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Old 07-26-2017, 06:26 AM
rum_runner rum_runner is offline
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Gas tube care? Gas tube care? Gas tube care? Gas tube care? Gas tube care?  
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Default Gas tube care?

Another "newby" question. Please tolerate.
Is there anything I should know about the gas tube?
I am very familiar with my AK's, and routinely pull the gas cylinder and piston out and clean/lube them. Probably not needed, but it is easy to do. A little more time consuming, and totally not needed, is pulling the gas block off, and cleaning the gas port on both block and barrel. Won't do it anymore. Too many YouTubes of Mid East users...whom I am sure, NEVER go this far to keep them clean, and yet still keep rocking.
However, looking at the "tiny" 15 tube, as compared to the AK gas tube, Is there anything I should do to clean it? Or, just keep it to the basic cleaning/lube of the bore and internals?
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Old 07-26-2017, 06:38 AM
Old_Cop Old_Cop is offline
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Leave the gas tube alone on ARs. It is not easily removed and not necessary.
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Old 07-26-2017, 06:45 AM
scooter123 scooter123 is offline
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Keep in mind that the 5.56 operates at pressures approaching 60,000 PSI. That is enough pressure to keep the gas tube clean in normal use. So you really shouldn't do anything about cleaning the gas tube. Because if you were to try using a pipe cleaner or something similar you could end up with something jammed in there and then learn that a high pressure working against a very small area does not provide much force.
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Old 07-26-2017, 07:29 AM
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Never had a problem with tube,never cleaned one.
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Old 07-26-2017, 08:01 AM
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No touchy!

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Old 07-26-2017, 08:06 AM
just plain joe just plain joe is offline
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I'm not a SME regarding the AR15 platform and didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last evening. I have however run this platform since 2007 and, thanks to my employer's generosity, have many thousands of rounds down-range. I am almost OC about the care, cleaning, & lubrication of my patrol rifle. That being said I have never cleaned the gas tube on my Noveske or Colt 5.56. I have experienced no malfunctions related to a dirty gas tube.

If you experience excessive wear with the portion of the gas tube that interfaces with the top of the carrier key, you may wish to consider tube replacement. I've worn out a couple of those which Noveske Rifleworks replaced. There is a small bulge at the tube end that fits into the key that, during cycling, wore down to the same diameter as the tube. This MAY result in erratic functioning as this is a direct impingement system, but it takes a lot of rounds to do so and I've never experienced nor heard of this occurring.

Sorry for the thread drift; cleaning the gas tube is a non-issue.

Others may know more though.

JPJ

Last edited by just plain joe; 07-26-2017 at 08:07 AM.
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Old 07-26-2017, 09:02 AM
apollo99 apollo99 is offline
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Joe makes a very good point, while you should never have to clean the gas tube which does self clean at 50,000 psi. , you should check the bulge at the end of the tube, This can wear from a lot of use, or if the tube is bent or installed wrong and rubs unevenly against the tube on top of the carrier. You Tube has some videos on the hows and whys and the fixes.
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Old 07-26-2017, 09:29 AM
rum_runner rum_runner is offline
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GREAT NEWS! No cleaning!
I will just...shoot it!
Going back to the creek today...200 more rds.
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