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HANDBOOK
of the

Smith & Wesson

Semi-Automatic

Light Rifle
Caliber-9 MM .

Model of 1940

Smith & Wesson

SPRINGFIELD , MASSACHUSETTS
U.S.A.

----

~,.--Page
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Loading and Capacity of Magazine

(Figs . I & 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Insertion of Magazine (Fig. 2) . . . . . . . . .

Plate showing Units (Fig. 3). . . . . . . . . .
Directions for Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Directions for Disassembly and
Reassembly .... ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Plate showing components (Fig. 5). . . . .

Plate shovving firing position (Fig. 6). . .
Plate showing carrying position
(Fig. 7)............ . ..........
Plate showing carrying position
(Fig.8) .......... . .... .. .. . ...
Plate show ing carrying position
(Fig. g) .... . ..................
Pia te showing rifle w ith sling (Fig. I o) . . .
Plate showing rifle w i thout sling
(Fig. I I ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sighting Data-Ballistics. . . . . . . . . . . . .
General Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

_,

GENERAL INFORMATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Directions for Cleaning and Oiling . . . . .

List of components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.-

5
6

7
8
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I I

I2

I3
I4

I5
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This arm is a semi-automatic, recoil operated

light rifle es pecially designed for military use under
service conditions. It fills the need for a light, fast,
easy handling, multiple fire weapon. It is rugged,
dependable and easy to operate. Its effective range
is 400 yards and is very accurate up to and including that distance.
The cartridge for which it is adapted is of 9 M / M
caliber and the maximum magazine capacity is
20 cartridges. (See Figure 1.) A pull on the trigger
is required for each shot fired and the rifle is selfload ing and cocking after the first shot is fired and
until the magazine is emptied .
The safety is very simple and positive . When
moved to the forward or safety position, it blocks
both the trigger guard and the sear, making firing
of the rifle impossible. \'\'hen swung to rear, it is in
firing position.
The insertion of the magazine into its case is
quickly a nd easily done either in light or darkness.
(See Figure 2.) Empty cartridge cases are ejected
downward through the ejector tube. This is a
distinct improvement over the common method of
side ejection .
Disassembling and reassembling for cleaning and
oiling are accomplished entirely without the use
of tools.
The rifle is composed of five distinct units,
namely: frame, receiver, ejector tube housing, bolt
and barrel. (See Figure 3.) Manufacturing tolera nces are such as to permit interchangeability of
these units as well as their component parts.
THE DIRECTIONS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES
ARE IMPORT ANT AND SHOULD RECEIVE
CLOSE ATTENTION

Page

Parte 3

-....

--~1-Lo a d m a g a z in e . Hold the

magaz in e in t h e
ri g ht hand,
rhumb over top,
bottom aga inst
hip or belt. Pick
up the car tridges
with thumb and
index finger cf

th e l e ft h a nd,
bull e t toward
the palm. Pl ace
cartridge on to p
of m agazine and
insert by pressing
into ma g a z in e
with ri g ht
thumb. (S e e
Figure 4. )

Figs.

and 4:

Page 4

Fig.

Page 5

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DIRECTIONS FOR OPERATION

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Page 6

1. Pull bolt to rear aga inst m a in spring un til sear

notch is engaged. Bolt is now in firing position.
2. ~l ove safe ty leverforwa rd to safety position. Never
attempt to retract bolt with safe ty lever forward.
3 . Load m agaz ine. H old the m agazine in the right
ha nd, thum b over t op, bottorri against hip or belt.
Pick u p t he cartridges with thumb a nd index fin ger
of the left h a nd, bull et toward the pa lm. Place
cartridge on top of m agaz ine and insert by pressing
in to m agazine wi th rig ht thumb. (See Figure 4.)
4. H old riAe in ver tical p osition, b arrel up and but t
again st thigh. Insert m agazine in to case until held
by m agazine catch . (See Figure 2.)
5. R a ise riA e to should er and remove safety by
swinging safety lever to rear firin g position .
6. Pull trigger on ce for each shot fired or until
magazine is empty. Whe n last shot is fired , bolt will
be left in firin g p osition. L et bolt forward by pulling
trigger before reloading. If firin g is suspended before m agazine is empty, swing safety lever to forwa rd safety p osition before lowering riAe from
shoulder. Leave in forward safety position until
rifle is again raised to shoulder.
7. When usin g t he rifl e in ra pid fi re, the m agazine
may be cha nged quickl y by the following m ethod.
R emove the emp ty m agaz ine, p lace bu tt of rifle to
hip, seize t he receiver with the left h a nd, t humb
forw ard of the bolt, slide t he h a nd back drawing
the bolt with it un til sear no tc h is engaged . Put
on safety. Wi th r ig ht ha nd inser t loaded m agazine
in to m agaz in e case . (See Figure 2.)
8. If gun misfires, pull bolt back until sear engages .
Put on safety. R emove magazine. Eleva te muzzle
and cartri dge will fall o ut.
9. Always remember that the safety position is
with safety lever forward and that the firing
position is with safety lever to the rear.
Page 7

(lr-----

--(I

DIRECTIONS FOR CLEANING AND

OILING

DIRECTIONS FOR DISASSEMBLY (Fig . .3 )

1. Remove magazine.
2. Be certain that the bolt is in forward position .
.3. Press the trigger slop screw latch up into thereceiver. Unscrew trigger stop screw as far as it will
go . Trigger wi ll now drop clown so that trigger
spring plunger and trigger tail are clear of receiver.
4. Pu ll out frame locking bolt as far as it vvill go.
5. Hold trigger forward a nd pu ll frame and receiver apart.
6. Pull bolt cover forward and hold forward by
means of corrugation s.
7. Unscrew the butt nut and remove main spring.
This allows the bolt assembly to be drawn out of
the receiver.
8. Pu ll backward on barrel nut plunger knob .
Unscrew barrel nut. R emove barrel.
9. Slide ejector tube off receiver.
DIRECTIONS FOR REASSEMBLY (Fig . .3)
1. Press sear into bolt and slide bolt into receiver .
Press sear in to bolt to clear sear notch. Push all the
way forward.
2. R eplace bolt cover with corrugations u p.
.3. I nsert main spr ing.
4. H old bolt cover forward an d screw butt nut into
place until it locks into posit ion.
5. H old trigger forw ard and press trigger stop
screw latch up in to receiver.
6. Slide receiver in to frame and push frame locking bolt into place.
7. Screw in tri gger stop screw until trigger stop
screw latch springs dow nward.
l
8. Slide ejector tube onto receiver.
t
9. Insert barrel. Screw in barrel nut as far as it
will go .
When disassemblin g be sure to press trigg e r stop screw
l atch into receiver b efore unscr ewi ng the trigger
stop screw.
When reassembling be sure to press sear into bolt before
sliding bolt into the receiver and past sear notch .
Page 8

RiAe should be cleaned a nd oiled after eac h 1000

rounds fired, or after firing any number of shots
if a considerable time is to elapse befo re again firing. Gasoline or kerosene is a good cleaner and is
usually available. Also a hot solu tion of ~ lb .
Sal Soda to 1 pint of water makes a good cleaner.
Any good grade of light oil may be used. A minimum of oil should be applied. Do not flood the
mechanism with oil. This only serves to seize a nd
hold powder residue and dirt. In sub-zero climates
the riAe m ay be used without any oil whatever and
will function well.
Disassemble the riAe. Thoroughl y clean the
chamber and bore of barrel. Be sure to clean
barrel from breech e nd. Clean receiver, bolt, sear,
ej ector and extractor. W ipe all surfaces of these
parts with oJy cloth leaving a light film of. oil over
parts. C lean magaz in e and ligh tly oil follower
spring. Place a drop or two of oil on the pivotal
points of the trigger mechanism .

BEWARE OF OBSTRUCTIONS IN
BARREL!
After cleaning and oiling, look through the
barrel to be sure that it is free from any obstruction. Obstructions such as a bullet, cloth
patch, heavy oil or grease, snow, mud or twigs
may cause a bulged barrel upon the first shot
fired. If cosmoline or other heavy grease is
introduced into the barrel, wipe out well before
firing.
Pageg

LIST OF COMPONENT PARTS (Fig. 5)

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23 .
24.
25 .
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39 .
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.

Barrel
Ejector Tube.
Frame.
Stock.
Front Sight.
Front Sight !\fount Screw.
Barrel Nut.
M agazine.
Trigger.
Trigger Plunger.
Frame Locki ng Bolt.
M agazine Catch.
Magazine Catch r iunger.
Trigger Stop Screw.
Safety Lever.
Safety Lever Screw.
Safety Cam.
Tang Bolt.
Tang Screw.
R ea r Sight Binding Screw.
R ear Sight Slide.
Notch Plate.
Bolt Co,er Spring.
R ear Sight Base.
R ear Sight Adjustment Screw.
Trigger Stop Screw Latch.
Bolt CO\er.
Butt Nut Lock.
Firing Pin.
Sear.
Butt Nut.
Butt Pla te
Extractor.
H am mer.
R eceiver.
Bolt.
M ain Spring.

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Sizowing rifle without sling

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GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

SIGHTING DATA
This rifle is equipped with micrometer click
sigh ts for elevation . Windage adjustment is fixed.
Each click of the elevating knob moves the rear
sig ht .014-in .

R ANGE:

50 ... .
1
100 .. .... ..... .. ........
6
200 ...... ... .
5
300 ........... ..... .
.... . ..... ..... .. 22
400 ... ........ .. .

F lat
Click
Clicks
Clicks Clicks

Graduations for use at the above distances are

shown on the rear sight slide. Elevation for in te rmediate ranges may be had by m eans of the clicks
between these graduations.

Lbs.
Weight of riR e without magazine ....... ......................... .. 8

0 ~.

k g.

3.74

Weight of loaded magazine.

Weight of empty magazine. ..

14
6

.396
.170

Inches

MM.

DIMENSIONS:
Over all length of rifle . ... ..... .
D epth through magazine ..... .
Length of barrel .. . .. . . . . . . .. . ..
Number of lands and
grooves- 6
Rifling, right twist, one
turn in ....... ..... ...... ... ... ... .. .. .

32%

822.5

7~

9%'

191
248

18%

476

MATERIAL:

BALLISTICS:

Velocity
Range
Ya rds Feet per Second
0
50
100
200
300

\ VEIGHTS :

Elevation

Ya rds

~~

Energy
Foot Pounds

1410
1240
1115
975
875

510
395
320
245
195
Page 18

Penetration
12.\1-Ys"
Pine boards

Frame .. ..
Drop forged manganese sLeel
R eceiver .... ....... .Drop forged manganese steel
Ejector tube
. ....Drop forged manganese steel
homing ..
Lockwork .
Chrome nickel stee l
Bolt..
... Nickel steel
Ba rrel . .
. ...Chrome nickel sLecl
Page 19

Drawing No. 81

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