Looking for suggestions on the best method for removing carbon from the bolt tail. I have use a couple of products that are supposed to cut through carbon, but I am not having a lot of success.
I brush it off with stainless steel wire brush… one of those wooden handled jobs.
If it’s really hard stuck on there, I’ll scrap it off with a very small screw driver tip.
You can’t hurt the bolt tail… believe me. Some people just leave a limited amount of carbon on there all the time.
I simply use the blade on my SOG tool or Gerber when it gets bad. Have you tried Slip 2000 Carbon Cutter? I have used it and it works pretty good.
It works ok and the mineral spirit method is only so so.
308 brass works well if you don’t have a brush handy. Ak brass will work too, if that is all you can find laying around 
Case mouth as a scrapper, just roll the bolt and scrape.
5.56 works also.
You guys clean your guns? I KNEW there had to be a reason i had so much extra time with my AK in those carbine classes. 
For heavy carbon on the bolt tail I just soak the bolt in a jar of Hoppe’s No.9 or CLP and wipe the area clean.Otherwise I dont worry about it…I just wipe it down with CLP and what comes off,comes off.
Keeping the rings and bolt tail wet with CLP between uses seems to keep the carbon soft and in check.
I use to scrape the carbon off but decided I was putting in extra effort for nothing.The carbon builds right back up after a few rounds and seems to be self limiting.
ETA
The Hoppe’s No.9 takes the brass marks right off the bolt face,lugs and ejector.
Razor knife or carpet cutter works outstanding
+1 on Slip carbon cutter, wire brush and pocket knife. I use a dental cleaning tool/pick, i got from a flee market to clean the inside of the bolt carrier where the bolt sets. A small flat head screw driver works well too.
I’m waiting for someone to make a doodad to clean the boat tail and charge $30 for it.
Seriously I just scrape it off or I use Carbon Cutter.
Scraping the carbon off of the tail of your bolt is about as useful as cleaning out the carbon from the tailpipe of your vehicle…
They are a little more than $30 bucks but a gas piston upper would cure the carbon thing on the bolt tail… Just kidding, please no flame!
Seriously, I just use a bench grinder with a wire brush if its bad enough, got to watch out for the gas rings though, better take them off if you do it this way!!..AD
true, though it seems hard carbon deposits CAN build up in the back of the bolt carrier.
Yeap,same as the bolt…seems to be self limiting.Although if it looks heavy and bothers me,I soak the offending area in my jar of No.9 or a jar of CLP(both of which I use as a dunkit) and dig the carbon out with a sharpened chop stick.Otherwise I dont worry too much about it.
This area is self limiting as the carbon builds up and then doesn’t build up anymore so a cleaning regimen is not needed.
For long term storage, it is smart to scrape this off to avoid pitting on the back of the bolt.
I use slip carbon cutter followed by the edge of a brass punch if there is a stubborn spot.
Otherwise keep this are well lubed when you put your gun away even for a short time.
LeadAway cloth works wonders…I use it for my M1A piston and my 642CT.
This is for sure! If I soak my bolt and inside of the carrier for a few days before cleaning my AR, It’s a shit load easier to get stuff out of there.
Does Brownells have a tool for that? 
Ned’s MOACKS tool has one that is very effective if you are so in need of doing so takes 3 seconds and presto clean I never clean mine off it serves me no purpose to do so. over 6k right now in one dirty gun that hasnt seen anything but more lube and ammo