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

The PR-3AT: KelTec's Magazine-Free .380

At its heart, the KelTec PR-3AT is a compact concealed-carry pistol chambered in .380 ACP that uses the same rotary-barrel and top-loading, magazine-free design as the PR57.

The 1911 DS Warrior: Kimber's Budget-Priced Double-Stack

With its new 1911 DS Warrior, Kimber is offering a more affordably priced option to handgun enthusiasts looking for a do-it-all double-stack that still retains key 1911 features.

Kimber 1911 Ds Warrior F

Kimber 1911 Ds Warrior F

Staccato Expands HD Lineup With C4X Carry Models

Staccato announced a new flagship model in its HD line of guns at SHOT Show 2026: the HD C4X.

Staccato Hd C4x 1

Staccato Hd C4x 1

Deciphering (Mostly Nonsensical) Cartridge Nomenclature

If you’re perplexed by the naming practices used by our wildcatting forefathers and cartridge makers but are still curious about what they mean, read on.

News, Ammunition

Cartridge Nomenclature

Cartridge Nomenclature

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 19, 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

The Armed Citizen

The Armed Citizen

"9 mm Optimized, But 10 mm Capable:" Dead Air's New RXD910Ti Suppressor

The new Dead Air RXD910Ti harnesses the technology of the patented Triskelion baffle system to make for a 9 mm-optimized silencer that is also capable for use with 10 mm pistol cartridges and more.

Dead Air Rxd910ti Suppressor F

Dead Air Rxd910ti Suppressor F

More Latest Stories

Interests

More

American Rifleman Television

I Have This Old Gun: Remington Nylon 66 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

I Have This Old Gun: Remington Nylon 66 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Remington Arms, Remington Nylon 66, Rifles

ARTV

I Have This Old Gun

I Have This Old Gun: Remington Nylon 66 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

I Have This Old Gun: Remington Nylon 66 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Remington Arms, Remington Nylon 66, Rifles

I Have This Old Gun

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 16, 2026 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 16, 2026 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

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

Armed Citizen

American Rifleman News

Jet Jurgensmeyer Is NRA Country | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Jet Jurgensmeyer Is NRA Country | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Jet Jurgensmeyer, NRA Country, News

News

American Rifleman Reviews

#SundayGunday: Taurus 650 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

#SundayGunday: Taurus 650 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Taurus 650, Review, SundayGunday

Reviews

NRA Gun of the Week

Video Review: Marlin Dark Series Model 1895 Lever-Action Rifle | NRA Family

Video Review: Marlin Dark Series Model 1895 Lever-Action Rifle | NRA Family

NRA Gun of the Week, Marlin Dark Series Model 1895, video review

NRA Gun of the Week

"9 mm Optimized, But 10 mm Capable:" Dead Air's New RXD910Ti Suppressor | An Official Journal Of The NRA

"9 mm Optimized, But 10 mm Capable:" Dead Air's New RXD910Ti Suppressor | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Dead Air Silencers, Ruger, RXD910Ti

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