Addendum 2017

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FN M249S® Safety Addendum
11. COCKING THE SLIDE HAMMER AND CHARGING HANDLE OPERATION
WARNING! THE FN M249S® OPERATES DIFFERENTLY THAN MOST OTHER SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLES.
THE SAFETY SELECTOR MUST BE IN THE FIRE POSTION AS THE SLIDE HAMMER IS COCKED. IF IT IS NOT,
IT MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE SEAR AND OR SLIDE HAMMER. YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COCKING THE SLIDE HAMMER.
WARNING! WHEN COCKING THE SLIDE HAMMER ENSURE NO AMMUNITION IS PRESENT AS
EXPLAINED IN SECTION 17 OF THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL.
Cocking the Slide Hammer
1. Before cocking the slide hammer, first place the safety selector button in the FIRE position as
explained in Section 10 of the Operator’s Manual.
2. Then, with the right hand, palm up, pull the charging handle fully to the rear to cock the slide
hammer. Be mindful of the ejection port cover below the charging handle as it may interfere with a
palm-down grip of the charging handle. See Figure 5.
3. Release the charging handle to allow the bolt and bolt carrier assembly to move forward under the
drive spring pressure. Ensure the charging handle is in the forward, locked position.
4. Immediately place the safety selector button in the SAFE position as explained in Section 10. To check
that the slide hammer is cocked as shown in Figure 6, open the feed tray cover by squeezing in on the
cover latches on the rear of the feed tray cover as shown in Figure 7.A.
5. Once the slide hammer is cocked in the rearward position, the safety must stay in the safe position
until firing is imminent. Loading and charging the FN M249S® rifle is covered in detail in Section 15
Loading.
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6