I live in AZ. We have low humidity here so I rust is a non issue. I don’t worry about lubing under my rails and handguards.
Another option you have, if you’re really OCD about a clean rifle. Is to dunk it in a bucket of hot water or use a hose, pressure washer, etc. and spray it down with wd40 after. Then lube it and it’s good for storage.
I’ve taken this route. It works pretty well.
If you’re really worried about it, use the cleaning method above for general maintenance with a detailed stripping every year to completely scrub the exterior of the barrel and inside the handguard.
In before littlelebowski and his brake cleaner.
Kidding.
In all seriousness, though, use some brake cleaner if you must worry.
Ruger keeps telling me that if I remove the handguard I’ll mess up the alignment for the oprod, thus destroying the rifle. Do I believe them? Not really, but I don’t know enough to argue with the people who design and build guns for a living. I don’t want to take it apart myself until I can confirm that it’s safe to do so. If someone has done it, it’d be awesome if they would chime in and post some pics too. 
I was thinking exactly the same thing about replacing the rollpins.
Don’t forget to tell him to re-oil it or it will rust to hell.
Ditto Squared
I don’t care all that much about the dirt. I just can’t believe they’d rather pay the shipping and labor to clean it for me rather than designing it, like every other AR I know of, to be able to be completely disassembled by the average end user with basic tools and knowledge.
What’s worse is you can’t buy replacement parts for the piston system directly from them or anyone else.
Again I say, GRRRR
To be fair, I totally admire the dedication Ruger has to customer service. I also really like their piston design. I just wish I could service it myself. :moil:
There were some patent drawings posted over on The Firearms Blog a year or two ago showing a QD barrel system from Ruger. From what I can remember, there was a folding handle attached to the gas block. The barrel and gas block came out the front of the handguard and the piston and rail stayed with the upper. Kind of an interesting idea and the general consensus was that Ruger was actually working on something from the USMC’s M27 project. I don’t know if that’s true or not but it would help explain why Ruger didn’t make the piston rod something that’s easily removable.
Guess what? I have been saying this for a long time as have others. If you purchase a piston system, you have very little if any parts that are going to be off the shelf if you need to replace them.
I didn’t purchase this rifle, I inherited it.
YOU was meant in a general sense, not YOU in particular.
Of course.
And yeah, it’s a huge con for the piston systems, in particular the Ruger system. At least other piston manufacturers give you access and will sell you parts for their systems.
Given your multiple complaints, what is it exactly that you like about the design?
I like the piston system as it is reliable and runs well. I like the rifle as a whole when shooting it.
All of my complaints are focused on the same essential thing: the non-removable handguard and as a secondary rant the fact they won’t sell you certain parts.
The impetus for this was the phone conversation I had with them.
If no emotional attachment, sell it on Gunbroker or TOS, and wait for a 6920 to show up for sale in your local Walmart…
I am keeping the rifle. My wife would kill me otherwise!
I am planning on ordering a DDM4V7 in April barring any adverse political decisions being made preventing me from doing so. A LE6940 might be nice too. 
I think you’re obsessing about nothing…
I “care” for my rifles as in i do preventative and routine maintenance but i never clean them yet keep them liberally oiled.
I live in Florida, specifically South Florida the Armpit of the United States and i have yet to have a single rust issue with any of my AR’s in spite of rain, humidity and mud…
As others have said, spray under the handguards with brake cleaner, oil the sucker up and keep shooting.
Every year or so if you want to take advantage of Rugers generosity…do it. You paid a premium for the rifle so you may as well take them up on THEIR offer.
Blargh, I’m not obsessing about the dirt. It’s the principle dammit. :blink:
Ruger has already done some work to it on their dime. I could not be happier with their service and support.