Please Practice Safe Firearms Handling Our mission is to manufacture quality firearms, Made With Pride In The USA, and using the best American Made parts. We value our customers, and do our best to assure quality and friendly service. Bushmaster Firearms, Inc. is always striving to make great firearms even better. This Operation Manual should always accompany this firearm. When you lend, give, or sell this firearm, be sure this manual goes with it.
Before disassembling, loading, or using this firearm, please READ, UNDERSTAND, AND FOLLOW ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS in this manual, regarding proper handling and safe use! ! Caution: If unfamiliar with firearms, seek further advice through Gun Safety Organizations, Local Gun Clubs, NRA Approved Instructors, or similar qualified organizations. ! Warning: If this firearm is carelessly or improperly handled, unintentional discharge could result and could cause injury, death, or damage to property.
Facts about your Bushmaster .308 rifle… The Bushmaster .308 rifle consists of a rifle and a magazine. It is a gas operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, shoulder-fired weapon that can be fired in a semi-automatic mode – i.e., a single shot each time the trigger is pulled. • The upper receiver and barrel assembly have a fully adjustable rear sight. (flat-top version does not). • The upper and lower receivers are easily opened for cleaning and inspection.
Rifle parts and where to find them… Charging Handle Front Sight Assembly Spent Brass Deflector Barrel Muzzle Handguards Forward Assist Assembly Front Swing Swivel Trigger Ejection Port Cover Rear Sling Loop Magazine Magazine Release Button Bolt Catch Button Pictured here is a 20” Bbl. flat top rifle 5 Rifle parts and where to find them (left side)… A2 “Square” Front Sight Post A2 Type Upper Receiver Delta Ring Safety Selector Lever Takedown Pin A3 Type Removable Carry Handle.
Clearing Your Rifle… 1.) POINT RIFLE IN A SAFE DIRECTION! Place safety selector lever on SAFE. (If the rifle is not cocked, the selector lever cannot be pointed toward SAFE.) 2.) Press magazine catch button, and pull magazine down to remove. 7 Clearing your rifle (continued)… 3.) To lock bolt open, pull charging handle rearward. Press up on bolt catch, and Charging Handle allow bolt to move forward. If you haven't selector lever on before, place safety SAFE. Bolt Catch 4.
Disassembling your rifle… 1.) Clear your rifle and disconnect the sling. 2.) Push in takedown pin as far as it will go. Pivot upper receiver away from lower. 3.) Push in front pivot pin. Pivot Pin Takedown Pin 4.) Separate upper and lower receivers. 5.) Pull back charging handle and bolt carrier. 9 Disassembling your rifle (continued)… 6.) Remove bolt carrier and bolt. 7.) Remove charging handle by pulling back and up. DO NOT OPEN OR CLOSE Split End of Firing Pin Retaining pin! 8.
Disassembling your rifle… 9.) Push bolt in to locked position. 10.) Drop firing pin out from rear of bolt carrier. 11.) Remove bolt cam pin. 12.) Remove bolt assembly from carrier. 11 Disassembling your rifle (continued)… Disassemble using steps 13 through 16, only when dirty or damaged! Bolt Assembly Extractor Extractor Pin 13.) Remove extractor pin by pushing out with a drift punch. You may need to use a small hammer to drive the pin out. 14.) Remove extractor plunger, and spring.
Disassembling your rifle (continued)… 15.) Press in buffer, depress retainer, and release buffer. 16.) Remove buffer and buffer spring. BUFFER RETAINER BUFFER The handguards may be disassembled at any point in your cleaning procedures as necessary (see page 28 - “Buddy System” instructions). If your rifle is equipped with the A3 Type removable carry handle, that may be removed for cleaning by loosening the 2 thumb nuts. Clean as per instructions for aluminum upper and lower receivers (see page 17).
Detailed cleaning techniques… NOTE: The procedures below describe cleaning with a standard multi-piece rod cleaning kit. Other commercial cleaning kits may include alternate cleaning instructions which may be just as effective. CLEANING THE BORE: The bore of your Bushmaster rifle has lands and grooves called rifling. Rifling makes the bullet spin very fast as it moves down the bore and down range. It is difficult to push a new, stiff bore brush through the bore.
Cleaning the upper receiver (continued)… 2.) Clean the firing chamber - dip the chamber cleaning brush in CLP and use at least five plunge strokes and three 360 clockwise rotations. Then swab out the bore as described previously to remove any contaminated solution or loosened debris. 3.
Inspection before lubricating… 1.) Check the bolt: Look for cracks or fractures, especially in the cam pin hole area. Bolts with any pitting extending into the firing pin hole should be replaced. 3.) Check the firing pin retaining pin: If it is bent, or badly worn, it should be replaced. Never use a “cotter pin” as a substitute for a real firing pin retaining pin. Cotter pins are not made of heat treated spring steel and their round head shape will cause damage. 4.
Lubrication – bolt carrier group… • Lightly lubricate the firing pin with CLP also the firing pin recess in the bolt. • Generously lubricate the bolt, its cam pin area, the bolt gas rings. A lighter application is good on the extractor and its pin. • Lightly lubricate the charging handle and the inner and outer surfaces of the bolt carrier. • Generously lubricate the slide and cam pin area of the bolt carrier.
Reassembly… 1.) Insert action spring and buffer. Depress buffer detent and push buffer in past the detent, then release. 2.) Insert extractor, plunger, and spring. 23 Reassembly (continued)… STAGGER THE GAS RING GAPS TO REDUCE GAS LOSS. Position the three ring gaps 120 apart around the bolt. 3.) Push in extractor pin. 4.) Slide bolt into carrier.
Reassembly (continued)… WARNING: If cam pin is missing, DO NOT FIRE THE RIFLE! It will explode! NOTE: The bolt is machined so as to allow insertion of the cam pin from one side only. This provision aligns the extractor and ejector properly within the upper receiver. 6.) Drop in and seat the firing pin. 5.) Replace bolt cam pin. 7.) Pull bolt out. 25 Reassembly (continued)… NOTE: Firing pin should not fall out when bolt carrier group is turned upside down. 9.
Reassembly (continued)… 11.) Push charging handle and bolt carrier group into receiver together. 12.) Join Upper and Lower Receivers. 13.) Engage Receiver Pivot Pin. CAUTION: Selector lever should be on SAFE before closing Upper Receiver. 27 Reassembly (continued)… 14.) Close the upper and lower receiver groups and push in the takedown pin. When removing or reattaching the handguards, use a hanguard removal tool (part #HGD-Tool) or use the “Buddy System” as describe below. Hanguard removal tool 15.
Safety function check… UNLOAD RIFLE ➜ REMOVE MAGAZINE ➜ CHECK CHAMBER 1.) Remove magazine if installed. Pull charging handle assembly to rear. Check that the chamber is clear. Let bolt and bolt carrier close. DO NOT PULL TRIGGER. Leave hammer in cocked position. WARNING: If rifle fails any of the following tests, continued use of the Rifle could result in injury to, or death of, personnel. 2.) Place Selector Lever in SAFE position and pull trigger. The hammer should not fall. 3.
Adjustable front sight post… The front sight post is threaded - allowing it to be moved up or down when “Zeroing” the rear sight (see “Zeroing Your Sights” on next page) Front Sight Post A2 dual aperture rear sight… Elevation Knob NORMAL RANGE - The smaller aperture is unmarked and is used for most firing situations. It is used in conjunction with the elevation knob for 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 1000 meter targets.
Zeroing adjustments (continued)… For windage knob (per click)*… Impact 0.3 cm 1.25 cm 2.50 cm 3.8 cm 5.0 cm Distance (1/8 in.) (1/2 in.) (1 in.) (1 1/2 in.) (2 in.) Impact 6.3 cm 7.6 cm 8.8 cm 10.0 cm Distance (21/2 in.) (3 in.) (3 1/2 in.) (4 in.) *AII of the above values have been rounded off. Note: To remember your correct zero windage, note location of windage scale and windage knob pointer (heavy mark on outside of knob).
Operating your rifle… WARNING: If a noticeable difference in sound or recoil is experienced, STOP FIRING. Either condition could indicate an incomplete powder burn and/or a bullet stuck in the bore (also see page 42). Retract the bolt slowly and remove the fired cartridge case. Clear the weapon and check for unburned powder grains in the receiver or bore, and for a bullet stuck in the bore. Clean out any unburned powder before resuming firing. If a bullet is stuck in the bore, do not attempt to remove it.
Operation of your rifle… Chambering a round with bolt assembly open… NOTE: The magazine may be inserted into the rfle with bolt assembly open or closed. BOLT CATCH 1.) Depress upper portion of bolt catch. Bolt should spring forward. FORWARD ASSIST 2.) TAP the forward assist to ensure bolt is fully forward and locked. 37 Operation of your rifle… Chambering a round with bolt assembly closed… FORWARD ASSIST 1.) Pull charging handle fully to rear. 2.) Release the charging handle. 3.
Immediate action in case of trouble… IF YOUR RIFLE STOPS FIRING: Perform the following immediate actions… 1.) SLAP upward on magazine to make sure it's seated properly. 2.) PULL charging handle all the way back observe ejection of case or cartridge. Check Chamber for any obstruction. WARNING: DO NOT LOAD WITH A HOT CHAMBER. A ROUND MAY “COOK OFF” (meaning it may fire from the heat of the chamber). 39 Immediate action in case of trouble (continued)… 3.
Remedial action… WARNING: If your rifle stops firing with a live round in the chamber of a hot barrel, remove the round fast. However, if you cannot remove it 10 seconds, remove the magazine and wait 15 minutes with the rifle pointing in a safe direction (always check that the “SAFE” direction remains safe during that time) This way you won't get hurt by a round cooking off. Regardless, keep your face away from the ejection port while clearing the hot chamber.
Troubleshooting (continued)… Problem… Won't Fire Check For… What To Do… Selector lever on SAFE. Put it on FIRE. Improper assembly of firing pin. Assemble correctly. Retaining pin goes in back of large shoulder on firing pin. Too much oil in firing pin recess. Wipe out with pipe cleaner. Defective ammunition. Remove and discard. Too much carbon on firing pin or in firing pin recess. Clean.
Troubleshooting (continued)… Problem… Check For… What To Do… Won’t Feed Dirty or corroded ammo. Clean. Dirty magazine. Clean. Defective magazine. Replace. Too many rounds in magazine . Action of buffer assembly is restricted. Take out excess. Magazine not fully seated. Adjust magazine catch. Take out buffer and spring; clean them. PRESS MAGAZINE CATCH BUTTON ON RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE 45 Troubleshooting (continued)… Problem… Check For… What To Do… Double Feed Defective magazine. Replace.
Troubleshooting (continued)… Problem… Check For… What To Do… Won’t Lock Dirt, corrosion, or carbon buildup in barrel locking lugs. Clean lugs. Won’t Extract Frozen extractor. Remove and clean. Restricted buffer assembly. Remove and clean. Restricted movement of bolt carrier group. Remove, clean, and lube. (Make sure gas tube fits into carrier key and that the carrier moves freely before replacing).
Troubleshooting (continued)… Problem… Check For… What To Do… Short Recoil Q-tip or pipe cleaner pieces stuck inside carrier key. Clean out if possible or have rifle checked by a qualified gunsmith. Bolt Fails to Lock After Last Round Dirty or corroded bolt latch. Clean out if possible or have rifle checked by a qualified gunsmith. Faulty magazine. Replace. Needs oil. Lubricate with CLP. Dirt or sand under trigger. Clean.
Disassembly Views… BARREL ASSEMBLY AND COMPONENTS THERMOSET HANDGUARD (2) 9349059 GAS TUBE - STD LENGTH 1005-914-3504-3 Bushmaster .308 Rifle HAND GUARD SNAP RING MS16626-1137-3 Upper Receiver • Barrel • Bolt • Sight Groups WELD SPRING 8448555-3 FRONT SIGHT POST 9349056 DELTA RING 38448712.
Limited One Year Warranty Bushmaster Firearms, Inc. products are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship. Warranty cards are included with all firearms and should be completely filled out and sent to Bushmaster Firearms, Inc. to activate the terms of the warranty. Any such defect of which Bushmaster Firearms, Inc. is given written notice, as provided below, within one year and ten days from the date of first purchase by a customer will be remedied by Bushmaster Firearms, Inc.
