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

New for 2026: Mossberg 990 Magpul and 990 SPX Aftershock

Mossberg steps up its 990 game with a new Magpul shotgun and SPX firearm.

New for 2026: Gemtech Nebula 5.7 Direct-Thread Suppressor

Gemtech’s Nebula is a 5.7x28 mm-specific sound suppressor.

Gear, New For 2026

Gemtech Nebula 5.7 suppressor

Gemtech Nebula 5.7 suppressor

I Have This Old Gun: De Lisle Commando Carbine

The De Lisle "Commando Carbine," as it came to be known, provided British special operators with a suppressed firearm that could be used to take out targets without arousing the attention of nearby troops.

De Lisle Commando Carbine 1

De Lisle Commando Carbine 1

Q&A: Same Cartridge, Two Different Primer Types

Q: How do No. 34 large rifle primers from CCI differ from the standard large rifle type?

Rifleman Q&A

New for 2026: Stoeger STR-9 Thinline+ Pistol

Stoeger refines its STR-9 Thinline pistol to be even easier to carry.

Handguns, Semi-Auto Handguns

Stoeger STR-9 Thinline+ pistol

Stoeger STR-9 Thinline+ pistol

Finding The Natural Point Of Aim

Nearly every shooter understands the basic principles of marksmanship: position, grip, sight alignment, breathing, trigger control and follow-through.

News, Tips & Techniques

plastic army soldier

plastic army soldier

More Latest Stories

Interests

More

American Rifleman Television

Rifleman Review: Walther Arms PDP F-Series 4-Inch | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Rifleman Review: Walther Arms PDP F-Series 4-Inch | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Walther Arms, Walther PDP F-Series, Handguns

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

Straight Talk: Know Your Gun | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Straight Talk: Know Your Gun | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Straight Talk, armed citizen, semi-automatic pistol

Armed Citizen

American Rifleman News

Sierra Bullets Announces 15 New Products for 2026 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Sierra Bullets Announces 15 New Products for 2026 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

News, SHOT Show 2026, New For 2026

News

American Rifleman Reviews

#SundayGunday: Savage Arms B Series Timber Tactical | An Official Journal Of The NRA

#SundayGunday: Savage Arms B Series Timber Tactical | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Savage B Series Timber Tactical, B Series Timber Tactical, Review

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

Sierra Bullets Announces 15 New Products for 2026 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Sierra Bullets Announces 15 New Products for 2026 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

News, SHOT Show 2026, New For 2026

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