removing the base of the magazine

c.
Remove the spring and
follower by jiggling them (figure 071-311-2025-42).

Figure 071-311-2025-42.
Removing the magazine spring and the
follower

7.   Clean the magazine.

a.
Wipe the dirt from the
tube, spring, and follower.

b.
Lubricate the spring
lightly.

8.   Assemble the magazine.

a.
Jiggle the spring and
follower together to install them in
the magazine.

b.
Slide the base under all
four tabs, making sure the print is on
the outside.

9.   Clean the ammunition using a clean, dry cloth to
wipe dirt and foreign matter from the
ammunition. Do not coat with oil.