Operator's Manual

26
27
WARNING! THE RIFLE IS NOW READY TO FIRE BY MOVING
THE SAFETY SELECTOR TO THE FIRE POSITION AND PULLING
THE TRIGGER.
16. FIRING
16.1 Firing Procedures
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. Load a cartridge into the chamber as explained previously in
Section 15. With a cartridge in the chamber, you need only to
move the safety selector to the FIRE position to make the rifle
ready for firing. Do not move the safety selector to the FIRE
position unless shooting is imminent.
3. When ready to fire, move the safety selector into the FIRE
position, take aim and squeeze the trigger.
WARNING! THE FIRING OF LONG SUSTAINED STRINGS OF
FIRE WILL CREATE A “COOK OFF” HAZARD. A “COOK OFF”
IS WHEN EXCESSIVE HEAT OF THE BARREL WILL CAUSE THE
CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER TO IGNITE AND FIRE WITHOUT
PULLING THE TRIGGER. THE FIRING OF 200 ROUNDS IN 2
MINUTES WILL RESULT IN THIS POTENTIAL. TO AVOID THIS
DANGEROUS CONDITION, IMMEDIATELY CLEAR THE RIFLE
AFTER FIRING IS COMPLETED. THEN ALLOW THE BARREL TO
COOL FOR 15 MINUTES OR CHANGE BARRELS BEFORE
RESUMING FIRING. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE
INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.
IF THE RIFLE CANNOT BE IMMEDIATELY CLEARED AND THE
BARREL IS EXCESSIVELY HOT (200 ROUNDS FIRED IN 2
MINUTES), DO NOT OPEN THE FEED TRAY COVER OR REMOVE
THE BARREL. PLACE THE SAFETY IN THE “SAFE” POSITION
AND ENSURE THE RIFLE IS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
REMOVE THE MAGAZINE IF IT IS THE SOURCE OF
AMMUNITION. WAIT 15 MINUTES FOR THE BARREL TO COOL
BEFORE CLEARING THE RIFLE AS EXPLAINED IN SECTION
16.2.
WARNING! THE BARREL ASSEMBLY AND FRONT SIGHT
ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME EXTREMELY HOT DURING
EXTENDED FIRING SESSIONS OR DURING RAPID FIRING.
AVOID CONTACT WITH THESE PARTS DURING SHOOTING OR
WEAR GLOVES TO PREVENT BURNS TO YOUR HANDS. DO NOT
FIRE THE FN M249S
™
WITHOUT HANDGUARDS IN PLACE.
WHEN REMOVING THE BARREL, HANDLE THE BARREL WITH
CARE AND ONLY USE THE CARRY HANDLE TO REMOVE A HOT
BARREL. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS WARNING COULD RESULT
IN SERIOUS INJURY.
4. After a cartridge has fired, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly
automatically move rearward, ejecting the empty case and a
single link, then return forward, chambering a loaded cartridge
from the magazine or belt. Note: the charging handle does not
move during the firing sequence.
Because fired casings and links are ejected to the right side,
bystanders should not stand to the right of the shooter. Left-
handed shooters should protect their right arm from ejected
casings and links.
5. This operation is repeated each time you pull the trigger until
the last cartridge from the belt or magazine has been fired. If
shooting is no longer imminent, immediately place the safety
selector in the SAFE position.
6. After the last cartridge of the belt or magazine is fired, the bolt
will not lock in the rearward position. If you wish to continue
shooting, you can reload the rifle by removing the empty box /
ammo pack and reloading a filled box / ammo pack or by
removing the empty magazine and inserting a loaded
magazine as described previously in Section 15.
7. If your rifle is to be put away and stored, do not reload the
rifle, ammunition pack or magazine. The chamber, feed tray
and magazine must remain empty when storing your rifle.
CAUTION! FIRING LONG SUSTAINED STRINGS OF FIRE
(SUCH AS THE FIRING OF 200 ROUNDS IN 2 MINUTES)
WILL ACCELERATE WEAR TO THE BORE OF THE RIFLE. TO
AVOID THIS CONDITION, ALLOW THE BARREL TO COOL FOR
AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BETWEEN EXTENDED STRINGS OF
FIRE OR CHANGE BARRELS IF A SPARE BARREL
IS AVAILABLE.
16.2 Malfunctions
If your rifle suffers a malfunction, such as the failure to fire or fully
eject a fired cartridge case, perform the following operation to clear
the rifle.
IF THE BARREL IS EXCESSIVELY HOT (SUCH AS AFTER FIRING 200
ROUNDS IN 2 MINUTES), USE HOT BARREL MALFUNCTION
PROCEDURES
Malfunction Procedures Under Normal Conditions
1. Immediately place the safety selector in the SAFE position as
explained in Section 10 and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe
direction.
2. Eject the magazine from the rifle or clear the belt of
ammunition from the feed tray as explained in Section 17.
3. Place the safety selector into the FIRE position.
4. Pull rearward on the charging handle to completely eject the
cartridge case. Immediately place the safety selector back into
the SAFE position.
5. Inspect, and if necessary, clean the rifle as outlined
in Section 25.
Hot Barrel Malfunction Procedures
If your rifle is excessively hot (200 rounds fired in 2 minutes) and
you experience a malfunction,
1. Immediately place the safety selector in the SAFE position as