Let’s hear those cleaning methods. No cleaning kit? What’s your secret? Old tricks, shortcuts, anything that you do to your rifle that isn’t necessarily in the owner’s manual. For instance, I forgot a cleaning kit on a recent trip, and an 11 dollar Leatherman Juice S2 multi-tool had to fill in, and did so quite nicely I must say.
DISCLAIMER, I’m not trying to start any arguments on what is kosher and what isn’t in the world of gun-cleaning, just want to hear those secrets that we all know exist, and want to hear some of those “Hmmm, never thought of that, might have to give that a try.” moments. Please, If something could be considered unsafe, consider before posting.
On the military side my secret weapon when coming out of the field is baby wipes. After watching me quickly make me weapon “Gunners Mate” clean, which is another topic, I’d say a large percentage of the battalion followed suit.
I have to add that this has almost nothing to do with weapon functionality, only making the Gunnners Mates happy.
for inspections, we used to douse 'em with WD40, let soak for 3~6 minutes, then jet them with the super high-pressure, literally scalding-hot water from the laundry room faucets… shake 'em out, strip, scrape the carbon off the bolt and carrier, assemble, done. 10 minutes per weapon, maybe 15, if they were sooper carbony or had to get jetted again.
I have heard of AK47s being cleaned with shoe laces dipped in motor oil and tied in knots and pulled through the barrel. Sort of a field expedient bore snake.
I have heard off all sorts of things being used to lube rifles from vagisil (YUCK:eek:), to things like 10W40 and STP and tranny fluid. Don’t ask me where the hell you get Vagisil in the middle of combat in Anystan?
Shoot some brake cleaner (with the little straw nozzle thingy on) down the barrel and into the gas tube before you do any other routine cleaning. You will be surprised how little carbon comes out when you do the regular cleaning with Hoppes or whatever you use. Saves lots of time running patches and brushes down the bore.
Nail gun air-compressor set regulator at 100 psi spray down with brake cleaner the blow with compressed air repeat 2 or 3 times if you really want to try to get every spec out.
Per The_Katar, running it wetter than I previously thought has made things much easier, but for when I have time, brake cleaner and steam gets the junk out quickly and nearly effortlessly. Just make sure all water is gone when you are finished.