PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING

M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE

TC 3-22.249

M249 AR

1
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE

• Action: Demonstrate the ability to deliver
effective small arms training with basic and
advanced marksmanship techniques while
employing the M249 AR.

• Conditions: Given an M249 AR, PPE,

LCE/LBV or IBV, Protective Mask, M16
magazines, ammunition, additional issue
optics and/or laser, 10 meter, transition,
visible laser and reflective targets.

• Standard: Complete Preliminary

Marksmanship Training (PMT) with the
M249 AR and deploy associated equipment
to deliver training and qualify to standard
I/A/W TC 3-22.249.

2
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

SAFETY
• Treat every weapon as loaded. Clear the
weapon as the first action when you
receive it and always know the condition
of your weapon.

• Never point the weapon at anything you

do not intend to destroy.

• Keep finger straight and off the trigger

until until ready to fire.

• Ensure positive identification of the target

and sure of your target and its
surroundings.

3
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

SAFETY
Unload / Clear
• Place weapon on FIRE. Lock bolt to rear.

• Place weapon on SAFE. Open Cover.

• Areas to check to Clear M249

1. Feed pawl assembly under feed cover.
2. Feed tray assembly.
3. Lift feed tray assembly and inspect
chamber.
4. Space between bolt assembly and
chamber.
5. Magazine well.

• Weapon is now “GREEN”

4
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

CHARACTERISTICS

5
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

CHARACTERISTICS
Ammunition

Ball,
M855

6
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

CHARACTERISTICS
Accessories

7
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

MAINTENANCE

8
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

MAINTENANCE
• Clear weapon. Condition “GREEN” .

• Ensure bolt is FORWARD.

• Disassemble by major components.

• Inspect each component for burrs, cracks

and serviceability.

• Lubrication: Use CLP only.

• Use BII Scraper tool to remove carbon.

• Do not dry fire on empty chamber.

9
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

MAINTENANCE
• Reassemble weapon by major components.

• Upon reassembly go to condition “GREEN”

• Functions Check:
– Lock bolt to rear, place on SAFE. Squeeze
trigger.

– Grasp charging handle, place on FIRE,

squeeze trigger and ride bolt forward.

– Lock bolt to rear, place on FIRE.

– Use linked dummy ammo to check stripping,

locking, loading, unlocking, extracting and
ejecting.
– CAUTION: Do not dry fire on empty chamber.

• NOTE: Weapon should not go on SAFE when bolt

is forward. DO NOT HALF COCK

10
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

LOADING

• There is no authorized “AMBER”

• Ammo on feed tray, bolt to the rear, on safe is “RED”
• Ammo on feed tray, bolt to the rear, off safe, ready to
fire is “BLACK”
11
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

LOADING

• Magazine inserted, bolt to the rear, on SAFE

is “RED”.

• Magazine inserted, bolt to the rear, on FIRE,

ready to fire is “BLACK”.

NOTE: Magazines used only in EMERGENCY

12
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

Ready Positions

Hang
Safe Hang
Collapsed Ready
Low Ready
High Ready
Ready/Ready-Up (“Instant Ready”)

13
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

Drills A-K
The drill structure is standardized for all individual and crew served
weapons in order to reinforce the most common actions all Soldiers need to
routinely execute with their assigned equipment during training and combat.

A: Weapon Check
B: Sling/Unsling (Draw/Holster). Change location of the
weapon on demand. Go between Ready Postions, Safe Hang,
Collapsed Low Ready, Low Ready, High Ready, Ready-Up
C: Equipment Check PCC
D: Load
E: Carry (5/3) Move between 5 methods of carry 3 times.
F: Fight Down. Start in the standing/offhand position and
assume the kneeling, sitting, and prone (or variations) in order.
G: Fight Up. Start in prone and assume the sitting, kneeling,
and standing positions in order.
H: Go-To-Prone. Rapidly drop from standing/crouching or
similar ready position into prone. Do while stationary, walking,
or during a tactical rush.
I: Reload. Completely reload the weapon from ammunition
stored in load bearing equipment.
J: Clear Malfunction. Reduce the most common malfunctions.
K: Unload/Show Clear

14
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

CORRECT MALFUNCTIONS
Immediate Action
• Action taken to rectify a stoppage
without observing the cause.
• Pull/Push – Assess

Remedial Action
• Clear the weapon, inspect, identify,
and correct problem if possible.
Runaway Gun

Pull and hold handle (preferred)
Cookoff

Only an issue during a stoppage
AND Immediate Action fails

15
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS
OF EMPLOYMENT

SACM
STABILITY
AIM
CONTROL
MOVEMENT

16
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

Stability
Prone Bipod

17
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249
Aiming

18
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

Control - Trigger


Place the index finger wherever yields
the best control with a firm grasp.
• Press/Release – Don't “squeeze”
• Modulate to control the number of rounds
per burst
• Pay attention to the size and location
of your Cone Of Fire

19
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

ZEROING

20
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

ZEROING

• Mechanically Zero Rear Sight Assembly.

• Peep sight and windage knob zeroed / centered.

• Elevation set at 700 Meters (for 10m zero)

• Elevation set at 400 Meters (for 25m zero)

Elevation set at actual distance at actual distace
21
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

ZEROING
Sight Corrections
Range Peep Sight Windage
Half Rotation One Click
10m 0.5cm 0.5cm
300m 15cm/ 6” 15cm / 6”

1cm square
5cm tall

5cm apart

4cm wide
•10m: 1 mil = 1 cm (10 meters=1,000 cm)
•1/2 mil per click sights
•1 mil per click tripod (M122) or ~4 mils per push (M192)
22
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

Center Base Aimpoint

23
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

Cone of Fire
Center Base Aimpoint

24
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

EFFECTS OF WIND AND GRAVITY AND

FIRE ADJUSTMENT

25
 PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

Fire Commands
• ALERT: i.e. “FIRE MISSION”: Gunner
Loads gun and moves safety to fire.

• DIRECTION: i.e. “FRONT”: Gunner

moves gun to that direction.

• RANGE: i.e. “400 Meters” Distance to

target. Set range scale and adjust T&E
to hit center base of target.

• DESCRIPTION: i.e. “APC/TROOPS”

Type of target. Gunner looks for and
identifies the target(s).

• ASSIGNMENT/METHOD: i.e. “FIXED”

• CONTROL: i.e. “AT MY COMMAND”:

Gunner gives “GUN UP” when ready
• When he is ready to fire.-----”FIRE”.

26
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

TABLE I (10m)

27
PRIMARY MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING
M249 IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE
TC 3-22.249

TABLE II (TRANSITION)

28