cleaning the AR15

[Quib]

a can of carbon cutter costs less than a gas tube, and you can clean many gas tubes with one can, sounds pretty economical to me

It’s your weapon. If you feel you are gaining some benefit by hosing out your gas tube on a routine basis then by all means, have fun.

[Quib]

I've heard way more instances of gas tubes being ruined from people sticking things in them in an attempt to clean them than instances of them becoming so dirty they no longer function properly.

I don't shoot enough to have to worry about replacing my gas tubes, but for you guys that do, approximately how many rounds before you find the need to replace, if ever?

There were at least two cases on ARFCOM a few years ago, where I helped a member troubleshoot a short stroking weapon. After going through the normal list of corrective actions, I recommended carb cleaner and compressed air on the gas tube. This cleared the blockage and corrected the problem.

This was two cases in about 8 years, and I believe the cause was dirty ammo.

[Ak44]

I will clean the outside of the gas tube (the portion of the tube over the barrel and the portion inside the upper receiver). I have never cleaned the inside of the tube, nor was ever instructed to do so in the Marines.

[RogerinTPA]

The thought, never occurred to me, as I rarely clean my weapons anyway.

[Detmongo]

i have an upper with 15k thru it i never touch the gas tube and it's never been a problem.

[warpigM-4]

Was not taught in the Army to mess with the gas tube ,always was told it is was a "self-cleaning part"in that the Hot gases and pressure will keep it clear if not,Replace as needed

[Iraqgunz]

Here it is in laymans terms. Though there is a method of cleaning in the TM, almost no one does this because of the time and the cost invloved in the cleaning compound. It is much cheaper to replace a gas tube which costs about 7.00 in FEDLOG.

If you want to disassemble your weapon, remove the tube and TRY and clean it, knock yourself out.

the military is an inefficient institution, and just because they don't do something doesn't mean it doesn't need to be done

[Iraqgunz]

This says it all.

It’s your weapon. If you feel you are gaining some benefit by hosing out your gas tube on a routine basis then by all means, have fun.

[spr1]

I suspect (no data, just suposition) that the tech manual may have cleaning information on the gas tube from the Vietnam era when the ammo initially provided had a powder with a formulation that did excessively foul weapons.

As to why clean the bolt and carrier and not the tube, I would offer the following -
When the gas flowing down the tube hits the larger volume of the interior of the bolt carrier assy, it expands, losing both velocity and temperature. A bunch of the formerly solid constituents of that gas will then deposit out on the cooler surfaces of the BC and bolt.

[Quib]

I suspect (no data, just suposition) that the tech manual may have cleaning information on the gas tube from the Vietnam era when the ammo initially provided had a powder with a formulation that did excessively foul weapons.

You could be correct. The info may be outdated or a carry over from the Vietnam era. But just a FYI, the reference I used above, was from the -23&P w/ Chg. 8 incorporated.

Even if the gas tube cleaning procedure was a carry over from the Vietnam era, it probably still has some warrant today. When you consider how dirty a weapon becomes from firing blanks, I can see perhaps the gas tube of a weapon in a training BDE becoming blocked with carbon.

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This brings me to the following question addressed to our Ind. Professionals and Armorers, just out of curiosity;

Have you in your career, personally had to change out a carbon blocked gas tube? Or even witnessed a carbon blocked gas tube?