Join Renew Donate

Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

CLOSE

Quick Links

ArmaLite M-15 A2 Carbine

by

NRA Staff

posted on July 15, 2012

News, Reviews, Rifles, Semi-Auto Rifles

Support NRA American Rifleman DONATE

** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

A step-by-step photo tutorial on how to fieldstrip the popular Armalite M-15 A2 Carbine.

Gallery

ARMALITE M-15 A2 CARBINE

NRA Staff

1 of 1

ARMALITE M-15 A2 CARBINE

NRA Staff

Armalite M-15 A2 Carbine

Charging handle

NRA Staff

1 of 1

Charging handle

NRA Staff

Pull the charging handle to the rear and pull the bolt carrier (31) group from the upper receiver (Fig. 1). Remove the charging handle by dropping it through the recesses in the upper receiver. Depress the buffer retainer (81) to release the buffer (42) and buffer spring (41). Pull the buffer and spring from the receiver extension tube (43).

NRA Staff

1 of 1

Retaining pin

NRA Staff

Pull the firing pin retaining pin (29) from the bolt carrier (Fig. 2). Up-end the bolt carrier and let the firing pin (26) fall from the bolt carrier.

NRA Staff

1 of 1

Cam pin

NRA Staff

Push the bolt (33) into the carrier, then rotate the cam pin (30) 90 degrees (Fig. 3) and pull it from the carrier.

NRA Staff

1 of 1

Bolt

NRA Staff

Extract the bolt (Fig. 4).

NRA Staff

1 of 1

Extractor pin

NRA Staff

Push the extractor pin (37) out of the bolt (Fig. 5), but be careful with the small extractor spring (35) and extractor spring insert (34). Some easily fall from the extractor (36) and can be lost

More like this from around the NRA

The Evolution Of The Colt Model 601 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

The Evolution Of The Colt Model 601 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

The AR-15: A Brief History | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal

The AR-15: A Brief History | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal

Entertainment Group’s Lawsuit Against Gun Manufacturers Dismissed with Prejudice | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Entertainment Group’s Lawsuit Against Gun Manufacturers Dismissed with Prejudice | An Official Journal Of The NRA

NRA World Shooting Championship: A Firsthand Look | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal

NRA World Shooting Championship: A Firsthand Look | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal

Latest

More

America’s Lever Revolution

America is known across the world as a nation of gun owners, but only one firearm action has the distinction of being uniquely American: the lever-action.

News, Lever-Action Rifles

Power Package: The Springfield Armory Heatseeker Pistol

Springfield Armory is jumping into the bolt-action handgun market with its new-for-2026 Heatseeker pistol, which is based on the company's Model 2020 rifle action.

Springfield Armory Heatseeker Pistol 01

Springfield Armory Heatseeker Pistol 01

The Armed Citizen® July 6, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Armed Citizen, News

W2146 AFF 8271

Weatherby Goes Black Powder: The Model 307 MZY

As Weatherby's first entry into the muzzleloading category, the Model 307 MZY promises to “deliver a new standard of accuracy, reliability, and consistency for black powder hunters.”

Weatherby 307 MZY 01

Weatherby 307 MZY 01

First Look: Federal’s X Henry 250th Collection

Federal has officially begun shipping its Federal X Henry Collector’s Edition ammunition, created in partnership with Henry Repeating Arms.

News, Ammunition

Federal’s X Henry 250th Collection

Federal’s X Henry 250th Collection

An Independence Day Celebration of the Armed Citizen

Independence Day is a celebration of armed defiance to tyranny—and of the citizen’s right to defend their lives.

News, Armed Citizen

Shot

More Latest Stories

Interests

More

American Rifleman Television

I Have This Old Gun: Colt Detective Special | An Official Journal Of The NRA

I Have This Old Gun: Colt Detective Special | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Colt's Manufacturing, Colt Detective Special, Revolvers

ARTV

I Have This Old Gun

I Have This Old Gun: Colt Detective Special | An Official Journal Of The NRA

I Have This Old Gun: Colt Detective Special | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Colt's Manufacturing, Colt Detective Special, Revolvers

I Have This Old Gun

The Armed Citizen® July 3, 2026 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

The Armed Citizen® July 3, 2026 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Armed Citizen, The Armed Citizen Blog, The Armed Citizen Online

Armed Citizen

American Rifleman News

Savage Arms Helps Raise $1 Million for Youth Shooting Sports Through Support of MidwayUSA Foundation | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Savage Arms Helps Raise $1 Million for Youth Shooting Sports Through Support of MidwayUSA Foundation | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Savage Arms, Conservation, Charity

News

American Rifleman Reviews

#SundayGunday: Savage Arms 110 Trail Blazer | An Official Journal Of The NRA

#SundayGunday: Savage Arms 110 Trail Blazer | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Savage Arms 110 Trail Blazer, SundayGunday, Video

Reviews

NRA Gun of the Week

Gun of the Week: Taylor's & Co. TC73 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Gun of the Week: Taylor's & Co. TC73 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Taylor's & Co., Taylor’s & Co. TC73, Lever-Actions

NRA Gun of the Week

Weatherby Goes Black Powder: The Model 307 MZY | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Weatherby Goes Black Powder: The Model 307 MZY | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Weatherby, Weatherby Model 307 MZY, Muzzleloader

New For 2026

The Keefe Report

The Keefe Report: The Incomparable, Inimitable Phil Schreier—1962-2025 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

The Keefe Report: The Incomparable, Inimitable Phil Schreier—1962-2025 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Philip Schreier, The Keefe Report, Mark Keefe

The Keefe Report

More Interests

EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS