Basic Maintenance of the M16 or AR15

CLEAR YOUR RIFLETurn the selector to 'SAFE'. If the weapon is not cocked, the lever cannot be turned to safe. If there is a magazine in the rifle, remove it.
	Lock the bolt open by pulling the charging handle rearward, pressing on the bottom of the bolt catch, and allowing the bolt to move forward until it engages the bolt catch. Return your charging handle to the forward position.
Look in the receiver and chamber to ensure these areas contain no ammunition.
	With the selector on safe, allow the bolt to go forward by pressing the upper portion of the bolt catch.
DISASSEMBLE YOUR RIFLERemove the sling. Remove the handguards.
	Push the takedown pin as far as it will go.
Push the receiver pivot pin.
	Separate the upper and lower receivers.
Pull back the charging handle and remove the bolt carrier and bolt.
	Remove the charging handle.
Remove the firing pin retaining pin. Do not open or bend the split end of retaining pin.
	Put the bolt assembly in the locked position by pushing in the bolt assembly.
Remove the firing pin by letting it drop out of the rear of the bolt carrier into your hand.
	Remove the bolt cam pin by turning it one-quarter turn and lifting it out,
Pull the bolt assembly from the bolt carrier.
	Remove the extractor pin by using the firing pin to push it out. Do not damage the tip of the firing pin.
Lift out the extractor and spring. Do not separate the spring from the extractor.
	Press in the buffer, depress the retainer, and release the buffer.
Remove the buffer and action spring. Separate the buffer from the spring.
	CLEAN, AND LUBRICATE YOUR RIFLEClean the barrel from the receiver end, going through the flash suppressor, and do not reverse direction while in the bore.
Clean the barrel locking lugs and the gas tube in the upper receiver. Use a worn bore brush clean outside surface of protruding gas tube.
	Clean the buffer and inside lower receiver extension, making sure to clean the drain hole with a pipe cleaner.
Brush dirt and powder from the trigger mechanism and lower receiver.
	Clean the bolt carrier group. Clean the outer and inner surfaces of the bolt carrier. Clean the carrier key. Clean the firing pin recess and firing pin. Clean the firing pin hole with a pipe cleaner. Clean the carbon deposits and dirt from the locking lugs. Clean the areas behind the bolt ring and under the lip of the extractor.
INSPECT YOUR RIFLE BEFORE ASSEMBLY.BOLT - Check for cracks or fractures especially in the cam pin hole area; bolts that contain pits extending into the firing pin hole need replacing.FIRING PIN - Bent, cracked or blunted end.	CAM PIN - Cracked, chipped or missing. FIRING PIN RETAINING PIN - Bent, rusted, badly worn.EXTRACTOR AND EXTRACTOR SPRING - Check extractor for chipped or broken edges in the area of the lip that engages the cartridge rim.
	ASSEMBLE YOUR RIFLEInsert the spring and buffer.
Insert the extractor and spring. Push the extractor pin in.
	Stagger the bolt ring gaps.
	Slide the bolt into the carrier until the bolt cam pin hole in both the bolt carrier and the bolt are aligned.
Put the bolt cam pin in the bolt carrier and then turn it one-quarter turn.
	Drop in and seat the firing pin.
Put the firing pin retaining pin in the bolt carrier.
	Pull the bolt back to unlock bolt.
Engage, then push the charging handle part of the way in.
	Slide the bolt carrier into the upper receiver, and push the charging handle and bolt carrier group together in the upper receiver.
Join the upper and lower receivers. Engage the receiver pivot pin.
	Close the upper and lower receiver groups. Push in the takedown pin.
Put the handguards in place.
	Replace the sling.
DISASSEMBLE THE MAGAZINERelease the base catch. Remove the base.
	To remove the spring and follower, jiggle the spring and follower.Clean and lubricate. Wipe dirt from tube, spring, and follower, then lightly lubricate the spring.
	ASSEMBLE THE MAGAZINEJiggle the spring and follower to install them in the magazine.
	Slide the base under all four tabs and make sure the print is on the outside.