During clearing, what is the first safety action for the M249?

During clearing, what is the first safety action for the M249?

• A. Move the safety to the fire position (F) by pushing left until the red ring is visible.
• B. Move the safety to SAFE by pushing right until the red ring is not visible.
• C. Leave safety in SAFE and pull cocking handle.
• D. Move the safety to the fire position by pushing right until the red ring is visible.

Answer: (A)

The first safety action when clearing the M249 is to place the safety in the FIRE position by pushing the lever to the left until the red ring is visible. The red ring serves as the indicator that you’re in FIRE, which is the state required to properly cycle the bolt and inspect the chamber as part of the clearing procedure. Moving the safety to SAFE (to the right) would skip this initial state and isn’t the recommended first step. Leaving the safety in SAFE and pulling the cocking handle isn’t the standard sequence for a proper clearing check, and moving to FIRE by pushing right would put you in the wrong direction. In short, the correct first step is leftward to FIRE until the red ring is visible because that state unlocks the proper bolt operation needed to verify the chamber safely.

The first safety action when clearing the M249 is to place the safety in the FIRE position by pushing the lever to the left until the red ring is visible. The red ring serves as the indicator that you’re in FIRE, which is the state required to properly cycle the bolt and inspect the chamber as part of the clearing procedure. Moving the safety to SAFE (to the right) would skip this initial state and isn’t the recommended first step. Leaving the safety in SAFE and pulling the cocking handle isn’t the standard sequence for a proper clearing check, and moving to FIRE by pushing right would put you in the wrong direction. In short, the correct first step is leftward to FIRE until the red ring is visible because that state unlocks the proper bolt operation needed to verify the chamber safely.