A little cleaning advice needed

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

Hey all, have a bit of a question for ya.

Shot my first IDPA qualifier today, it was a blast (and I was totally unprepared for it, I showed up thinking it was a practice day and I would finally get some decent instruction on pistol handling…yeah…my mistake)

While I was doing that, my AR was laid out on the safe table with bolt open and locked back (we were planning on two-gunning it up). Well, the 40-50 mph winds kicked up one hell of a dust storm that put fine brown gritty dust in placed I didn’t know existed. We had to cancel the rifle shoot since nobody’s gun was functioning (even the shotguns were choking on the stuff). Now, I’ve never had to clean a gun that saw this much grime. Until today, most of my cleaning has been after an easy day at the bench or in the woods…so pretty much just carbon and other residue.

Do you guys (especially the ones who have had to maintain weapons in the desert) have any tips on cleaning this stuff out? I spent a good 40 minutes with swabs, q-tips, CLP, Lube, canned air, and it still seems like its all down in the little nooks and crannies- especially down in the threads of my optic mount.

2

Soak the BCG in a bottle of Hoppes. I had a Gatorade bottle of it in Afghanistan. After about 10 minutes, pull it out and wipe it down.

Q-tips and CLP for the upper receiver.

Barber brush for the outside of the weapon.

3

When my guns get really dirty, I hit the parts with non chlorine break cleaner and then clean and lube as normal.

4

I do Ballistol/water mix followed by compressed air. wipe down with a microfiber cloth.

Then Ballistol as lube.

5

I detail strip mine & clean everything with paint thinner & a paint brush, when they’re really dirty. A gallon of it costs about $7. Relube & you’re GTG.

6

Solvent, toothbrush, pipe cleaners, and oil.

7

Do you disassemble the BCG first or drop it in complete?

8

Put away the damned paintbrushes, q-tips, and god knows what else.

Using $4 in cash, buy a can of non chlorinated brake cleaner at Walmart. Hose out the receivers and parts out side. Once dry, reoil.

Don’t get caught up in silly cleaning rituals, buy the can of non chlorinated brake cleaner.

9

On top of the time savings this will get it cleaner than any other q-tip and makeup remover pad ever will.

10

You guys clean your guns?

11

Once a year, whether they need it or not.:jester:

12

Thanks all, appreciate it.

I did hose it down last night with the brake cleaner and relubed. Most of the important parts seem clean enough. I’m sure there’s enough grit in some places that will end up working like a polishing compound, but I can deal with that.

I was just a bit more concerned with the sand that worked its way down into the threads of my optic (TR24G).

Chalk it up to my relative inexperience with the AR if you wish. I’ve never been one to see how dirty my things can get and continue functioning. Funny, though, when you consider that my parts selection was for making sure that it would keep going bang no matter what.

13

I like a toothbrush to clean carbon out from the barrel locking lugs and a pipe cleaner for gas tubes. Are you telling me just blast it all with brake cleaner and that will do better?

14

Yes. Most guys spend WAY too much time cleaning by using all sorts of brushes and stuff. I can completely clean my AR’s in a matter of minutes with a can of Non Chlorinated Brake Cleaner. That stuff makes cleaning the barrel extension super easy…just make sure you’re wearing safety glasses so none splashes back nto your eyes. Same holds true for a dirty BCG. I can disassemble, clean, lube, and reassemble a BCG in just a few minutes. No need for soaking. Also the brake cleaner blast all the grease and grime away so cleaning is a lot less messy that most folks do with using CLP an rags. I never understood using oily stuff to clean oily stuff…seems like way to much in terms of dirty rags to me.

Also, no need to spend time with pipe cleaners in your gas tube. If you think about the amount of high pressure gas that runs through it every shot you see that it really oes blow itself out each and every time.

15

I’ve been using brake cleaner on fire arms for 12 years. Just watch plastic parts or things near by. It will melt some plastics. It also may take the painted logos off of things…

16

That.

17

Only thing I can add to the above is you may want to use a credit card if you get sky miles or cash back.:smiley:

18

Definitely maybe. You won’t know for certain until you try it.

I don’t care for aerosol products when cleaning my firearms because of the fumes. Not that the products I use are without fumes, but I have less control over fumes with aerosols. I keep their use to a minimum. That’s my personal situation and what I’m comfortable with after trying many different methods. It also changes with the needs of the moment

19

With a bit of looking around I can often times find brake cleaner for $1.50-1.99 per can at Walmart and the local auto parts stores.

20

I feel sorry for the very new folks around here looking to learn about these matters, given how cool it’s become to recommend not cleaning your weapon.

Obviously don’t clean your rifle when you are potentially going to need it to be ready to fire, or even in the field…however, when time permits, a proper light cleaning that doesn’t even involve but 5-10mins of actual work should be done imho if I even need to say that. Don’t clean your gun and it will fail…how many rds, nobody knows, so why not take a little preventative maintenance to ensure your weapon’s reliability and overall longevity.