M4 Carbine Instruction Safety Manual
M4 Carbine Instruction Safety Manual
M4 Carbine Instruction Safety Manual
INSTRUCTION/SAFETY MANUAL
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FIGURE 1 – Daniel Defense M4 Carbine
CAUTION:
USE ONLY CLEAN, DRY, ORIGINAL, HIGH QUALITY
COMMERCIALLY MANUFACTURED AMMUNITION IN GOOD
CONDITON which is appropriate to the caliber of your
firearm. We do not recommend the use of remanufactured
or hand loaded ammunition because it may severely
damage your rifle.
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SECTION 1 PRECAUTIONS
CAUTION
PRIOR TO LOADING AND FIRING, CAREFULLY READ THIS
INSTRUCTION MANUAL WHICH GIVES BASIC ADVICE ON THE
PROPER HANDLING AND FUNCTIONING OF THIS DANIEL
DEFENSE FIREARM. However, your safety and the safety of
others (including your family) depends on your mature
compliance with that advice, and your adoption,
development and constant employment of safe practices. If
unfamiliar with firearms, seek further advice through safe
handling courses run by your local gun clubs, NRA approved
instructor, or similar qualified organizations.
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NOTICE
IMPORTANT
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This instruction manual should always accompany this
firearm. When you lend, give or sell this firearm, be sure
this manual goes with it. The firearms in this manual are
classified as “semiautomatic assault weapons” under the
1994 Crime Bill. In the U.S.A. they are restricted to law
enforcement/government use only. Be sure to comply with
all federal and local regulations governing their possession
and use.
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LIST OF SECTIONS
4. Function: 20 Storage 44
Ammunition Selection 22 Servicing and Repair 44
Sights: 22 6 Parts Illustration
Front Sight (Elevation) 23 and List 47
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SECTION 2 MAIN FEATURES
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SECTION 3 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
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CAUTIONS:
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6. ALWAYS BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE RISK FROM DROPPING
YOUR FIREARM. Some parts of the mechanism could be
damaged. You may not see the damage, but if it is severe,
the firearm may discharge and cause injury, death, or damage
to property. If your firearm has been dropped, have it
examined by a competent gunsmith before using it again.
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! RANGE CAUTIONS
! LOADING CAUTIONS
! SHOOTING CAUTIONS
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19. ALWAYS WEAR AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO WEAR
PROTECTIVE SHOOTING GLASSES. Flying particles could
damage eyes and cause blindness; but protective shooting
glasses should prevent such injury.
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24. NEVER ATTEMPT TO FIRE IF WATER IS IN THE BARREL.
Water can accumulate if your firearm is exposed to heavy
rain or fog. Open the bolt and allow water to drain before
firing. Clean a wet firearm as soon as possible.
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! MALFUNCTION CAUTIONS
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! CLEANING AND STORAGE CAUTIONS
! FIREARM ABUSE
35. NEVER DRY FIRE WHEN THE RECEIVERS ARE OPEN as the
level of safety could be reduced.
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SAFETY FEATURES \
Trigger Guard
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Bolt Locking Safety Features
This firearm can fire only when the bolt is fully locked to the
barrel and the firing pin is free to move forward. The firing
pin is prevented from reaching the cartridge by the bolt
carrier. Only when the bolt carrier moves forward over the
bolt, rotating it to the fully locked position, can the firing pin
move forward enough to fire the rifle. This design feature
makes sure that the rifle will not fire before the cartridge is
fully chambered and the bolt is fully rotated (locked) to the
barrel.
Even with the bolt locked, if you do not use the proper
ammunition, your rifle could blow up or blow down through
the magazine. See inside front cover and elsewhere in the
manual where we clearly emphasize that you should use only
clean, dry, original, high quality, commercially manufactured
ammunition in good condition. Keep the bore of the barrel
clear at all times.
Disconnect
The Disconnect, which is part of the firing mechanism,
prevents the firearm from firing fully automatic. As the
hammer is cocked after each shot by the rearward movement
of the bolt carrier, the Disconnect engages the hammer to
hold it rearward until the trigger is released. When the
trigger is released, retention of the hammer passes from the
Disconnect to the sear surface of the trigger ready for the
next shot.
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Fail Safe Firing Mechanism
In case of any failure of the firing mechanism, the top of the
hammer and the underside of the carrier are machined in
such a way that if the hammer was not held rearward by the
disconnect or trigger sear surface, then the hammer would
ride under the carrier and drop into engagement with the
back of the firing pin to stop or prevent firing.
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SECTION 4 FUNCTION
High pressure gases push the bullet down the barrel where
rifling grooves impart a stabilizing spin to the bullet. As a
bullet passes the gas port (a small hole in the barrel below
the front sight) gas is tapped off, flows through the gas tube,
into the bolt carrier chamber driving the bolt carrier group
rearward. As the bolt carrier moves to the rear the firing pin
is withdrawn into the bolt while the cam track in the bolt
carrier acts upon the bolt cam pin, causing the bolt to rotate
until its locking lugs are no longer in engagement with the
lugs of the barrel extension.
The bolt is now unlocked and is carried rearward by the bolt
carrier.
The extractor extracts the spent case and holds it against the
face or bolt until the ejector throws the spent case through
the ejection port.
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AMMUNITION SELECTION
Daniel Defense firearms are designed to function with a
variety of brands and types of factory manufactured
ammunition in the appropriate caliber. NOT ALL AMUNITION
WILL PRODUCE THE SAME RESULTS. Daniel Defense
recommends that after you read and understand this manual,
you go to the range and fire different ammunition which is
appropriate to the caliber of your firearm as recommended
on the inside front cover. Once you find the ammunition
which functions best - keep using it. To protect you and
others from danger, and your firearm from being severely
damaged, Daniel Defense does not recommend the use of
any handloaded or remanufactured ammunition.
SIGHTS
Your firearm has a mechanical sighting system which allows
you to adjust for variations in range and windage. Rear sight
is adjustable for windage, and the front sight is adjustable for
elevation. This firearm has indexing numbers on the
mounting rails of the upper receiver to show locations for
mounting accessories such as optics. These indexing
numbers allow the user to safely place the accessory back in
the same location it was mounted before being removed.
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USE OF SIGHTS ON THE DANIEL DEFENSE M4 CARBINE
REAR SIGHT (Back-Up Iron Sight). On the Rear Sight you can
flip the large aperture back to bring the small aperture into
use. A windage knob on the right side of the sight can be
turned to move the aperture to the right or left to adjust for
windage. Be sure to take note of your rear sight adjustments
for consistent zeroing.
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ONE CLICK ADJUSTMENT OF REAR SIGHTS IN MINUTES OR ANGLE
16 in.
Elevation 1.43’
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Zeroing Sights
3. During zeroing, only the front sight post and rear sight
windage knob are adjusted to move the point of bullet impact
on the target.
4. The rear sight consists of a rotating windage drum with a
spring loaded detent. To adjust the windage, depress the
detent, rotate the drum clockwise for adjustment to the left
and counter clockwise for adjustment to the right.
5. See “Tips on Aiming” (page 31) in the manual. Decide the
sight picture you want to use and stick with it while zeroing
your firearm.
6. Carefully aim at the target, take your time and fire 5
rounds.
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Elevation change in point of impact on the target at 25m.
16 inch Barrel
1 Click = 0.5 in
2 Clicks = 0.9 in
3 Clicks = 1.4 in
4 Clicks = 1.9 in
16 inch Barrel
1 Click = 0.2 in
2 Clicks = 0.4 in
3 Clicks = 0.6 in
4 Clicks = 0.7 in
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To move your next shot group to the right turn windage knob
clockwise.
Large 0-200m;
Small 300m-600m or 800m depending on type.
Tips on Aiming
1. Relax, hold steady and check that back stop and area
behind target is safe.
2. Keep firearm level and do not tilt it sideways.
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FORWARD ASSIST
The forward assist allows you to help the bolt to lock into the
barrel, but it will only be useful on rare occasions when the
bolt fails to lock automatically. When you must use the
forward assist, it is usually time for you to clean your firearm
paying particular attention to the cleanliness of the chamber
and bolt.
ADJUSTABLE BUTTSTOCK
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LOADING
TO LOAD A MAGAZINE:
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6. Keeping fingers away from the ejection port and
muzzle pointing in a safe direction, press in on the top
of the thumb piece of the bolt catch. This will release
the bolt carrier group to move forward and feed a
round from the magazine into the chamber. THE
FIREARM IS NOW LOADED WITH A ROUND IN THE
CHAMBER AND THE HAMMER IS COCKED.
7. You may now close the ejection port dust cover if you
wish; it is located on the right hand side of the upper
receiver and will open automatically when the first
round is fired.
! CAUTION: NEVER LEAVE YOUR FIREARM COCKED AND
LOCKED, READY TO FIRE WITHOUT SELECTOR LEVER BEING
SET TO SAFE, as this is the Fire Condition and is extremely
dangerous. Firearms can easily be accidentally discharged,
causing injury, death or damage to property.
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UNLOADING
To Unload:
CAUTIONS:
READ SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS. KEEP YOUR FIREARM
POINTING IN A SAFE DIRECTION. DO NOT TOUCH THE
TRIGGER AND KEEP HANDS AWAY FROM THE EJECTION PORT.
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5. When the magazine is removed and the chamber is
empty, push the top portion of the bolt catch to allow
the bolt carrier group to return forward.
FIRING
! CAUTIONS:
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To Fire:
CAUTIONS:
READ SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS IN SECTION 3. KEEP YOUR
FIREARM POINTING IN A SAFE DIRECTION. DO NOT TOUCH
THE TRIGGER AND KEEP HANDS AWAY FROM THE EJECTION
PORT.
CAUTION:
NEVER LEAVE YOUR FIREARM COCKED READY TO FIRE
WITHOUT SELECTOR LEVER SET TO “SAFE” as this is the fire
condition and is extremely dangerous. Your firearm can
easily be accidentally discharged, causing injury, death, or
damage to property.
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SECTION 5 MAINTENANCE
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STRIPPING FOR CLEANING
2. Press the rear take down pin in from the left hand side
of lower receiver and pull the pin out on the right hand
side of the receiver until it comes to a positive stop.
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7. Push in the firing pin retaining pin from right to left of
the bolt carrier group and remove the pin by pulling it
out to the left.
10.Remove the cam pin by lifting it out and away from the
bolt and bolt carrier.
WHEN TO CLEANN
Before firing, make sure that the barrel and the chamber are
clean and dry.
HOW TO CLEANN
Procedure:
CAUTIONS:
ENSURE THAT THE FIREARM IS NOT LOADED.
1. Strip for cleaning as previously described.
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through the barrel. Repeat, changing patches with each pass
through the barrel, until the last patch comes out clean.
3. Visually inspect the barrel; if it is clean, proceed directly
with step 8, but if it remains dirty, continue with step 5.
STORAGEN
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An illustration and list of part names are included in the next
section of this instruction manual to help you identify the
parts you need, but it is most important to note that all parts
are not available for sale. Those parts which are available
should be installed by Daniel Defense or by a competent
gunsmith. When ordering parts, please provide the part name
as it is given on the Parts List along with the serial number of
the firearm.
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NOTE: Various Federal and State laws and local ordinances
govern the transfer and transportation of firearms. Take the
advice of the Dealer in your state on how to send your
firearm to Daniel Defense. Before shipping your firearm, take
note of some important points to remember:
CAUTION:
MAKE SURE THE MAGAZINE IS EMPTY AND THE FIREARM IS
NOT LOADED.
DDA, Inc.
6002 Commerce Blvd., Suite 109
Savannah, GA 31408
FIGURE 19
BOLT CARRIER GROUP PARTS ILLUSTRATION
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FIGURE 19 (cont.)
LOWER RECEIVER GROUP
PARTS ILLUSTRATION
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FIGURE 19 (cont.)
UPPER RECEIVER GROUP
PARTS ILLUSTRATION
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FIREARM RECORD
Caliber___________________________________________
Purchased
From ____________________________________________
Date
Purchased ________________________________________
Purchase
Price ______________________________________________
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WARRANTY STATEMENT N
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If your instruction manual becomes lost or destroyed, obtain a replacement by
writing to Daniel Defense. 6002 Commerce Blvd., Suite 109, Savannah, GA
31408 USA or call 1-866-554-4867. Make a note of the address. When
requesting a manual, include the information which is on the left side of your
firearm together with its serial number or quote the Part No. as shown on the
back of this manual.
This instruction manual should always accompany this firearm. When you
lend, give or sell this firearm, be sure that this manual goes with it.
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