Mausermolt
New member
what is a good way to clean the gas system of a DI AR? i have some blanks i would like to shoot but i dont want the corrosive nastiness destroying my gas tube.
DI AR cleaning
- Thread starter Mausermolt
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MythBuster
New member
What 5.56 blank rounds do you have that is corrosive?
Mausermolt
New member
i thought all blanks were corrosive? 
i think the are lake city mil surp. they came in a Remington box that said 55 grn FMJ.....those are the funniest lookin FMJ's ive ever seen i tell you what! 
i think the are lake city mil surp. they came in a Remington box that said 55 grn FMJ.....those are the funniest lookin FMJ's ive ever seen i tell you what! Ridge_Runner_5
New member
Definitely not corrosive. They're dirty, but not corrosive.
Achilles11B
New member
Blanks are really, really dirty to shoot, while not corrosive they will make a mess. Just clean thoroughly after firing and you will be good.
+1 on the dirty part.
However, I would not attempt to stuff anything into the gas tube to clean the gas system lest part of it dislodge and it makes a new home for itself in your tube or some other portion of the overall system. Just fire regular ammo through it the first chance you get and that will be good enough. Or don't. Through all the blanks Uncle Sam had me fire through his rifles- not once were we ever advised or instructed to clean out the gas tube, port, block/sight.
However, I would not attempt to stuff anything into the gas tube to clean the gas system lest part of it dislodge and it makes a new home for itself in your tube or some other portion of the overall system. Just fire regular ammo through it the first chance you get and that will be good enough. Or don't. Through all the blanks Uncle Sam had me fire through his rifles- not once were we ever advised or instructed to clean out the gas tube, port, block/sight.
Consider that 25,000 psi is passed down the gas tube, the next cartridge of regular ammo keeps it cleaned out.
What causes blanks to dirty up the action so much is when a blank fire adapter with the metered stem stops up the muzzle. The gas residue largely remains trapped and blows back over the case as the bolt unlocks, dumping into the action. Suppressor users have the same problem - the wipes stop gas from exiting the muzzle easily.
There's not much in the TM about cleaning the gas tube out, even when a basic load of 300 rounds is fired in combat. What the Army really wants cleaned is all the environmental crud that can mechanically stop the action. Wipe down the bolt carrier, lube it thru the gas vent holes, lube the upper channel the cam pin rides in, done. Load and fire another basic load as needed. Repeat daily. Do that, it runs.
What causes blanks to dirty up the action so much is when a blank fire adapter with the metered stem stops up the muzzle. The gas residue largely remains trapped and blows back over the case as the bolt unlocks, dumping into the action. Suppressor users have the same problem - the wipes stop gas from exiting the muzzle easily.
There's not much in the TM about cleaning the gas tube out, even when a basic load of 300 rounds is fired in combat. What the Army really wants cleaned is all the environmental crud that can mechanically stop the action. Wipe down the bolt carrier, lube it thru the gas vent holes, lube the upper channel the cam pin rides in, done. Load and fire another basic load as needed. Repeat daily. Do that, it runs.
Achilles11B
New member
Tirod and 10-96 nailed it. In eight years as an Army infantryman, I was never given special instructions regarding the gas tube, just give the rifle a good cleaning after firing. All blanks do is blow carbon down the barrel, hit it hard when cleaning after firing and the rifle will be fine.