Common Core: Weapons Fundamentals Flashcards
State the 4 rules of weapons safety.
- Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
- Never point your weapon at something you don’t intend to shoot.
- Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until ready to fire.
- Keep weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
What are the 4 weapons conditions?
- Magazine inserted, round in chamber, bolt forward, safety on, ejection port covered.
- Not applicable.
- Magazine inserted, chamber empty, bolt forward, safety on, and ejection port cover closed.
- Magazine removed, chamber empty, bolt forward,
What weapons systems are in the NCF?
- M9 Pistol
- M16A Rifle
- .50Cal Browning Machine Gun
- M240B Machine gun
- MK 19 MOD 3 Machine Gun
- M203 40 MM Grenade Launcher
- Hand Grenades
Define Malfunction
Malfunction is an unplanned cessation of fire and occurs because a stoppage caused by a mechanical failure of the weapon, magazine, or ammunition.
Define Misfire
Misfire is a complete failure to fire, not a delay in firing.
What are the 8 steps in a firing cycle?
- Feeding
- Chambering
- Locking
- Firing
- Unlocking
- Extracting
- Ejecting
- Cocking
What is the difference between semi-automatic and automatic operation?
A semi-automatic weapon unlocks, extracts, ejects, cocks, and reloads automatically. The trigger must be pulled each time. An automatic weapon continues firing as long as the trigger is pulled.
Define Trajectory.
Trajectory is the curved path of the bullet through the air. Influenced by velocity, gravity, and air resistance.
Define Breech.
The rear end of the barrel.
Define Bore.
Houses the rifling grooves of the barrel.
Define Chamber.
The enlarged part of the bore at the breech that holds the cartridge.
Define Muzzle.
The front end of the barrel
Define Muzzle Velocity.
The speed at which a bullet travels when it leaves the muzzle of the barrel.
Define Maximum Range.
The greatest distance that the projectile will travel.
Define Maximum Effective Range.
The greatest distance at which a weapon may be expected to fire accurately to inflict damage or casualties.
Orange or Red ammo
Tracer rounds. Use four ball rounds per tracer round.
Violet ammo
Blanks. Used for training or ceremonial salutes.
Ball Cartridge
Muzzle Velocity: 3,250ft/sec
Max Range: 3,000 yds
Max Effective Range: 500 yds
Aluminum tipped ammo
Armor piercing incendiary round
Green ammo
Standard ball round
What is the magazine capacity, ranges, and types of ammo for the M9 Service Pistol?
Magazine capacity: 15 rounds
Max Eff Range: 50m
Max Range: 1800m
Ammo: 9mm NATO
What is the magazine capacity, ranges, rates of fire, and types of ammo for the M-16A3 rifle?
Magazine capacity: 30 round
Max Eff Range: 550m/800m
Max Range: 3534m
Rates of Fire: 12 to 15 rounds per minute
What are the loading/unloading procedures for the M9 Service Pistol?
The M9 is a semi-automatic, magazine-fed, self-loading handgun. The magazine is a staggered, steel constructed, aluminum follower, with a capacity of 15 rounds.
What are the loading/unloading procedures for the M-16A3 Rifle?
The magazine has a capacity of 20 rounds and may be loaded with any amount up to that capacity.
Fragmentary Grenades
Fragmentary grenades produce high-velocity projection of fragments from the grenade case. The effective casualty-producing ratio is 15m.
What are the hand grenade safety procedures?
- Do not remove a safety pin on a grenade until ready to throw it.
- Wear a steel helmet if within 50m of a grenade danger area.
- Do not attempt to diffuse a grenade.
- Smoke grenades should not be used in a closed area.
What are the characteristics and purpose of the Claymore mine?
The M18A1 Claymore is the only mine authorized for use by the Seabees. It is electronically controlled and is a one-time-use. It is an antipersonnel mine used for support of other weapons during the final protective fire of the unit. 6- degree fan-shaped range approx 2m high and 50m wide. Max effective range is 50m.
Describe the characteristics of the 7.62mm M240B machine gun.
The M240B is a general purpose mounted machine gun. It is belt fed, air cooled, gas operated, and fully automatic. Max range 3,725m. Max eff range 1,800m.
What are the loading/unloading procedures for the M240B machine gun?
Belt fed with a feed tray.
For the M240B machine gun, who are the members of a gun team? What are they responsible to carry into combat?
Machine Gun Team Leader: responsible for the employment of the machine gun. Carries extra barrel and the tripod.
Gunner: Carries and fires the machine gun.
Ammo Carrier #1: Carries a box of ammo and a rifle to protect the team’s flank.
Ammo Carrier #2: Carries two boxes of ammo and a rifle.
Proper employment of M240B machine gun.
The M240B gunner supports the rifleman in both offensive and defensive operations. Provides a heavy volume of close and continuous fire.
FPL/PDF of M240B machine gun.
FPL: Prearranged barrier of fire used to stop enemy movement across defensive lines.
PDF: Principle direction of fire used when a FPL was not assigned.
Maximum effective range M240B machine gun.
1,100 m with tripod
Safeties M240B machine gun
Manual selector behind the trigger well.
Ammunition types M240B machine gun.
Standard 7.62mm ammo in disintegrating, metallic, spilt-linked belt.
Rates of fire M240B machine gun.
- Sustained: 100 rounds per minute
- Rapid: 200 rounds per minute
- Cyclic: 650 to 950 rounds/minute.
Types of mounts for M240B machine gun.
Tripod, bipod, HMMWV vehicle mount
Describe the characteristics of the 40mm machine gun.
The MK19 MOD 3 is an air-cooled, belt-fed, blowback operated, fully automatic weapon.
What are the loading/unloading procedures for the 40mm machine gun?
Feeding, insert round, charging/loading,
Proper employment of 40mm machine gun.
To be most effective, a machine gun should be employed from a tripod mount on the ground.
FPL/PDF of 40mm machine gun.
The MK-19 is not suitable for a FPL because of its high trajectory. PDF to cover an avenue of approach, an obstacle, choke point, or deadspace.
What is the arming range of the 40mm machine gun?
- M383 High-Explosive Round: 18-36 meters
- M430 High-Explosive Dual Purpose Round: 18-30m
- M918 Target Practice Round: 18-30m
Maximum effective range of 40mm machine gun (area target)
2,212 meters
Maximum effective range of 40mm machine gun (point target).
1,500 meters
Rate of fire for 40mm machine gun
325-375 rounds per minute.
Safety on 40mm machine gun
The safety slide is inside the sear assembly. Prevents the sear from being depressed.
Ammunition for 40mm machine gun
- M383 High-Explosive Round
- M430 High-Explosive Dual Purpose Round
- M918 Target Practice Round
Describe the characteristics of the .50 caliber M2 machine gun
Belt-fed, recoil-operated, air-cooled, crew-served, alternate-feed, automatic.
What are the loading/unloading procedures for the M2 machine gun?
Make sure gun is clear before loading rounds.
Proper employment of .50 caliber M2 machine gun
High volumes of accurate fire. Ideal for engaging troop concentrations, lightly armored vehicles, fortified positions, aircraft, and other equipment.
FPL/PDF of M2 machine gun.
Not suitable for an FPL in the defense and should normally be assigned a PDF to cover an avenue of approach, obstacle, choke point, or dead space.
What is the maximum range of the M2?
6,767 meters
What is the maximum effective range of the M2?
1,829 meters
What is the direction of feed for the M2?
Link-belt
Rates of fire for the M2.
- Single Shot
- Slow Fire: less than 40 rounds per minute.
- Rapid Fire: greater than 40 rounds per minute.
- Cyclic Fire: 400 to 550 rounds per minute.
What is the proper employment of the 40mm M203 grenade launcher?
- Place the weapon in Condition 4 (shoulder fired)
- Use the right ammunition
What ammunition type is used in the M203 grenade launcher?
Practice rounds, multiple purpose, chemical rounds, high explosive, and dual purpose.
What is the maximum effective range (area target) of the M203 grenade launcher?
350 meters
What is the maximum effective range (point target) of the M203 grenade launcher?
150 meters
What is the maximum range of the M203 grenade launcher?
400 meters
Describe the characteristics of the 40mm M203 Grenade Launcher.
The grenade launcher is mounted on a M16 rifle. It is lightweight, compact, breech-loading, pump action, and single-shot.
Describe the characteristics of the M500 12-guage shotgun.
M500 is manually operated, magazine-fed, pump-action, shoulder weapon.
What are the loading/unloading procedures for the M500?
Single load or magazine load.
What is the length of the M500?
39 inches
Where are the safeties on the M500?
Crossbolt type
What ammunition type is used in the M500?
12 gauge shells
Describe the use and purpose of the range card as it relates to each weapon system.
The range card is a rough sketch of drawing which serves as both a record of firing data and a document for the defensive fire planning.
Discuss the integration of the weapons system into an overall defensive fire plan.
- Automatic rifleman: Positioned first by the squad leader.
- Rifleman: Cover the entire fire team sector
- Grenadier: Positioned to cover the dead space in the defense.
- M2: Provide protection for motorized movement.
- MK19: Used to provide direct and indirect fire.
What is the use and purpose of the AN/PVS-7C (night goggles)?
Hand-held or head-mounted night vision for general use.
What is the use and purpose of the AN/PVS-12A (M240B, M16, M14)?
Night vision weapon sight with 4X magnification.
What is the use and purpose of the AN/PVS-20 (MK19, M2)?
Automatically adjusting
What is grazing fire?
Trajectory no higher than 68in. Spans 750 yds
What is plunging fire?
Strikes the ground from above at considerable angle.
What is overhead fire?
Delivered over the heads of friendly fire.
What is fixed fire?
Delivered against targets that only require a single aiming point. Is continuous as long as any portion of the target remains in the zone of fire.
What is traversing fire?
Distributed in width by successive changes in the horizontal direction of the gun. A burst of fire is delivered after each change or during the swing.
What is searching fire?
Distributed in depth by successive changes in the elevation of the gun. Used against targets that are too deep to be included.
What is combined searching and traversing fire?
Distributed both in width and depth and by changes in both elevation and horizontal direction.
What is swinging traverse fire?
Used against targets that are moving rapidly across the front of the gunner.
What is free fire?
Delivered from the tripod mount against a target requiring rapid, major changes in direction and elevation.
Define Stoppage
Stoppage is any interruption in the cycle of functioning caused by faulty action of the weapon or ammunition.
Black Tipped Ammo
Armor Piercing
Illuminating Grenade
The MK1 is used to illuminate terrain in night operations. It provides about 55,000 candlepower for 25 seconds.
Chemical Grenade
Chemical grenades are used for incendiary, screening, signaling, training, and riot control. Typically filled with tear gas.
Incendiary Grenade
AN-M14 incendiary (thermite) grenade is used to ignite combustible materials and destroy equipment. Burns for approx 40 sec at degrees of 4300 degrees F.
Smoke Grenade
M34 or M8 white-phosphorous grenade will produce colored smoke for signaling.
Practice/Training Grenade
Used for training by simulating the function of service grenades.
Concussion Grenade
The MK 3A2 concussion grenade is an offensive weapon designed to counter and repel threats, produce enemy casualties during close combat, and minimize fragmentation hazards to friendly troops.
