colt AR-15 military/law enforcement w scope

llymphs

law enforcement friend sold me his AR (with scope) prior to BO's "reign" for $800 with soft case and 6 mil/law enforcement clips. (wants to buy it back...nope!)

the advice to me regarding cleaning has been...

1) clean after every use
vs.
2) rarely clean ("it just gets better, just screws it up,etc, etc")...

So what's the truth from you AR experts? If #1, what is the best "system" to use?

nmyers

You will find a range of opinions, but with the AR it's relatively easy to clean the bore & chamber after each use, so I would recommend that. But, most folks don't feel the need to detail clean it unless it will be stored for a long time, or has had several thousand rounds through it. As important as cleaning is proper lubrication.

I suggest you buy a book such as "The AR-15 Complete Owner's Guide" by Walt Kuleck, an inexpensive paperback. Also, check out Brownells as they have several special cleaning tools that will make cleaning a lot easier.

Neal

beantownshootah

If you think you're going to be using the gun in combat, then you should probably make sure its clean after every single use to ensure maximum reliability.

If you're just training with it or using it as a "plinker" then you don't need to clean it nearly so often. I'd say once every few hundred rounds.

Note that there *IS* such a thing as a happy medium between cleaning after every use and neglecting the thing until it malfunctions before cleaning it!

No, letting a gun run for several hundreds or thousands of rounds between cleanings doesn't make it 'better'! With AR-15s in particular, the direct impingement gas operating system means the gun will get pretty dirty in that time.

In GENERAL cleaning a gun doesn't hurt it, so long as you know what you're doing and do it correctly. The biggest things are to be careful not to damage the crown of the barrel, and to try not to be too aggressive in scrubbing out the bore with wire brushes (especially steel. . .which you should probably avoid).

fordsix

hope he isn't the one who pulls ya over for your next ticket[:D]

Txs

I agree with cleaning after each use, but I'll add that there's really no need to use a brush down the chromed bore of an AR after every shooting session. Just solvent soaked patches will do you fine. With this plating, copper buildup to the point that it effects accuracy takes a while.

One very important point with this platform....

Barring you being deployed to the powdery sands of somewhere such as Iraq, in addition to cleaning, keeping the bolt of an AR/M16 wet with a good lubricant is important. Even if these guns get absolutely filthy from firing it will continue to function reliably if kept well lubed.

In addition, an often overlooked but important point in keeping an AR/M16 running reliably in the long term is cleaning the gas tube.

Unless you're going through tons of ammo, when using USGI loads you shouldn't get much buildup due to it's powder characteristics and the extreme pressures directed through the tube by each round fired. If using any non-USGI loads it's a good idea to clean the tube after each shooting session.

Do NOT attempt to clean this tube by scrubbing it out. That's a good way to cause more problems than you're trying to fix.

Use a strong high pressure solvent such as GunScrubber or non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Prior to cleaning the bore, tip the muzzle down and direct this stuff directly into the rear of the gas tube, allowing any gunk to flow out the gas port and into the bore. Do NOT place any lube into the tube afterwards.

511pe

Just wipe it down with CLP every 6 months. Chrome lined bores clean up quick but are not reliable as one would expect due to variances in tolerances from lining. A/R's typically gather much carbon so much that you can't get it all out in one cleaning especially from the bolt carrier. Progressive cleaning is what I recommend.

llymphs

Great advice from all. I'm gonna take all info into consideration.
Love this forum!

tsr1965

Well, there is a lot of opinion out there. To help eliminate the confusion, I do believe that the whole bore is not chromed lined. Just the chamber, throat, and the first 6-8 inches of barrel, if I am not mistaken.

I clean mine after each range session of a couple hundred rounds or more. I clean the bore, and gas system, including taking down the bolt, and swabing/cleaning the gas tube. I use it in some pretty cold climates, and I want to make sure it goes bang when I want it to.

Best

USN_Airdale

NEVER EVER CLEAN A GAS TUBE !!!

quote:In addition, an often overlooked but important point in keeping an AR/M16 running reliably in the long term is cleaning the gas tube.

i totally disagree with cleaning a gas tube, there is absolutely no way to clean it properly, they are "self regulating" when it comes to getting fouled up, i have one Colt Ar-15 that is over 30 years old, has thousands of rounds thru it and the gas tube has never been cleaned. replacing the gas tube would be the best option if you think it needs cleaning.

tsr1965

quote:Originally posted by USN_Airdale
NEVER EVER CLEAN A GAS TUBE !!!

quote:In addition, an often overlooked but important point in keeping an AR/M16 running reliably in the long term is cleaning the gas tube.

i totally disagree with cleaning a gas tube, there is absolutely no way to clean it properly, they are "self regulating" when it comes to getting fouled up, i have one Colt Ar-15 that is over 30 years old, has thousands of rounds thru it and the gas tube has never been cleaned. replacing the gas tube would be the best option if you think it needs cleaning.


You just do not know the way to clean it properly, and never have cleaned it or attempted to. They make extra long pipe cleaners for it, then flush it out with brake cleaner spray, from the reciever end, untill it runs out of the barrel, to make sure the port is clear. That is the problem with the AR-15, is it craps where it eats...at some time it will gum up and fail if not cleaned. It is a thing called preventative maintenance.

Best

Txs

quote:Originally posted by USN_Airdale
NEVER EVER CLEAN A GAS TUBE !!!

quote:In addition, an often overlooked but important point in keeping an AR/M16 running reliably in the long term is cleaning the gas tube.

i totally disagree with cleaning a gas tube, there is absolutely no way to clean it properly, they are "self regulating" when it comes to getting fouled up, i have one Colt Ar-15 that is over 30 years old, has thousands of rounds thru it and the gas tube has never been cleaned. replacing the gas tube would be the best option if you think it needs cleaning.
IIRC there's somewhere in the neighborhood of 50,000 psi of pressure directed through this small diameter tube each time a round is fired, which keeps it clear - as long as the correct type of powder is used. Otherwise, cleaning of this area is required.

A well known example of issues that can/will occur was incorrect powder type combined with a failure to clean this tube resulting in those very real 'jam-a-matic' issues shortly after the M16 was adopted by the US military.

However, I do not endorse any method where this tube is actually swabbed - such as using those long pipe cleaners - due to the possibility of leaving debris in the tube. Simply flushing with a strong high pressure solvent is a much better method.

I stand by my advice that for those who choose to shoot other than genuine USGI ammo through their AR that it's a good idea to flush the tube periodically.

511pe

F.Y.I. The entire bore on a chrome-lined is chromed from the camber to muzzle. The only way you can safely attempt to clean a gas tube is with brake cleaner sprayed through the inside of the tube from the bolt key area. I wouldn't ever use an oil or solvent cleaner because of excessive pressures. Brake cleaner evaporates too quickly to cause an issue. A gas tube can get extremely filthy in the inside and it's not an issue because they're made over-sized for that reason. Ample room for crud. Best of luck.