Cleaning My AR
- Thread starter rnmedic
- Start date
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kwelz
Member
Generally I lock the bolt back and spray mine out with CLP every few thousand rounds. If it is really dirty I use some carburetor cleaner first then the CLP.
Congrats on your new firearm hope your learn to have a blast with it.
Personal opinion; if the rifle is shot several times a week it is actually kinda self cleaning just keep it lightly lubed!!! Wow, no kidding! If you are going to shoot it once or twice every few months then clean it when you get home.
You did not say if you were new to the platform but if you are I would clean it every time I shot it until you are familiar with the inner workings. Also with anything new do not just clean but inspect for anything abnormal....
If you can buy a cleaning snake and squirt a little CLP (or what ever you are using) before the brush or after the brush on the snake and that will take care of the barrel cleaning for a quickie or some just use a snake and call it good. Tooth brush or gun brush for hard to get places and that should be a quick easy start for you. Give yourself a few times cleaning and you will know what you want to assist you in cleaning your new firearm. Again congratulations!
Personal opinion; if the rifle is shot several times a week it is actually kinda self cleaning just keep it lightly lubed!!! Wow, no kidding! If you are going to shoot it once or twice every few months then clean it when you get home.
You did not say if you were new to the platform but if you are I would clean it every time I shot it until you are familiar with the inner workings. Also with anything new do not just clean but inspect for anything abnormal....
If you can buy a cleaning snake and squirt a little CLP (or what ever you are using) before the brush or after the brush on the snake and that will take care of the barrel cleaning for a quickie or some just use a snake and call it good. Tooth brush or gun brush for hard to get places and that should be a quick easy start for you. Give yourself a few times cleaning and you will know what you want to assist you in cleaning your new firearm. Again congratulations!
CapnMac
Member
The GI multi-piece rod and kit is handy if out to the range, or in the boonies.
Coming home from the range, I like having a one-piece coated (or synthetic) rod. I keep a jag tip; and both bristle and loop brushes; and I have a dedicated mop tip, too. I have a dedicated chamber brush on a flexible rod with a T-handle.
As to method, that's simple enough.
Clear weapon.
Pop front & back pins, and separate upper and lower. Remove BCG & charging handle.
Take down BCG and apply cleaner & set aside.
Flush gas tube from breech with gun scrub.
Grub out chamber with wet brush.
Wet patch down bore.
Bore brush bore.
Wet patch again, then dry patches until clean.
If it's been a good stretch, I'll wet the mop tip in tetra and run that down 5-6 times.
I'll then bore-snake the tetra in.
After that, it's just cleaning & lubing the remaining parts and reassembling.
Ok, I just looked, I have another bore-snake in my Waller AR bag. That one is "skinnier" than the one in my multi-drawer cleaning box.
Coming home from the range, I like having a one-piece coated (or synthetic) rod. I keep a jag tip; and both bristle and loop brushes; and I have a dedicated mop tip, too. I have a dedicated chamber brush on a flexible rod with a T-handle.
As to method, that's simple enough.
Clear weapon.
Pop front & back pins, and separate upper and lower. Remove BCG & charging handle.
Take down BCG and apply cleaner & set aside.
Flush gas tube from breech with gun scrub.
Grub out chamber with wet brush.
Wet patch down bore.
Bore brush bore.
Wet patch again, then dry patches until clean.
If it's been a good stretch, I'll wet the mop tip in tetra and run that down 5-6 times.
I'll then bore-snake the tetra in.
After that, it's just cleaning & lubing the remaining parts and reassembling.
Ok, I just looked, I have another bore-snake in my Waller AR bag. That one is "skinnier" than the one in my multi-drawer cleaning box.
madcratebuilder
Member
After a shooting session I run a bore snake down the bore, wipe the bolt down, quick wipe with a tooth brush sometimes. Wipe the exterior with a oiled cloth and call it good. I only detail clean the AR's once a year.
I don't shoot cheap ammo and really don't have a carbon problem with the bolt or much powder debris in the action.
I don't shoot cheap ammo and really don't have a carbon problem with the bolt or much powder debris in the action.
briansmithwins
Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2005
- Messages
- 4,631
Personally, I prefer the Otis type pull-thru kits. They are very easy to use, can be used on multiple weapons and you don't have to strip the weapon to clean the bore.
Bore-Snakes always make me think of reusing toilet paper: It can be done but why would you want to rub something dirty against something you're trying to get clean?
You have to decide how clean is clean enough for your AR. ARs will work for a long time with no cleaning as long as the lubrication works. It can't work if it's burned off so you have to add more. I do a full field strip and clean after every time I shoot, and usually am ADD enough to scrape the carbon off the bolt and out of the bolt carrier while it's apart.
One big no-no: Never put anything down the gas tube! It will get stuck and you will have to replace it. Besides, what are you going to remove with a long pipe cleaner or swab that 20,000 psi gas isn't going to blow out?
Download the .mil manuals for the M-16. They have a lot of information and are pretty well written.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0...ODc0LWI5OWQtZGVkYzdlMmQ3MjUx&authkey=CLHOxfEG
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0...NmIwLTgxN2EtNTgyNjAxMzBlZmIy&authkey=CIfWs_0O
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0...NmIwLTgxN2EtNTgyNjAxMzBlZmIy&authkey=CIfWs_0O
BSW
Bore-Snakes always make me think of reusing toilet paper: It can be done but why would you want to rub something dirty against something you're trying to get clean?
You have to decide how clean is clean enough for your AR. ARs will work for a long time with no cleaning as long as the lubrication works. It can't work if it's burned off so you have to add more. I do a full field strip and clean after every time I shoot, and usually am ADD enough to scrape the carbon off the bolt and out of the bolt carrier while it's apart.
One big no-no: Never put anything down the gas tube! It will get stuck and you will have to replace it. Besides, what are you going to remove with a long pipe cleaner or swab that 20,000 psi gas isn't going to blow out?
Download the .mil manuals for the M-16. They have a lot of information and are pretty well written.
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0...ODc0LWI5OWQtZGVkYzdlMmQ3MjUx&authkey=CLHOxfEG
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0...NmIwLTgxN2EtNTgyNjAxMzBlZmIy&authkey=CIfWs_0O
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0...NmIwLTgxN2EtNTgyNjAxMzBlZmIy&authkey=CIfWs_0O
BSW
MythBuster
member
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2007
- Messages
- 360
Use synthetic motor oil for lube and you will not have to clean so much. When you do clean the power residue will be so soft you can just wipe it off.
chrome_austex
Member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2008
- Messages
- 496
I like synth motor oil for lube and general carbon solvent.
A cleaning rod, with a jag for patches.
And I do use JB bore paste with a plastic bristle brush and some patches to remove copper deposits from the bore.
A toothbrush and a dental pick are nice for detailing the bolt and carrier from time to time.
Lots of paper towels.
A cleaning rod, with a jag for patches.
And I do use JB bore paste with a plastic bristle brush and some patches to remove copper deposits from the bore.
A toothbrush and a dental pick are nice for detailing the bolt and carrier from time to time.
Lots of paper towels.
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