How many rounds you could shot before next rifle cleaning? I put 300 yesterday on previously cleaned rifle and cleaned it this morning again, however I didn't find many parts dirty and am shooting brass only ammo. Is it safe to shoot 500-600 rounds before cleaning it next time? M&P15 is slight pain to clean, lot more parts and places in compare to my other rifle and shotgun. In another hand I am impressed with accuracy, low recoil and how compact and light this rifle is. Just cleaning is a pain

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Guns ...

I'm new to the AR platform, having just bought a S&W M&P 15 Sport a month ago, but I've been shooting for over 50 years and the rule my dad taught me, and that I follow, is, regardless of what gun you are shooting, when you shoot it, you clean it when you are done...5 rounds or 500 rounds or 5000 roundes.

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Bob | KM4DEO
Sport | Glock 22

Yee, but again this rifle is not as simple to clean. if you never did it you will remember my words your next cleaning. It takes twice as much time in compare to my Saiga for example, too many parts and hidden tough to reach spots.

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Guns ...

The right tools make the job quicker. Check the thread linked below. I highly recommend the CAT M4 tool and the Otis flexible rod kit.

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

To answer your original question, I clean my rifle after every range trip.

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-John

Pulled the trigger ONE time last Tuesday to depopulate my little portion of the world of a copperhead. Cleaned the gun afterward.

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Bob | KM4DEO
Sport | Glock 22

I would probably prefer to pay someone to clean it pro way one time in 2-3 range trips. 300 rounds each trip is normally what i shot from mp15.

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Guns ...

I agree with what others have already said, shoot it, clean it, lube it. I am most definitely not in the "shoot it until it stops and then clean it" camp. I don't want to find out how dirty it is when it stops, I want to keep it clean so when I need it, it will continue to function until I no longer need it. Make cleaning a part of your routine. Plan to shoot and enjoy that, then plan to clean and know the next time you go to shoot, your firearm is ready as well. If taking care of an AR is to great a chore, you might consider another rifle platform.

Your AR is like a pet, both need to be fed, both need to be cleaned, and both need to be cared for to truly be enjoyed.

Good Luck and good shooting.

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SFC, US Army, Retired

Wives are like that too. Oh...wait...you already said that...

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Bob | KM4DEO
Sport | Glock 22

This being the internet, I can't tell if you're joking or not. I don't think you are.

Cleaning an AR-15 isn't difficult or time consuming. With practice, it gets quick and easy. I'm OCD about cleaning my firearms and like to take my time. There are some instances where I I don't have the luxury of time. If a soldier in the field can field strip and clean a M16/M4, there's no reason you can't.

Tools for a quick clean:

• Rag.
• Breakfree CLP
• Hoppes Bore Snake
• Chore Boy Copper Wool
• Pistol cleaning rod with a .40 S&W cleaning brush on it.
• One patch

Quick and easy clean steps:

1. Field strip the AR-15
2. Field strip the bolt carrier group
3. Moisten the rag with Breakfree CLP, and wipe off surface contaminants from the bolt carrier, bolt, wipe out the upper receiver, wipe off the charging handle.
4. Spray some CLP on the Chore Boy Copper Wool, and scrub the bolt tail free of carbon build up.
5. Moisten the bore snake with Breakfree CLP on the part right before the integrated brush. Pull down bore three times.
6. Spray the .40 cal brush with CLP, scrub out the chamber.
7. Put the patch over the .40 Cal brush and swab out the chamber.
8. Reassemble.

By using Breakfree CLP, you clean, lube, and protect all the parts in one go. No time wasted by using separate solvent, scrub, lube steps. The Boresnake applies the CLP, brushes, and swabs out the barrel in one pull; no separate steps. The Chore Boy Copper Wool will make quick work of any carbon deposit on the bolt tail.

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-John

I almost follow the same routine on my Sport. Hard to clean? Please. One of the simplest cleaning semi autos you can buy. After trying couple different cleaners, I use Mobil 1 10w30 only on my snake, old tshirts, and final cleaning patches.

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Die Gedanken sind frei, so far

It sounds like owning an AR-15 is too much work for you. LOL - It's really not that hard to clean...It's part of owning a gun and it's fun to turn the radio on, drink a beer, and clean your guns.
JUST MY .02

The reason for cleaning it after every range trip is not because it will start to fail after 300 rounds. It's because there is a right way to care for tools and then there is a lazy way to care for them.

The dirt that accumulates after 300 rounds at a range will not stop the gun from working. However, if you let it sit, it will be harder to get out later. So, clean it when it's easy. If you think getting to all the nooks and crannies is difficult now, imagine cleaning all those spots when the carbon is baked on.

Further, I don't find it difficult to clean at all. The gun breaks down with one pin. The bolt carrier comes right out and the barrel is easy to access. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to do a decent cleaning job; 10 with experience.

Stop looking for excuses to not care for your equipment. Take care of it and it will take care of you.

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Freedom isn't free.

I just took my new AR apart and cleaned/lubed it for the first time today. It has not yet been fired but it took 15-20 minutes tops. Not a big deal and it will get easier with experience.

The other reason to field strip, clean, and lube a firearm after a range trip is to inspect it for wear, damage, etc. Each field strip sets a baseline visual for "normal". You'll quickly notice if anything is not "normal".

Pay someone else to clean your rifle, and you won't get to know your rifle.

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-John

Cleaned mine a couple of hours ago. Took 15 minutes and it was only the third time. Cleaned it and the Glock in less than 30 min.

Incidentally JaPes...won the auction.

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Bob | KM4DEO
Sport | Glock 22

One more thing about cleaning often; you learn what doesn't need to be cleaned.

A long time ago, when I bought my first gun, I would spend an hour cleaning it after a trip to the range where I shot 20 rounds. I would get every tiny bit of whatever I could find cleaned out. Sure, I liked handling the gun, but I kept it so clean you could eat off it, literally. Now, it takes me less than 5 minutes to clean my handgun after firing 200 rounds at the range.

Why the change? Well, I still care about my guns and every now and then I'll really get into cleaning them. However, I've learned what needs to be clean to keep them functioning. I worry less about them being pristine all the time, in every crevice.

I field strip after a range visit. I'll detail strip every 2,000 rounds or so. But then, I shoot more than 95% of the people I know.

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Freedom isn't free.

Doesn't leave ya with many friends, does it?

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Bob | KM4DEO
Sport | Glock 22

Hahahahah! Good catch! Yes, that's why I spend time on the internet.

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Freedom isn't free.

Same here. Started off being very very very OCD nit-picky clean. It got to the point where cleaning wasn't fun or zen-meditation anymore. I'll give my firearms a quick field strip and clean every range trip.

When the firearm really needs to be deep cleaned, I'll detail strip it and put all the small parts into an ultrasonic cleaner.

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-John

I clean mine every time no matter how many rounds have been shot. You don't have to go crazy cleaning it, As said before, after a while you will know which parts need attention and which just need a quick cleaning. But you still have to completely clean it every so often to make sure all the parts are wearing out and need to be replaced.

This is where I'm at except I ended the continuing cleaning when I started shooting competition. Most competition grade rifles need at least a few rounds to settle down before you can call your shots. .22LR match rifles usually will require 15-20 rounds to settle down after the barrel is cleaned. My hunting rifles all need 3-5 rounds before they no longer throw shots out of the group.

Yup. I noticed that with my rimfire and centerfire rifles. After cleaning with regular solvent, it takes a three or so fouling shots for the group to become consistent. It's more noticeable after stripping copper from the bore. I never strip copper from the bore unless it is absolutely necessary.

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-John