M16 sight issue

[AregularGuy]

Hi all. I just got back from an Army reserve drill weekend. I was cleaning my rifle, M16A2, when I noticed the spring from the rear sight poking down into the channel for the charging handle. I didn't take a picture. And yes, we are still using M16's. M4's on order for quite some time now. Comparing my rifle to other rifles there should be a little plug of some sort that backs the spring up. Mine is missing. My rifle is now deadlined. Funny thing is we shot our rifles last month and I had no issues. Anyone know the name of that little plug/part or where I can get one? Does it just screw in? Any info for installation, etc would be great. I'm sure I will be told to wait for the armorer but that will likely take ages. Thanks in advance.

[Barang]

Sounds like you're missing or have broken pin?

[russ69]

...I'm sure I will be told to wait for the armorer but that will likely take ages. Thanks in advance.

The services are setup so the gun goes back to the armorer. They don't want GIs doing their own repairs. The armorer should be able to issue you a replacement until your gun can be repaired.

[nate76239]

Try Numrich gun parts. You can look it up on a parts diagram https://www.gunpartscorp.com/

[AregularGuy]

The services are setup so the gun goes back to the armorer. They don't want GIs doing their own repairs. The armorer should be able to issue you a replacement until your gun can be repaired.

Thanks to all for the replies. I suppose the above is the correct answer and they do have a few extra rifles. We have range qualification in 2 months and was hoping to have my rifle for that. I am not holding out hope that an armorer will get to it before then. It seems to be a very slow process to get repairs done.

[FeuerFrei]

OP
Download your own pdf copy of " ARMY TM 9-1005-319-23&P ". freebie.
All the parts displayed as per govt armorer.
M16A2 covered.....

[russ69]

As a stickler for military parts control and production control processes, you don't want to introduce non-bonded parts into the supply chain/equipment. Bad idea all around.

[Tacit Blue]

point it out to the armorer when you turn it back in..

[PyroFox79]

As a stickler for military parts control and production control processes, you don't want to introduce non-bonded parts into the supply chain/equipment. Bad idea all around.

Sometimes it's necessary if you can get it faster by sourcing a part. When I was an armorer we had to track down parts from civilian gun stores because the regular supply system would have taken 6 months to get the part.

The armory should have those parts on hand. Granted you're a weekend warrior so probably not. It also depends on how lazy your armorer is. From what I saw when I went through school in Aberdeen....you're screwed.

[smle-man]

As a former Ordnance type who ran a small arms shop once upon a time I can provide this advice: Leave it alone. I saw more damage done to small arms by soldiers trying to repair/tune up/improve/modify them than I can count.

If your arms room has spare rifles and you are issued one, before you accept it, make sure everything functions properly and the rear sight is tight and holds and repeats adjustments. That's it.

Best of luck on qual.

[FeuerFrei]

My take on the OP's query is that he just wanted someone to provide an answer to a part's name/designation and see for himself what is or isn't in place on his issued service rifle. It's good to ask questions and pull back the curtains so to speak.
I think it's a good thing to know as much as possible about a weapon that a soldier is required to use. I'm also sure he knows the SOP for reporting deficiencies in issued equipment. I suspect that there were others in the food chain that made it clear to him as to what to do and NOT do with regard to repairs.

Sent using a long string and 2 Dixie cups

[AregularGuy]

My take on the OP's query is that he just wanted someone to provide an answer to a part's name/designation and see for himself what is or isn't in place on his issued service rifle. It's good to ask questions and pull back the curtains so to speak.
I think it's a good thing to know as much as possible about a weapon that a soldier is required to use. I'm also sure he knows the SOP for reporting deficiencies in issued equipment. I suspect that there were others in the food chain that made it clear to him as to what to do and NOT do with regard to repairs.

Sent using a long string and 2 Dixie cups

Thanks for the link. I agree with your thoughts on being familiar with your equipment. And yes, I have folks that won't let me do anything stupid.

As a former Ordnance type who ran a small arms shop once upon a time I can provide this advice: Leave it alone. I saw more damage done to small arms by soldiers trying to repair/tune up/improve/modify them than I can count.

If your arms room has spare rifles and you are issued one, before you accept it, make sure everything functions properly and the rear sight is tight and holds and repeats adjustments. That's it.

Best of luck on qual.

Point taken and thank you!

Sometimes it's necessary if you can get it faster by sourcing a part. When I was an armorer we had to track down parts from civilian gun stores because the regular supply system would have taken 6 months to get the part.

The armory should have those parts on hand. Granted you're a weekend warrior so probably not. It also depends on how lazy your armorer is. From what I saw when I went through school in Aberdeen....you're screwed.

Pretty much screwed. Last month we had a small brass connector for an air hose fail on one of our generators during annual training. I had a Colonel hounding me for a week about the generators while my mechanics worked on getting an NSN for the part so they could order it. Meanwhile folks from supply chain would not help with parts and were too busy top get the mechanics to the cannibal yard so they could look for themselves. After a week and a half of di*king around we tasked them to go to Home Depot. Colonel didn't care once I told her the problem was fixed.

As a stickler for military parts control and production control processes, you don't want to introduce non-bonded parts into the supply chain/equipment. Bad idea all around.

Yes, point taken. Thank you for the input.

[FeuerFrei]

Colonel sounds pragmatic & practical.
Having never served, but I always appreciated clear and simple no nonsense direction. (6+yrs fire service)
Chief would say, "I don't care how you do it as long as it gets done correctly/quickly!"
Correctly/quickly being the operative words.
Doing anything incorrectly might have resulted in my paying the headsman his due.

Sent using a long string and 2 Dixie cups