New to AR's? Here are some tools I use to clean.

I just ordered this very nice AR cleaning kit from J Dewey:

https://deweyrods.com/product/complete-ar-15-cleaning-kit-30-inch-rod

Their products appear to be quite well regarded in terms of quality. I priced-out the products individually on Amazon, Ebay, and web retailers and the kit as purchased from Dewey is less expensive by a good bit.

The kit is $100 with free shipping but can be had for $85 with free shipping by using this coupon code: spreadingjoy15

I was happy to find this kit as it has pretty much everything I was looking for and the price is really good from what I can tell from researching AR 15 cleaning products.

I should add that I'm in no way affiliated with or know anything about this company -- just found them while researching cleaning kits.
 
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That IS a very nice kit. I need to get me one of these. What I have works but a proper kit would be better.
 
CAT M4 $35
Montana X-treme Chamber brush $5
Rod, brush and patches from cleaning your .22s.
That's about it.

Use whatever solvents you like.
Learn where to lube and use a quality lube. I use Wilson Combat but there are many others.
 
Just thought I would bring this Thread back up and share my experiences with my wife's new AR that I bought her for Christmas. It is a DI gun versus my piston gun and what a pain to clean! I can clean my M&P15 PS in about 1/2 hour with just some Hoppes 9, a couple of rags, nylon brush and either a bore snake or rod & patches. Add some lube and it's good to go. First time cleaning her new gun took me almost an hour and a half! The BCG was so black and dirty and the bolt was all crudded up with black carbon that I ended up scraping off. I should have worn rubber gloves because my hands got so black with gunk and I ended up throwing away 2 completely ruined rags. All this after only 300 rounds through the gun. Next time I will give her some instructions on how to clean her own gun! She can ruin her fingernails...mine are still black!

My gun shoots as good as her, weighs less than hers, and is a joy to clean during halftime!
 
How bad is the piston to clean? My shotgun isn't bad but some people have said their ARs were just as bad as an DI rifle. The crud is just in a different location.
 
sgtsandman said:
How bad is the piston to clean? My shotgun isn't bad but some people have said their ARs were just as bad as an DI rifle. The crud is just in a different location.
Click to expand...

no_free_lunch.jpg


...comes immediately to mind

I sure hope you guys aren't gonna come up with more great stuff to buy. This thread has already taken its toll...:p
 
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sgtsandman said:
How bad is the piston to clean? The crud is just in a different location.
Click to expand...

The "crud" around the gas block and gas regulator is simply removed with a rag and Hoppes 9. No scraping, brushing or anything else. Takes less than 5 minutes. The actual piston rod stays pretty clean...just a simple wipe down with CLP.
 
sgtsandman said:
How bad is the piston to clean? My shotgun isn't bad but some people have said their ARs were just as bad as an DI rifle. The crud is just in a different location.
Click to expand...

Lee in Quartzsite said:
The "crud" around the gas block and gas regulator is simply removed with a rag and Hoppes 9. No scraping, brushing or anything else. Takes less than 5 minutes. The actual piston rod stays pretty clean...just a simple wipe down with CLP.
Click to expand...

Any piston is easier to clean than scraping the the area before the gas rings and the bolt tail on a traditional AR-15 bolt. Want to "solve" the problem? Install a Fail Zero NiBX Bolt Carrier Group into your DI AR-15. A fouled bolt is cleaned with a wipe of a dry towel. Since I didn't need to run lube, there wasn't anything in the upper to attract the fouling. Wipe out the upper with a dry rag and I was done.

I've owned a couple NiBX bolt carrier groups. I honestly prefer the Fail Zero product. It was truly easy to clean. My long stroke gas piston rifles? Even easier to clean.

It's funny. I started this thread. I had cleaning OCD. I was at that phase where I subscribed to the "I get as much enjoyment / zen peace from cleaning as I do shooting". That phase is over. I've figured out the quickest and easiest way to clean.

1. Brush the chamber with a chamber brush.

2. Swab out the chamber with a pistol bore mop that's big enough.

3. Spray CLP down the bore. Let it dwell in the bore. Give it a few minutes
to soak into the fouling and loosen it.

4. Spray CLP on the boresnake before and after the bristles. Pull through three times.

5. Spray CLP on a rag. Wipe off the field stripped Fail Zero BCG.

6. Using the same rag, wipe out the upper. Wipe clean the charging handle.

7. I turn the lower upside down and tap it to knock out any particles. I then wipe it out.

Done. It goes fast.
 
Cleaning mine hasn't been much of a chore but it may be because I run a bore snake through as soon as I'm done shooting while the barrel is still warm. My bolt usually isn't bad but I do stay on top of it with a Bone tool.
 
Oops! I guess I should have looked first. They already made it a "notable thread".
 
I know this is not news to anyone who uses them but I've just got to say how impressed I am with the Dewey AR-15 Cleaning Kit.

I purchased one a while back (with a 15% off coupon found online) but hadn't used it as I've been using either a Boresnake Viper or the Otis MSR / AR Cleaning System.

I really like the functionality of the Dewey chamber cleaning tools...and after I was done with the chamber I fit a 16 oz. disposable water bottle over the muzzle to catch the dirty patches and ran the Dewey pointed jag with a few solvent and CLP soaked patches and I was done in no time.

(Didn't bother with brushes as I could clearly feel the patch follow the rifling down the bore. The action and rotation of the Dewey ball bearing handle as you drive the rod is smooth as glass.)

The Dewey kit doesn't address the BCG so the Otis tools (as well as the Kley-Zion CRT) made relatively quick work of cleaning the bolt and carrier.

But really, I just wanted to comment on the Dewey system as I'd never used a fine cleaning rod, (let alone a rod guide), in the past and I was truly impressed.

I guess you sometimes really do get what you paid for.
 
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Gas. Takes me exactly 15 minutes to do the barrel, chamber, complete bolt carrier group and table cleanup. The most expensive specialized cleaning tool I have for my AR's is from a company called Real Avid. Guessing $15-20. Does all the carbon removal on the bolt and inside the carrier in seconds. I remember way back when sawing back and forth with a brass brush for a couple of minutes.
clean1.jpg


I consider cleaning my AR's a necessary but not-so-pleasant chore so I get in, get out, and I don't dilly-dally. To minimize the residual smell of the brake cleaner and copper/lead solvent, I do it over a plastic walmart bag and pitch it immediately. 3 or 4 patches, reuse an old baby diaper for wipedown. I love my coated cable but I don't remember where I got it.

clean.jpg


clean2.jpg
 
@tcon...

I haven't used brake cleaner (yet) but I do use the same MTM Portable Rifle/Shotgun Maintenance Center. Well worth the $29 I paid on amazon to have both the cleaning cradle and additional storage.

I set it up on my old Black & Decker Workmate the top of which is covered with cardboard saved from cut up shipping cartons to keep it clean.

I'm with you...I'd rather work smart than hard (and for longer than necessary).

@COSteve...

Nice setup you have there. I never thought of using my compressor and probably won't though I have read of folks using them. I hate turning the darn thing on except to keep my 4Runner's tires topped off as necessary.
 
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