Post by Frank on Mar 18, 2014 12:03:08 GMT -5
This is an excerpt from a book I wrote a few years back and I give it out as a a pre-read for any of our tactical Firearms courses. I plan on putting a section up on the forum a week. so in theory you should be able to read a section and learn from it. this weeks write up is on weapons handling for Carbines
Initial Weapons Handling
Weapons handling skills are the mark in which you will be judged by others, not just how good you shoot. You can be a terrible shooter but have good handling skills and no one worth their weight will deny answers when you ask questions. But, have a total lack of handling skills and no one will want to be around you at all, much less teach you anything. Weapons handling skills are more than just the manual dexterity and manipulations on the weapon system; it is an attitude and awareness for your safety and the safety of those around you that instill confidence in you and others.
1. Weapon condition: loaded/unloaded- safe/ off safe
Knowing the condition of your weapon is the first and most important piece of information to know about your weapon. If you don’t know as a 100% fact the condition, then assume it is loaded and check it. “treat it as if it is loaded at all times” is the first rule of firearms safety. Keeping the weapon on safe, when not actively engaging tgts is the first way to not have a negligent discharge. By feeling with the grip thumb along side the lower receiver you can tell if it is on safe with out having to look. This is the first “touch point” you must master.
Firearm’s safety rule number one
2. Trigger finger indexing
When you are firing a weapon the finger must be on the trigger for it to fire. As long as you keep your finger off the trigger it can not be physically moved. Therefore it cannot fire. When not actively engaging a tgt you should keep your trigger finger along side the trigger guard and not in the trigger well. This is one of the most important “touch points” to master
Firearm’s safety rule number two
3. Muzzle awareness
The muzzle of the weapon must be pointed at something for the round to hit that same object. If you keep your weapon pointed in a safe manner that it is not covering anything you are willing to destroy then it is a safe weapon.
Firearm’s safety rule number three
4. Inspect sling support points
Nothing is more embarrassing than to be on the range and drop your weapon because you failed to secure it properly. Worst yet is for it to fall off and injure someone. Checking your sling daily before range/training/combat operations is a key pre-combat check. Your own safety may be on the line.
5. Maintain control with the hands as much as possible
When carrying the weapon with a sling it is recommended to have or maintain control with at least one hand as much as possible. Sometimes it is impractical to hold the weapon and you have to rely on the sling to support the primary weapon. This is not a problem as long as you have checked the sling support points initially.
6. Handing weapons to another person
When handing a weapon to another person it is your responsibility to do it safely. By clearing the weapon and leaving the bolt open is the best and safest way to exchange control. Once a person takes control they should say “thank you” as a confirmation that they indeed have full control and you can then release the weapon. There are times that you may be asked to” leave it hot”. In a case of that, tell the person “it’s hot” and again wait for the confirmation that is in their control before you relinquish it
Initial loading sequence
The secondary weapon system is the first to be loaded when using multiple weapon systems!
The primary weapon system is loaded in a way that allows the operator to load in a safe and reliable manner.
The steps covered here will ensure that a round is loaded completely and a press check is not needed. Ensuring a dead man’s load is not performed.
1. Ensure the weapon is on safe
2. Lock the bolt to the rear
3. Conduct a three point check of the chamber, bolt face and magazine well ensuring that a round is not in the weapon.
4. Insert a loaded magazine into the mag well
5. Manipulate the bolt release along side the lower receiver sending the bolt forward and watch the bolt strip off a round and chamber it.
6. Hit the forward assist vigorously
7. Close the ejection port cover
Unloading sequence
If you are shooting multiple weapons the one in your hand is the one you unload first
1. Ensure the weapon is pointed in a safe direction
2. Release the source of feed from the weapon and put it away
3. Lock the bolt to the rear and observe the round ejecting
4. Conduct a 3 point check of the bolt face, chamber and the magazine well for any rounds
5. Unlock the bolt letting the bolt go forward on it’s own
6. Place the weapon in the shoulder and take a clearing shot down range
7. Charge the weapon and place it on safe
8. When conducting this operation at night or in low light use an auxiliary light source to conduct the 3 point check and then have a buddy check for you if possible.
Press checks
If you loaded the weapon correctly and know the condition of your weapon there is no need for a press check. But, there is always that confirmation we are looking for in our lives, so that is when we need to conduct a “press check”.
1. Pull the charging handle slowly to the rear about an inch
2. Look at the front of the ejection port and observe the brass portion of the round chambered in the rifle.
3. Release the charging handle letting it go forward
4. Vigorously hit the forward assist ensuring the bolt is locked in place
Immediate action drills to reduce stoppage
The need to reduce a stoppage in a primary weapon is to be conducted when there is no secondary weapon to transition to or the distance to the tgt is greater than you can effectively engage the threat.
There are many reasons that a weapon will have a stoppage
1. Failure to feed
2. Failure to fire
3. The weapon is broken
4. Failure to extract and eject
5. Failure of the operator to load
6. Operator induced malfunction due to grip or interference
7. Out of ammo
Rack pull method
The immediate action taken for any of these actions is a simple and effective method.
1. Maintain grip with the firing hand
2. Pull your cheek off of the stock and give yourself some room to charge the weapon
3. Use the support hand to vigorously pull the charging handle to the rear
4. Release the charging handle and let the bolt forward under it’s own force
5. Place the weapon back on the cheek and continue to fire
Sports method
1. Slap up on the magazine ensuring it is seated all the way in the mag well
2. Pull the charging handle to the rear
3. Observe the round being ejected out of the ejection port
4. Release the charging handle letting it go forward under it’s own power
5. Tap the forward assist
6. Squeeze the trigger
This method is a more remedial action to be taken when you have the time and cover to move to.
Remedial action
Double feed reduction
1. Look at the ejection port once immediate action doesn’t work and recognize the double feed situation
2. Drop the magazine and put it away
3. Lock the bolt to the rear
4. Observe if a round gets ejected out of the weapon
5. Vigorously shake the weapon to free the jammed round out of the chamber or reach into it with fingers and clear it out
6. Place a new mag in the magazine well
7. Unlock the bolt letting it ride forward under it’s own power
8. Tap the forward assist vigorously
9. Mount the weapon and resume fire if necessary
Bolt override reduction
1. Look at the ejection port once immediate action doesn’t work and recognize the bolt override
2. Drop the magazine and put it away
3. Lock the bolt to the rear
4. Observe if a round gets ejected out of the weapon
5. Slam the charging handle forward with the hand and observe the rounds shaking out the ejection port
6. If this action loosens but doesn’t free the rounds repeat until it does
Bolt lock reload (speed magazine change)
1. Realize that the weapon is out of ammo by feeling the bolt lock to the rear.
2. Upon realizing that the weapon is empty, the non firing hand moves immediately towards the place that a new magazine is being held.
3. The firing hand will release the weapon enough to press the magazine release button with the trigger finger allowing the magazine to fall out of the weapon
4. At the same time that the mag is being released the shooter must raise the weapon up towards the working space and turning it slightly towards the side that the new magazine is approaching the weapon from.
5. The shooter must not lose total sight of the tgt and keep the weapon just far enough out of his line of sight that he can see the target in the peripheral vision while looking to the spot where the new magazine will be placed in the magazine well
6. While the non firing hand is grasping the new magazine the shooter must ensure that he holds the new magazine in a way that the index finger is pointing along side the concave side. Do not tea cup the magazine so that it is awkward to hold.
7. The shooter will look to the magazine well just long enough to ensure that the magazine is placed in the well and then shifts his vision back to the tgt.
8. The shooter then shoves the magazine into the well hard enough to seat the magazine.
9. The non firing hand begins to move toward the bolt release mechanism allowing the bolt to slam forward and chambering the new round.
10. The non firing hand then moves to the original forward grip and resume a good shooting position.
11. The firing hand resumes the original grip and begins to engage the threat tgt.
Tactical reloads
1) The weapon is moved to the working space and tilted to the non firing side and the non firing hand moves toward the magazine in the weapon.
2) The non firing hand grabs the magazine between the index and middle fingers and holds the magazine to ensure that it is not dropped.
3) The non firing hand moves toward the new magazine and places the old magazine in a pouch.
4) The non firing hand then transfer to a new magazine and grips the magazine in a way that the index finger is on the concave side of the magazine and the new magazine is moved toward the magazine well.
5) The shooter ensures that the vision to his tgt is not obstructed
6) The shooter quickly looks at the magazine well just long enough to ensure that the new mag is inserted into the well.
7) The non firing hand slams the new magazine into the mag well ensuring that it is seated well into the weapon.
8) The non firing hand is then moved to the bolt release mechanism.
9) The non firing hand then moves to the support position
10) The firing hand resumes a firing grip and resumes firing.
The use of either the speed magazine change or the tactical reload is dependant on the tactical situation you find yourself in. If the tactical situation allows the use of time and cover the tactical reload is the best way to “top” off the weapon system iot prepare for the next engagement. But, if the tactical situation calls for the immediate reload of the weapon system then the speed reload is the best. It all depends on your situation.
Initial Weapons Handling
Weapons handling skills are the mark in which you will be judged by others, not just how good you shoot. You can be a terrible shooter but have good handling skills and no one worth their weight will deny answers when you ask questions. But, have a total lack of handling skills and no one will want to be around you at all, much less teach you anything. Weapons handling skills are more than just the manual dexterity and manipulations on the weapon system; it is an attitude and awareness for your safety and the safety of those around you that instill confidence in you and others.
1. Weapon condition: loaded/unloaded- safe/ off safe
Knowing the condition of your weapon is the first and most important piece of information to know about your weapon. If you don’t know as a 100% fact the condition, then assume it is loaded and check it. “treat it as if it is loaded at all times” is the first rule of firearms safety. Keeping the weapon on safe, when not actively engaging tgts is the first way to not have a negligent discharge. By feeling with the grip thumb along side the lower receiver you can tell if it is on safe with out having to look. This is the first “touch point” you must master.
Firearm’s safety rule number one
2. Trigger finger indexing
When you are firing a weapon the finger must be on the trigger for it to fire. As long as you keep your finger off the trigger it can not be physically moved. Therefore it cannot fire. When not actively engaging a tgt you should keep your trigger finger along side the trigger guard and not in the trigger well. This is one of the most important “touch points” to master
Firearm’s safety rule number two
3. Muzzle awareness
The muzzle of the weapon must be pointed at something for the round to hit that same object. If you keep your weapon pointed in a safe manner that it is not covering anything you are willing to destroy then it is a safe weapon.
Firearm’s safety rule number three
4. Inspect sling support points
Nothing is more embarrassing than to be on the range and drop your weapon because you failed to secure it properly. Worst yet is for it to fall off and injure someone. Checking your sling daily before range/training/combat operations is a key pre-combat check. Your own safety may be on the line.
5. Maintain control with the hands as much as possible
When carrying the weapon with a sling it is recommended to have or maintain control with at least one hand as much as possible. Sometimes it is impractical to hold the weapon and you have to rely on the sling to support the primary weapon. This is not a problem as long as you have checked the sling support points initially.
6. Handing weapons to another person
When handing a weapon to another person it is your responsibility to do it safely. By clearing the weapon and leaving the bolt open is the best and safest way to exchange control. Once a person takes control they should say “thank you” as a confirmation that they indeed have full control and you can then release the weapon. There are times that you may be asked to” leave it hot”. In a case of that, tell the person “it’s hot” and again wait for the confirmation that is in their control before you relinquish it
Initial loading sequence
The secondary weapon system is the first to be loaded when using multiple weapon systems!
The primary weapon system is loaded in a way that allows the operator to load in a safe and reliable manner.
The steps covered here will ensure that a round is loaded completely and a press check is not needed. Ensuring a dead man’s load is not performed.
1. Ensure the weapon is on safe
2. Lock the bolt to the rear
3. Conduct a three point check of the chamber, bolt face and magazine well ensuring that a round is not in the weapon.
4. Insert a loaded magazine into the mag well
5. Manipulate the bolt release along side the lower receiver sending the bolt forward and watch the bolt strip off a round and chamber it.
6. Hit the forward assist vigorously
7. Close the ejection port cover
Unloading sequence
If you are shooting multiple weapons the one in your hand is the one you unload first
1. Ensure the weapon is pointed in a safe direction
2. Release the source of feed from the weapon and put it away
3. Lock the bolt to the rear and observe the round ejecting
4. Conduct a 3 point check of the bolt face, chamber and the magazine well for any rounds
5. Unlock the bolt letting the bolt go forward on it’s own
6. Place the weapon in the shoulder and take a clearing shot down range
7. Charge the weapon and place it on safe
8. When conducting this operation at night or in low light use an auxiliary light source to conduct the 3 point check and then have a buddy check for you if possible.
Press checks
If you loaded the weapon correctly and know the condition of your weapon there is no need for a press check. But, there is always that confirmation we are looking for in our lives, so that is when we need to conduct a “press check”.
1. Pull the charging handle slowly to the rear about an inch
2. Look at the front of the ejection port and observe the brass portion of the round chambered in the rifle.
3. Release the charging handle letting it go forward
4. Vigorously hit the forward assist ensuring the bolt is locked in place
Immediate action drills to reduce stoppage
The need to reduce a stoppage in a primary weapon is to be conducted when there is no secondary weapon to transition to or the distance to the tgt is greater than you can effectively engage the threat.
There are many reasons that a weapon will have a stoppage
1. Failure to feed
2. Failure to fire
3. The weapon is broken
4. Failure to extract and eject
5. Failure of the operator to load
6. Operator induced malfunction due to grip or interference
7. Out of ammo
Rack pull method
The immediate action taken for any of these actions is a simple and effective method.
1. Maintain grip with the firing hand
2. Pull your cheek off of the stock and give yourself some room to charge the weapon
3. Use the support hand to vigorously pull the charging handle to the rear
4. Release the charging handle and let the bolt forward under it’s own force
5. Place the weapon back on the cheek and continue to fire
Sports method
1. Slap up on the magazine ensuring it is seated all the way in the mag well
2. Pull the charging handle to the rear
3. Observe the round being ejected out of the ejection port
4. Release the charging handle letting it go forward under it’s own power
5. Tap the forward assist
6. Squeeze the trigger
This method is a more remedial action to be taken when you have the time and cover to move to.
Remedial action
Double feed reduction
1. Look at the ejection port once immediate action doesn’t work and recognize the double feed situation
2. Drop the magazine and put it away
3. Lock the bolt to the rear
4. Observe if a round gets ejected out of the weapon
5. Vigorously shake the weapon to free the jammed round out of the chamber or reach into it with fingers and clear it out
6. Place a new mag in the magazine well
7. Unlock the bolt letting it ride forward under it’s own power
8. Tap the forward assist vigorously
9. Mount the weapon and resume fire if necessary
Bolt override reduction
1. Look at the ejection port once immediate action doesn’t work and recognize the bolt override
2. Drop the magazine and put it away
3. Lock the bolt to the rear
4. Observe if a round gets ejected out of the weapon
5. Slam the charging handle forward with the hand and observe the rounds shaking out the ejection port
6. If this action loosens but doesn’t free the rounds repeat until it does
Bolt lock reload (speed magazine change)
1. Realize that the weapon is out of ammo by feeling the bolt lock to the rear.
2. Upon realizing that the weapon is empty, the non firing hand moves immediately towards the place that a new magazine is being held.
3. The firing hand will release the weapon enough to press the magazine release button with the trigger finger allowing the magazine to fall out of the weapon
4. At the same time that the mag is being released the shooter must raise the weapon up towards the working space and turning it slightly towards the side that the new magazine is approaching the weapon from.
5. The shooter must not lose total sight of the tgt and keep the weapon just far enough out of his line of sight that he can see the target in the peripheral vision while looking to the spot where the new magazine will be placed in the magazine well
6. While the non firing hand is grasping the new magazine the shooter must ensure that he holds the new magazine in a way that the index finger is pointing along side the concave side. Do not tea cup the magazine so that it is awkward to hold.
7. The shooter will look to the magazine well just long enough to ensure that the magazine is placed in the well and then shifts his vision back to the tgt.
8. The shooter then shoves the magazine into the well hard enough to seat the magazine.
9. The non firing hand begins to move toward the bolt release mechanism allowing the bolt to slam forward and chambering the new round.
10. The non firing hand then moves to the original forward grip and resume a good shooting position.
11. The firing hand resumes the original grip and begins to engage the threat tgt.
Tactical reloads
1) The weapon is moved to the working space and tilted to the non firing side and the non firing hand moves toward the magazine in the weapon.
2) The non firing hand grabs the magazine between the index and middle fingers and holds the magazine to ensure that it is not dropped.
3) The non firing hand moves toward the new magazine and places the old magazine in a pouch.
4) The non firing hand then transfer to a new magazine and grips the magazine in a way that the index finger is on the concave side of the magazine and the new magazine is moved toward the magazine well.
5) The shooter ensures that the vision to his tgt is not obstructed
6) The shooter quickly looks at the magazine well just long enough to ensure that the new mag is inserted into the well.
7) The non firing hand slams the new magazine into the mag well ensuring that it is seated well into the weapon.
8) The non firing hand is then moved to the bolt release mechanism.
9) The non firing hand then moves to the support position
10) The firing hand resumes a firing grip and resumes firing.
The use of either the speed magazine change or the tactical reload is dependant on the tactical situation you find yourself in. If the tactical situation allows the use of time and cover the tactical reload is the best way to “top” off the weapon system iot prepare for the next engagement. But, if the tactical situation calls for the immediate reload of the weapon system then the speed reload is the best. It all depends on your situation.