Operator's Manual

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25
the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction.
2. If not already done, remove the magazine from the magazine
well as explained in Section 15.2.
3. Open the feed tray cover by squeezing in on the cover latches
on the rear of the feed tray cover. See Figure 25. Leave the feed
tray cover open in the 45
o
or 90
o
position.
4. Pull the charging handle to the rear as explained in Section 11
and visually inspect the chamber to ensure that it is empty.
Return the bolt to the forward, closed position.
5. Attach a filled box/ammunition pack to underside of receiver
by aligning the dovetail on top of the box with the bracket on
the bottom of the receiver from the left side. Slide the dovetail
to the right into the bracket until the catch locks into place.
Pull outward on ammunition pack to ensure that the latch is
engaged. See Figure 26.
6. Pull about 10-12 rounds of the belt out of the ammunition
pack. Place the linked belt on feed tray assembly with first
round fully against cartridge stop. Ensure the closed sides of
the links are facing up and the open sides of the links are
facing down against the feed tray. In this manner, the belt will
be placed on the feed tray “brass to the grass”, where the
open part of the links expose the brass of the cartridges to the
ground instead of to the sky. Two feed pawls will hold the belt
in place. Ensure the belt is not twisted. See Figure 27. Note
feed tray with cartridge stop and feed pawls highlighted.
7. Firmly close the feed tray cover assembly; ensure it is
locked closed.
8. If shooting is imminent, a cartridge can now be moved from
the feed tray to the chamber by pulling back fully on the
charging handle and releasing it. Allow the bolt to move
forward into battery under its full spring pressure, do not
“ride” the charging handle and bolt forward. If the bolt is not
allowed to close in this manner, there is a possibility that it
will not close completely, preventing the rifle from firing.
Ensure the charging handle is in the forward, locked position.
WARNING! THE RIFLE IS NOW READY TO FIRE BY MOVING
THE SAFETY SELECTOR TO THE FIRE POSITION AND PULLING
THE TRIGGER.
WARNING! ONLY USE ONE SOURCE OF AMMUNITION WHEN
FIRING THE FN M249S
™
. ATTEMPTING TO USE THE BELT/
AMMUNITION PACK AND THE 30 ROUND MAGAZINE AT THE
SAME TIME WILL CAUSE THE RIFLE TO MALFUNCTION AND
FAIL TO RELIABLY FEED. PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGE TO
THE RIFLE AND AMMUNITION MAY RESULT.
15.4 Loading the FN M249S
™
from the Magazine
1. Make sure the slide hammer is cocked and the safety selector
is in the SAFE position as explained in Sections 10 and 11, and
the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction.
2. Open the feed tray cover by squeezing in on the cover latches
on the rear of the feed tray cover. See Figure 25. Ensure the
feed tray is clear of ammunition and links. Refer to Section
17.1 for clearing the feed tray.
Leave the feed tray cover open in the 45
o
or 90
o
position.
3. Pull the charging handle to the rear as explained in Section 11
and visually inspect the chamber to ensure that it is empty.
Return the bolt to the forward, closed position.
4. Insert a filled magazine into the magazine well until it locks in
place and pull to ensure magazine is secured. The magazine
will open the magazine well
dust cover when pressed
against it. See Figure 28.
Ensure the projectiles in the
magazine point toward the
muzzle of the rifle when
doing so. Firmly close the
feed tray cover and ensure
it is locked closed.
5. If shooting is imminent, a
cartridge can now be
moved from the magazine to the chamber by pulling back fully
on the charging handle and releasing it. Allow the bolt to move
forward into battery under its full spring pressure, do not
“ride” the charging handle and bolt forward. If the bolt is not
allowed to close in this manner, there is a possibility that it
will not close completely, preventing the rifle from firing.
Ensure the charging handle is in the forward, locked position.
FIGURE 27
FIGURE 25
FIGURE 26
FIGURE 28