[Future Snake Eater]

You can charge the weapon, put it on safe, then lock a magazine in the well.

One technical issue with this article: The safety is on in ALL statuses, “Green”, “Amber”, and “Red.” Green has no magazine in the well, amber has the magazine in the well, and red has a round in the chamber (this is specifically for magazine-fed weapons). The safety does not change status.

On the FOB, all weapons are in green status. Service members carry their weapon and force protection ammo (one 30-rd magazine in the case of the M4/M16), but the magazine is not locked into the weapon.

[Who is John Galt?]

One technical issue with this article: The safety is on in ALL statuses, “Green”, “Amber”, and “Red.” Green has no magazine in the well, amber has the magazine in the well, and red has a round in the chamber (this is specifically for magazine-fed weapons). The safety does not change status.

That's one thing I always wondered about (having never used an M-16 or M-4): with a civilian semi-auto AR-15, the safety will only move to "SAFE" if the hammer is cocked (i.e., the charging handle has been pulled to the rear). Is that true for the M-16 and M-4 as well?

Thanks for any reply...