Addendum 2017

5
FN M249S® Safety Addendum
WARNING! THE PRESENCE OF THE MANUAL BOLT LOCK DEVICE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THERE IS
NO CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER. DO NOT RELY ON THE PRESENCE OF THE MANUAL BOLT LOCK
DEVICE TO VISUALLY INDICATE A COMPLETELY UNLOADED AND SAFE RIFLE. THE MANUAL BOLT LOCK
DEVICE IS NOT THE SAME AS A FLAG SAFETY WHICH IS INSERTED INTO A RIFLE’S CHAMBER. REFER TO
SECTION 17 FOR COMPLETE UNLOADING AND CLEARING INSTRUCTIONS.
To remove the manual bolt lock device:
1. Make sure the slide hammer is cocked and the safety selector is in the SAFE position as explained in
Sections 10 and 11, and the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction.
2. Open the feed tray cover by squeezing in on the cover latches on the rear of the feed tray cover. See
Figure 7.A. Leave the feed tray cover open in the 45⁰ or 90⁰ position.
3. Pull the charging handle to the rear with the right hand only far enough to pull the bolt off of the
manual bolt lock device.
FIGURE 8
4. While holding the charging handle with the
right hand so the bolt stays off of the manual
bolt lock device, use the left hand to press the
magazine release button and remove the
manual bolt lock device from the magazine well.
See Figure 8.
5. Lift the feed tray and inspect the chamber to
ensure there are no cartridges present. Remove
any that may exist.
6. Ease the charging handle forward, allowing the bolt to close on an empty chamber. Push the charging
handle fully forward into the locked position.
7. Close the feed tray cover.
Refer to your Operator’s Manual for Sections 13 through 15.2.