W8: M2.50 Caliber Machine Gun

W8: M2.50 Caliber Machine Gun
Candidate will start in the seated (if on tripod) or standing (if vehicle-mounted) position not touching the weapon.
1. Clear the weapon.
a. Place the trigger block on SAFE and unlock the bolt latch release.
b. Raise the cover and lift the cartridge extractor. Remove the ammunition belt from the feed tray.
c. Place cartridge extractor down and close the cover.
d. Pull and lock the bolt to the rear, leaving the retracting slide handle to the rear.
e. Open the cover and inspect the chamber and T-slot for rounds.
f. Grasp the retracting slide handle, press the bolt latch release, ease the bolt forward and close the cover.
2. Load the weapon.
a. Ensure the bolt is forward and the weapon is on SAFE with the cover closed.
b. Select automatic mode.
c. Insert double-loop end of ammunition belt into feed way until first round is engaged by belt-holding
pawl.
d. Pull the retracting slide handle rearward, retracting the bolt all the way to the rear and release the
handle.
e. Pull the retracting handle to the rear for a second time to fully load the gun.
f. Release handle. Note: The machine gun is now loaded.
3. Place the trigger block on FIRE and engage your target.
4. Take immediate action to correct a malfunction for a cool weapon (has fired less than 200 rounds in two
minutes).
a. Hold the weapon on target.
b. Wait 10 seconds in case the weapon has a hang fire. Candidate verbalizes this step.
c. Pull the retracting handle to the rear.
d. Observe that round or fired case ejects. If yes, continue to next step; if not, proceed to (step 5).
e. Return the retracting slide handle to its forward position.
f. If the bolt locks to the rear, depress the bolt latch to return the bolt to the forward position.
g. Attempt to reengage the target; expend remaining ammunition.
5. Unload and clear the weapon, removing all rounds and links.
a. Place trigger block on SAFE and unlock the bolt latch release.
b. Look away from the cover in a safe direction, raise the cover and lift the cartridge extractor.
c. Remove the ammunition belt from the feed way.
d. Place cartridge extractor down and close the cover.
e. Pull and lock the bolt to the rear, leaving the retracting slide handle to the rear.
f. Open the cover and inspect the chamber and T-slot for rounds.
g. Press the bolt latch release and ease the bolt forward with retracting slide handle. Close the cover.