How to Field Strip a M4 Assault Rifle

The M4 Carbine is a gas-operated, shoulder-fired automatic weapon used extensively by the United States Army and Marine Corps. It is a smaller variant of the M16, and is designed to help soldiers fight more effectively at close quarters. Proper cleaning and maintenance of this rifle is absolutely essential to keep it operating as designed and prevent potentially catastrophic malfunctions.

Instructions

    • 1

      Clear your weapon. Ensure that the safety is on and remove the magazine from the weapon. Press the bottom of the bolt catch and move the bolt forward until it locks into place. Visually inspect both the chamber and the magazine to ensure there are no rounds present.

    • 2

      Unsnap the sling from the rifle.

    • 3

      Place the buttstock of the rifle against the ground and press down on the slip ring, using both hands.

    • 4

      Pull the hand guards free of the barrel. It is preferable (but not necessary) to have a second person do this.

    • 5

      Push the take-down pin from left to right and pivot the upper receiver away from the lower receiver.

    • 6

      Push the receiver pin at the front of the weapon and separate the upper and lower receivers.

    • 7

      Pull back the charging handle and the bolt carrier using gentle pressure.

    • 8

      Remove the bolt carrier and the bolt.

    • 9

      Remove the charging handle by pulling back and up.

    • 10

      Remove the firing pin's retaining pin. Lock the bolt assembly back into place and drop the firing pin out of the bolt carrier.

    • 11

      Give the bolt cam pin a quarter turn and lift it out of the assembly.

    • 12

      Remove the entire bolt assembly from its carrier.

    • 13

      Clean all parts of the weapon that are dirty. You may need to remove the extractor and action spring if they require cleaning, but it is not necessary.