A few questions on cleaning technique for AR-15

[gmitchell]

Does anybody use a bore paste? Will it damage gas piston or plug gas port? Can anybody post their cleaning process as I am new to AR style rifles. And where to lubricate. How often do you clean?

Gordy Mitchell

 

[nicholst55]

There's a fairly good AR-15 Tech Section over at the Go Go Varmints board: http://www.varminthunters.com/ar15tech/

I used to clean mine every time I fired it, but that comes from 20 years active duty in the Army. Now I clean it every 500 rounds or so. Gas port pressure on a 20-inch rifle barrel is 15,000 PSI, and carbines are higher. I doubt if any J-B (or whatever) that gets into the gas port is going to stay.

 

[Scott Harris]

clean the barrel just like any other. Keep the BCG well-lubricated: that will ensure good function and make it easier to clean off the carbon build up. The bolt lug recesses are hard to get at, but use Q-tips and do the best you can. I use M-Pro7 as my carbon cleaner: spray it on and it dissolves carbon really well. I use Break-Free CLP as the lubricant.

 

[TheSnake]

You can do what I do. My son is a Marine and I didn't own an AR before he came back home. I got us one to play with and when we get back from shooting, he has it cleaned and back in the safe before I can pour myself a Coke on ice. I haven't had to clean it myself yet. Now that's my idea of the best way to clean an AR.

 

[jonbearman]

I use montana extreme 50 bmg formula,I wet the bore and chamber and let it soak for 10 minutes and then scrub with a nylon brush dipped in more solvent using a sinclair bore guide. The next thing is the sinclair lug recess tool with their cotton swabs with hoppes after you dry out all the other chemicals you may use.Dont ever mix bore cleaners because you could cause a reaction with one another.Then when satisfied I got all the grime out,I flush with brakleen(crc) brand.Blow out or swab out anything left and lightly oil the bore. The bolt carrier is disassembled and I soak it in hoppes or whatever you like and scrub it with a toothbrush made for the ar-15(govt type ) which sinclair also sells.When the carrier and bolt are clean etc,I reassemble with liquid grease lightly and put it in the gun and done.Also blow out the trigger area and rinse with lighter fluid if necessary or brakleen and blow off and very lightly oil surfaces with a needle oiler with high quality oil. Sounds like alot,but a clean rifle is a happy rifle.

 

[mac86951]

clean the barrel just like any other. Keep the BCG well-lubricated: that will ensure good function and make it easier to clean off the carbon build up. The bolt lug recesses are hard to get at, but use Q-tips and do the best you can. I use M-Pro7 as my carbon cleaner: spray it on and it dissolves carbon really well. I use Break-Free CLP as the lubricant.

+1 on the Break-Free CLP. I clean the bore with Hoppes #9, dry, Sweets, dry, then apply a light coating of Moly Disulfide.

Chamber gets cleaned with Break-Free CLP and Q-tips (lugs)
BCG gets CLP too. I used to use others, but I've found that the military is right, most cleaning agents quickly gum up on the BCG. Break-Free holds up well.

-Mac

 

[Ing. Michael W. Mayerl]

Does anybody use a bore paste? Will it damage gas piston or plug gas port? Can anybody post their cleaning process as I am new to AR style rifles. And where to lubricate. How often do you clean?

Gordy Mitchell

Don`t use bore paste. It can waste gas pistons.
Use bronze brushes, solvent (KG12) and BreakFree CLP.
The bolt head and parts can be cleaned in a supersonic cleaner and then be oiled with Break Free.
How often ? When it`s dirty or when you have time.

 

[kelbro]

You have to clean ARs?? I did a test a couple of years ago. Ran over 5K rounds through my Stag with only a boresnake ran through it every 200 rounds or so. Never had a hiccup.

Not a recommendation, just a data point.

 

[mac86951]

Bore snakes are great! Check out Accuracy Systems Inc. barrel breaking technique. Its the only one that ensures no throat erosion from a bad cleaning rod.

-Mac

 

[hogan]

Bore past will NOT hurt your gas system.

Use a Dewey coated rod and a boreguide. Scrub with Barnes CR-10 copper solvent.

Use LOTS of Lubricant on your trigger mechanism. You want some fairly heavy oil or light grease on the back of your bolt lugs Can grease your boltcarrier unit bearing surfaces, light oil on the bolt area that rides inside the carrier. Gaps in your gas rings should be staggered, so not in-line. Replace gas rings when bolt won't support self standing up in carrier.

Don't shoot rifle with oil in barrel. Patch out dry before shooting.

Glen Zedikers AR-15 books are excellent and very well worth the $$. Robert Whitley at 6mmAR.com has notes on cleaning and lubrication or AR guns. ar15.com also has many resources.

 

[Larryh128]

Just a note on chamber /lug cleaning. They make excellent brushes that attach to a rod for cleaning these. They work very well. I made up a 10" fixed dedicated rod for stictly chamber/lug cleaning.

 

[ar15topgun]

You have to clean ARs?? I did a test a couple of years ago. Ran over 5K rounds through my Stag with only a boresnake ran through it every 200 rounds or so. Never had a hiccup.

Not a recommendation, just a data point.

You must not shoot xtc or mid-range competitions with yours. How often you clean will be determined by how you use it and what type of shooting. Competitions- clean after every match. Plinking- every 500 or so rounds. Hunting- what ever gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. Your choice of ammo will also determine how often it needs to be cleaned ie: using ammo that leaves lots of powder residue will need more frequent cleaning. As for bore paste, perfectly fine to use but don't over do it and be careful not to drag the brush/mop back through the muzzle as this would damage the crown. If you are concerned of leaving paste in the gas vent just spray brake cleaner down the gas tube from the receiver end before your last patch is pushed through. This will force any residue out of the tube/orifice.