To remove the bolt stud (a shoulder headless pin), grasp the retracting slide handle. Give the handle a quick jerk, moving it about halfway to the rear. That action frees the bolt group from the barrel extension group. Move the bolt rearward until the shoulder on the bolt stud aligns with a clearance hole. The hole is in the bolt slot on the right sideplate (fig. 13-39). Removing the bolt stud frees the bolt group.

If the bolt is accidentally moved all the way to the rear, it will lock in place. If that occurs, raise the bolt latch. (See fig. 13-40.) Push the bolt forward to align

Figure 13-41.-Removing the buffer body and barrel extension groups.

the bolt stud with the clearance hole. Then proceed as before.

Remove Bolt Group

After freeing the bolt, slide it from the rear of the receiver (fig. 13-40). Place the bolt down on its right side with the extractor arm up. That prevents the extractor from falling out of the bolt.

Remove Buffer Body and Barrel Extension Groups

These two groups are removed as a unit. To remove them, insert a pointed tool through a hole in the lower rear comer of the right sideplate (fig. 13-41, view A). Pushing in on the tool releases the spring lock of the buffer body. At the same time, pull and remove the two groups from the rear of the receiver. Now separate the buffer body group from the barrel extension group. Hold the unit as shown in view B of the figure. Push forward on the tips of the accelerator and pull the two groups apart.

Figure 13-42.-Removing the buffer assembly.

Figure 13-43.-Replacing the buffer assembly.

Remove Buffer Assembly

To remove the buffer assembly, hold the buffer body, as shown in figure 13-42. Pull the buffer assembly to the rear. That completes the general disassembly of the .50-caliber BMG. Limited cleaning, maintenance, and major part/group replacement can be done now.

Figure 13-44.-Joining the buffer body and barrel extension groups.