Hey guys have a question for ya? I’ve been reading on this forum about the Carbon Removal Tools CRT’s and it seems like more arguing than advise. The question here isn’t whether to buy one but more which one to buy? Anyone have one of the 3 pictured and if you could comment the pro’s and con’s of each? Not so much worried bout the price. I want one that works is all.
#################################
##################################
I own and have used the CAT M-4, but not the other two. High potential, piss-poor execution. Don’t buy it.:mad:
What part of the bolt or carrier did it fail to clean?
The CAT M-4 appears to be a stainless steel casting, but the dimensions are uneven, surfaces are not flat, and finish is inconsistent.
The forked end intended to clean the bolt tail was machined, but sadly, the machining was inconsistent. This was partly because the casting dimensions, once again, were out of spec to the point that the cutter had no metal to machine. The machining itself was very rough, typical of what one would expect of dull/notched cutters.
But your question was about performance. The curvature of the fork does not match the curvature of the tails of any of my five bolts, so it leaves significant areas of carbon deposit untouched. Not good.
Likewise, the radius at the corners of the end intended to be inserted into the BC are not machined, just rough castings, and do not match the profile of the bottom of the hole, so that carbon deposits are not thoroughly removed. Not good.
The purpose of a tool such as this, in my opinion, is to remove carbon deposits quickly and easily, and if properly manufactured, I have no doubt it would; it’s an excellent design. But if I have to clean up the carbon it leaves behind, then it is neither effective nor convenient and certainly not worth the $35 pricetag.
Please don’t tell me that I should I return it to Blackheart for a refund or replacement. I already poured my money down that rathole, and don’t intend to waste more time and money trying to drown a rodent.:mad:
I am intrested in a CRT myself…
I would spend the money on something else. People would really be amazed at how easy the BCG is to clean when the lube it up good.
YMMV.
I use a spent .44 mag casing.
I had a chance to use the KZ one and I was impressed. Thought it would suck. It did the inside of the carrier and the bolt tail pretty quick.
Dimensions were nice and tight, it hugged the bolt tail and corkscrewed a lot the carbon off. The carrier scraper worked pretty good, too.
Just don’t put it in your pocket; wrap it up if you keep it in your kit. It’s milled and the sharp edge will eat a hole in your clothes or your leg.
Edit: It’s important to note that these are field cleaning tools and not for a white glove inspection. They get the big chunks off so you can keep going.
Dumb question #23,789.
What in hell is it supposed to do?
Forgive me for not playing along with the OP, but I’ve never needed more than a Q-tip or a soft cloth to clean the bolt. Am I missing something, here?
Same here.
KG-1 carbon remover and a q-tip is all you need. I know it’s not what you asked, but in my (relatively short) time of cleaning AR’s, I’ve never needed more than that to remove ALL the carbon from the BCG / firing pin.
I love my CAT m4. One of the best cleaning tools i have ever bought. It gets parts of the carrier clean i didn’t even know was dirty.
I’m not a genius but I really can’t see how anyone can be perplexed by this type of item. It’s another specialty take-your-money gizmo that does a specific job but is completely unnecessary. I’m surprised we’re not having revelations about toilet tissue here as well. “Whatever, man, I just use my hand. It’s always with me.”
If Q-tips and a soft brush and squirt of CLP and a flat tip screwdriver and a scratch pad and and a dunk in a bucket of Simple Green (I’ve seen it all) work for you, go for it.
I don’t see myself buying one of these tools and carrying it around on my kit, but if somebody at the range had one and let me use it? I’d use it.
Kinda like a hot tub. I wouldn’t pay to have at the house but I don’t mind sliding my old ass into one if its available.
Many good ideas so far…
When/if I want to clean the rear of the bolt, I use the threaded end of a brass bore brush. Carbon just scrapes right off.
Also works on that pesky black ring that you get on the firing pin.
Bad analogy. Your ass NEEDS wiping. Using a scraper to clean that part of the bolt is unnecessary and could be damaging.
If Q-tips and a soft brush and squirt of CLP and a flat tip screwdriver and a scratch pad and and a dunk in a bucket of Simple Green (I’ve seen it all) work for you, go for it.
I don’t see myself buying one of these tools and carrying it around on my kit, but if somebody at the range had one and let me use it? I’d use it.
Kinda like a hot tub. I wouldn’t pay to have at the house but I don’t mind sliding my old ass into one if its available.
And like picking up various illnesses and disease from strange hot tubs, all this scraping away at carbon on the bolt can cause excessive and premature wear which is bad.
The question is, is the tool mentioned merely stupid and unnecessary, or is it potentially harmful to your bolt?
The greater issue is to convince AR users to quit overcleaning their guns and just leave the bolt tail alone. My advice to the OP and anyone else who asks? Don’t scrape carbon from ANY part of your gun. And quick fucking with the gas system; it will clean itself as much as needs be.
M-Pro 7 cleaner removes all the carbon and old lubricants and it has no odor and is water soluble. I place my bolt and carrier in a small plastic container and put just enough M-Pro 7 into cover the parts. Soak as long as you wish, remove, wipe dry, repeat until it is as clean as you want it to be. Personally, I don’t mind some carbon build up. :big_boss:
Say what? I suggested wiping your ass with your hand. And if I follow your logic: how is cleaning that part of the bolt is unnecessary to clean damaging if it doesn’t matter whether said part is clean or dirty to X standard? These tools don’t operate like the dental pick you see your old school infantry First Sergeant doing surgery on his M4 with. They’re more like a loose battery terminal brush. As was stated above, most (ones I’ve seen) don’t attempt to remove all the carbon and don’t come close to scratching any part of the bolt. Many of these tools have disclaimers on them that actually state that they’re not designed to white-glove a bolt and that they are designed for a quick twist-and-lube in the field.
Self-cleaning, huh? Where have I heard that before? And by “gas system” are you including the parts inside the upper receiver? That bolt/carrier thing?
…
But, yeah, we can both agree that instead of wasting money on these type of trinkets the shooter would be better served by CLP and bronze handbrush.
Oh, so now you’re telling me that hot tubs aren’t self-cleaning. j/k
Let’s keep this on track. We all have opinions on the usefulness or lack thereof of these tools.
IME long before the bolt is actually so dirty that it would need any kind of “scraping” it’s past it’s service life anyway. Hence, no need for a scraper.
I think they are transfer devices at best sold to those anally retentive types that still break the gun down to it’s component parts and pick, scratch, scrape, soak and brush away at it until it’s glistening again. No harm on me, but completely and totally unnecessary.