AR cleaning routine

S

spclPatrolGroup

New member
Was wondering, how often do you detail strip the bolt and clean it along with the gas tube, opposed to just cleaning the barrel? I don't shoot AR style rifles that often due to pain of cleaning them throughly.
 
Was wondering, how often do you detail strip the bolt and clean it along with the gas tube, opposed to just cleaning the barrel?
Click to expand...

I never clean the gas tube - ever. When it is time to replace the barrel, I replace the gas tube.

If by detail strip the bolt, you mean cleaning the extractor slot and the ejector pin hole, probably 3,000 rounds or more between cleaning the extractor slot and I think I've cleaned the ejector pin hole once on any of my rifles in tens of thosands of rounds of shooting. Neither one of those are probably the "ideal" cleaning schedule; but they are working for me.

A good guide to AR maintenance is here:
http://www.ar15.com/content/swat/keepitrunning.pdf
 
If your feeling too lazy to clean the bolt by hand, you should try out the ultrasonic cleaners that Lyman and Hornady make. They clean good and make it as easy as throwing the bolt in the cleaner and pressing a button. I clean my "battle" AR about every 1000 rounds or so. My tack driver gets cleaned after every outing, no matter the amount shot through. I may be a little too drastic with the cleaning, but for me it's a peace of mind thing :)
 
From the posted article:

My cleaning regimen may be different
from conventional protocol, but it works
and has stood the test of time. I normally
spend no more than ten minutes doing a
field cleaning, and oftentimes less than
that. If it takes you an hour, you are wasting
time on something or you are doing
something wrong.
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I take a little more than 10 minutes to clean an AR, but less than half hour. Only slightly longer than a bolt gun.
 
If your feeling too lazy to clean the bolt by hand, you should try out the ultrasonic cleaners that Lyman and Hornady make. They clean good and make it as easy as throwing the bolt in the cleaner and pressing a button.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Do you use the same solution Hornady makes for cleaning brass? Or just plain water?
 
I use the solution that is specific for cleaning gun parts. I haven't tried using the brass solution to clean them, but I'll give it a shot sometime. Plain water doesn't work very well at all in sonic cleaners.
 
I guess they did brainwash me! No matter if I tell myself 15 minutes, I look at the clock and at least 30 mins has gone by! Bolt carrier group broken down, handguards off, you name it! Like I'm waiting for a Battalion Inspection! Every time:eek:
 
Every time I've gone out and shot more than a mag or two. Every time regardless if I'm shooting .22 through it.

Can take me close to an hour, but I use a pick and clean all the grit out of the corners of the upper receiver and in the barrel extension. I like to be able to rub my finger somewhere in the upper and have it come out either clean or with a thin oil film on it.
 
i honestly clean mine after every outing. normally, once (ok more than once) during a shooting school i didnt clean it till after the class was over. now every night i would hose it down with CLP and give it a quick wipe down in the morning or that night, including punching the barrel.

in combat daily minimum ...at least a wipe down and check/ punch the barrel.
right after a mission always.
 
iF YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE CARBON DESOLVE FAST ,try SEA FOAM .It's an automotive product and it attacks carbon like crazy . great for cleaning bolts and gas systems .
 
I figure If I spend a lot of $$$$ for the gun, I should try my best and protect my investment. I cleaned them every time I shoot them may it be 10 rounds or 500 rounds in this way the lead and carbon are removed right away. It also allows me to inspect the parts for wear or cracks. Cleaning takes me about 45 minutes to an hour because I have too much time on my hands. :D:D:D
 
After shooting I always clean the bolt and bolt carrier, by soaking the two in solvent.
When I was shooting my M-16 and tossing 1,000 rounds at a time down range.:D I would soak the bolt and bolt carrier over night in mineral spirits, then scrub the bolt face to clean and use a pipe cleaner to clean all the interior parts of the bolt and bolt carrier. The gas tube will crud up as well so at least every six months or so I pull the tube clean the gas port then soak the tube.
Guys from the military have told me that simple soaking the bolt & carrier every time during regular cleaning will keep it clean and functional.
Good maintenance of your AR-15/M-16 will keep it shooting for years.:)

Mace
 
I stip mine down to spare parts and clean it after every time I shoot it out of habit. All I use is a otis cleaning system 7.62 and 5.56 combo with hopps 9.
 
My cleaning regimen mirrors Doublea A's, after every weekly firing (sometimes twice a week); protecting the investment, plus it's more fun going to the range with a clean rifle. Besides, some obnoxious D.I. from P.I. might surprise me in my dreams some night with one of those dumb white-glove inspections.:eek:
 
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