Field stripping question - M&P15R

[hammondo]

I want to be certain I know how to field strip my M&P15R correctly but there is something in the manual I don't understand. On page 24 of the Safety and Instruction Manual for M&P 15 Centerfire Rifles (2010 version), after removing the bolt from the bolt carrier the third bulleted paragraph on that page states " "Press the rear of the extractor to check that the spring works. (Figure 60) If there is no tension, you must take the extractor apart and clean the parts."

In Figure 60 it shows a finger being pressed against the side of the bolt. I have pressed in this area on my bolt and I don't feel any tension. I'm thinking I'm not performing this check correctly however - the AR was just shipped back to me from S&W and cleaned/inspected at the factory - and that the spring tension is in fact ok.

Also I would like to know if removing the extractor is recommended in cleaning the bolt and if so - I presume it is as this page states "remove the extractor? - just how do I remove the extractor? The figure doesn't show the extractor being removed and I can't figure how where to apply, as the instructions state, a drift/pen tip to remove the extractor.

 

[pberry]

I can't tell you what you need to know, but You tube has a lot of that stuff on it. You should be able to search and find it.
Phil

 

[OKFC05]

This is so easy when I can hold the bolt and point--and so hard on the internet. I'll try.
1. Be sure you have removed the bolt from the bolt carrier as shown in fig 59 of the manual.
2. Now look at the front of the bolt and identify the extractor by the hook that engages the cartridge head. Got it?
3. Good, now follow the extractor to the side of the bolt and match the shape to figure 61. Take a punch, whatever, and press the BACK of the extractor in toward the center of the bolt. It should make the rear go in slightly and the front of the extractor move out.
4. Look at figure 61 and study the shape of the extractor. It is held in by the pin that goes crossways through the bolt and through the hole in the tab on the extractor.
5. If you can follow this once, it will be easy after that. Good luck!

 

[hammondo]

Thanks for the attempt and thank you for both responses. I will be giving your steps a shot when I get home from work tonight.

I looked on You Tube and it did take some searching - most field strip videos stop at the point where I'm at - removing the bolt. i.e. they don't go on to show removing the extractor. However I found one that did just that:

YouTube - AR-15 Field Strip

You are correct, very very easy.

 

[hammondo]

Thanks again. I tried those steps last night - yes I saw the hook and yes I "get it". S&W's smiths put an awful lot of oil/lube on the bolt prior to shipping the rifle back to me so I really wanted to do a thorough cleaning before taking the rifle to the range.

I was able to take the bolt completely apart - and I saw that deep cavity behind the extractor. I know that extractor moves back and forth with each round fired so I'm thinking carbon and in my case (5.45 ammo) alkaline salts and other contaminants make their way into that cavity. I'll be taking that extractor off every time I clean this rifle.

Thanks yet again,

Steve