Application of Lubricating Composites to the M16A1 Rifle.

Abstract

An M16A1 rifle was fired without lubrication or cleaning to determine critical wear areas. These areas were the contact area between the bolt carrier and the upper receiver, the interior of the bolt carrier in contact with the bolt sealing ring, and the bolt cam pin and track. A prototype rifle was designed in which self-lubricating composite inserts were incorporated in the bolt carrier tracks, in contact with the bolt sealing rings, and also in the bolt carrier key. A firing test was conducted to compare the composite-lubricated rifle with the unlubricated and conventionally lubricated rifles. The 8000 round firing test showed that the composite-lubricated rifle had no malfunctions as compared with an average of 20 malfunctions for the conventionally lubricated rifles and 100 malfunctions for the unlubricated rifles.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1974
Accession Number
ADA013390

Entities

People

  • George P. Murphy Jr.
  • Peter Martin Jr.

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Composite Materials
  • Lubrication
  • Malfunctions
  • Materials
  • Prototypes

Readers

  • Marksmanship and Weaponry.
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).