AR Cleaning Tools

[Whitwabit]

New to AR shooting and was wondering if there are any specialty cleaning tools that would make it easier to clean an AR15 ..

I've heard about some not cleaning theirs for many rounds and not interested in rehashing that .. but when you do clean your AR do you use any tools other then the normal cleaning kit for an AR ?

I bought a cleaning kit that has a Real Avid AR scraping tool looks much like the CAT M4 Cleaning Tool I've seen for sale on line .. I have seen the Otis B.O.N.E. tool mentioned in a couple of blogs .. not sure what it does ..

Are there other specialty tools that make cleaning easier ??

What do you use ??

 

[Dad_Roman]

Papertowels, Q-tips dry, Q-tips w/light oil, touch of EWG grease in those "special places" and the appropriate BoreSnake.

Done


If something is disastrously dirty (for whatever reason) then a heavy d*o*u*c*h*e with foaming CLP and MUCHO paper towels then the above steps.

I have a tiny paintbrush...never use it.
I have a tiny nylon bottlebrush.....never use it.
Occasionally use a bore brush if some particular ammo has tried to shed its skin in the barrel.



Can you believe your not allowed to say d*o*u*c*h*e ?

 

[MichiganScott]

Check out Brownell's for cleaning utensils. SINCLAIR INTERNATIONAL SINCLAIR DELUXE AR-15 CLEANING KIT | Brownells

Everything you need and nothing you don't for simple and fast cleaning.

 

[rockquarry]

These guns weren't designed with cleanup as a major consideration. Fouling, whether carbon, powder, or both becomes quite prevalent throughout the receiver area after firing only a few rounds. If there is a difference in the degree of fouling between commercial ammo or handloads (even using a variety of powders), it's minimal.

A bolt radius scraper (that may be what you are referring to) is inexpensive and quite useful. I use one from Brownells. Also, a chamber brush is essential. Most of us want 100% reliability; a clean chamber won't guarantee that but it sure helps.

I don't know how many rounds can be fired before cleaning becomes necessary. I've never fired more than maybe 250 rounds without cleaning. I soak the bolt carrier assembly parts in kerosene for a short time to loosen up fouling.

There's more to cleaning and others will have additional and perhaps better suggestions, but these work well for me. Get good cleaning equipment. From my experience, Otis products don't qualify.

 

[webfarmer]

Old fashioned guy here. I clean my AR's with Hoppe's #9 (yup), regular brass bore brushes, AR receiver brush, stiff bristle brush that looks like a tooth brush for carbon removal at rear of bolt and regular old patches (and lots of Q-tips). I lube with Slip 2000 but maybe will try grease some time. I'm one of those that cleans within a day or two after shooting unless I'll be shooting again very soon. By the way, I spray the outside all my guns with G-96 and wipe down with a silicone rag before they go where they belong. Crazy eh?

 

[TX-Dennis]

I use this bolt scraper.

Kley-Zion CRT AR-15/M4 Bolt & Carrier Carbon Removal Tool - Botach

 

[Whitwabit]

This is the scrapper I have by Real Avid .. looks about like the Kley-Zion .. or the CRT-4 ..
http://www.realavid.com/media/catal...8d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/r/ar15scraper_327x418.png

 

[hdrolling]

I use most of the same that has been mentioned but also like to use dental picks, have for many years. SLIP2000 (EWL, carbon killer, gun cleaner/degreaser) works very well!

 

[Dad_Roman]

I lube with Slip 2000 but maybe will try grease some time.

EWG and EWL and others are Slip 2000 company products so it looks like Slip gets the nod

You use the synthetic wipes?

 

[Disabled1]

My grandfather taught me many years ago how well Kerosene and/or Brake Clean works. And, for lubrication, 3 IN 1 oil, or a mixture of trans fluid and a synthetic oil.
The only "FOO-FOO" juice/gun cleaner I own is Grizzly Grease.

 

[hdwhit]

Whitwabbit wrote:
What do you use ??

I use a cleaning rod with a bronze brush and a tip that holds patches. I use Hoppe's #9 as a solvent and then Sears Roebuck & Co. Light Machine Oil.

I field strip the rifle as it says in the user's manual, clean everything, lightly oil it and reassemble it. I clean the rifle after every use.

As you can see from what has already been posted, people do all sorts of things in the name of cleaning their gun, but according to pages 38-39 of the Sport II manual, the people that built the gun say that this is ALL you NEED to DO.

 

[hdrolling]

As you can see from what has already been posted, people do all sorts of things in the name of cleaning their gun, but according to pages 38-39 of the Sport II manual, the people that built the gun say that this is ALL you NEED to DO.

The military ruined me, I know I over clean my rifles but I know I won't have a malfunction from carbon build up either.

 

[TexasM&PBandit]

I need a cleaning Kit, or at least lubrication oil. Not sure what to get? I don't want a $159 kit. I have the M&P Sport II AR15 and a Springfield XD Mod.2 9MM 4" service model hand gun. I see Hoppes oil a lot?

Here is a kit on Amazon for $27.97
[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Hoppes-No-Deluxe-Gun-Cleaning/dp/B000KKCYEA[/ame]

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Bore brush
Chamber brush
CAT M4
Wilson Combat Ultima Lube II

 

[hdrolling]

This is basically what I was issued in the military, compact and lightweight. I bring it to the range with me in case I get a shell stuck in the chamber, used them all the time at the range while I was still active duty.

Dobbs works fine, SLIP2000 works great!

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MFFF8ZY/ref=sxr_pa_click_within_right_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3008539542&pf_rd_r=QW6MX28RSAVT7EC07VT5&pd_rd_wg=2FDeq&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_w=9TVji&pf_rd_i=gi+weapons+cleaning+kit&pd_rd_r=HAMSX2YA6QAN6P0WX2N1&psc=1[/ame]

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Slip2000-Extreme-Lure-3-Pack-2-Ounce/dp/B00905AON4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495765278&sr=8-3&keywords=slip%2B2000&th=1&psc=1[/ame]

 

[fedoff]

Cleaning kit

Otis Modern Sporting Rifle & AR Cleaning System. You can find it on Amazon for $39.99. Best kit I ever found. Also buy some Hoppe's #9. I have a Sig P516 patrol with a gas piston. A lot easier to clean than a gas impingement, and it stays a lot cleaner.

 

[JaPes]

New to AR shooting and was wondering if there are any specialty cleaning tools that would make it easier to clean an AR15 ..

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

 

[Whitwabit]

Well I bought a bore snake, and star brush and star cleaning pads , and a scraper tool .. don't need a complete kit it would just duplicate cleaning supplies I already have !! I have picks and patches and such ..

The bolt cleaning tool was one thing I didn't have so picked one up .. should have everything I need now ..

Appreciate all the comments and advice !!

Thanks !! Now if it will stop raining on my off days long enough to get to the range ..

 

[Disabled1]

The military ruined me, I know I over clean my rifles but I know I won't have a malfunction from carbon build up either.

I'm the same way. When you have DI's inspecting your weapon with white gloves, it makes you a better soldier at cleaning your weapon!
HOOAH!

 

[Moe Mentum]

I use the same cleaning kit I use for my .22 rifle. Old Hoppes cleaning kit.

 

[eb07]

.40 cal brush for the chamber
bore snake
q-tips
pipe cleaner
a rag
hoppes 9
Slip 2000 EWL

Good to go

 

[otisrush]

My bolt scraper is a fired .223 case.

 

[Bat Guano]

I am a fairly conscientious gun cleaner, but when it comes to ARs I went to a practical, "do what has to be done to keep it running" approach. Otherwise I would be spending 45 minutes cleaning every other day. I used to use the sectional GI rod and Ed's Red to do a minimalist bore cleaning and re-oil. I now use one of these for that job and find it more than sufficient: Redi-Mag.com - Boonie Packer Products

ARs like to run wet so I make sure there is plenty of lube on the bolt carrier and locking lugs. The rifles maintain reliability and accuracy all summer long and I'm quite comfortable with that.

I did order one of the Avid tools as it seems handy at about half the price of the competition. Like Jeff Cooper, I now find cleaning guns about as appealing as slopping the hogs--a necessary chore but not one to drag out.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The bolt cleaning tool was one thing I didn't have so picked one up .. should have everything I need now ..

Yeah, the CATM4 or equivalent turns a hassle and into a few second job. A few twists and wipe down... done.

 

[hdrolling]

Yeah, the CATM4 or equivalent turns a hassle and into a few second job. A few twists and wipe down... done.

For the heck of it I just picked up one of the Otis brand tools, the only place it picked up any extra carbon was inside the bolt carrier.

But I guess next time I do an initial cleaning it will help go a little faster.

 

[Kadonny]

Bore snake & Hoppes #9 for the barrel.
Chamber brush and Hoppes #9 for the chamber
Gun scrub spray for the trigger and lower moving parts
Cat 4 tool, pacthes, Hoppes #9 & pipe cleaners for the bolt
Pipe cleaners for any other tiny areas
Mobil 1 lube

This has worked for me for years and over many different rifles.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

For the heck of it I just picked up one of the Otis brand tools, the only place it picked up any extra carbon was inside the bolt carrier.

But I guess next time I do an initial cleaning it will help go a little faster.

Kinda depends on cleaning frequency and expectations.

Tools like the CATM4 and Otis BONE are designed to scrape off heavy carbon, but it's not a white glove tool.

Say for example I run 500-700rds though my AR after two or three or more shooting sessions. I'll use the CATM4 to scrape the heavy buildup off the bolt and then wipe down. Cleaning is done at that point as far as I'm concerned. To go beyond that would require solvents, brush and elbow grease. I'm not interested in that nor do these rifles require it for reliable operation. But say a guy typically shoots 50rds or so and then quickly runs home to clean his rifle like new. A tool like the CATM4 isn't going to be of much use because there won't be much buildup and he'll still be using solvents and brushes to get things sparkly clean.

 

[Disabled1]

For the heck of it I just picked up one of the Otis brand tools, the only place it picked up any extra carbon was inside the bolt carrier.

But I guess next time I do an initial cleaning it will help go a little faster.

HD, I bet you can't remember how many times you had to make a soldier drop and push up the ground for a dirty part on their weapon.

 

[eb07]

I am going to give my personal opinion here, scrapers are NOT useful and NOT needed and all they do is cause premature wear. Just wipe it down after shooting it. Use soft cloth and q tips to clean. Pipe cleaners in the gas tubes. The AR bolt does NOT need to be scraped of carbon deposits. You can damage the ground surface inside the carrier causing premature wear and failure.

Soak it, brush it with a sot bristle cleaning or tooth brush, q tip it, wipe it down and move on

I saved this a long while ago in a maintenance doc I give to new 3 gunners and new people who take the local carbine classes we do. This was posted a long time ago and I cut and pasted it for people:

Ignoring Carbon Build-up - per Armalite There are frequent posts asking about cleaning carbon from the AR. We've decided to post our answer as a separate topic for your reading amusement: Hold off on removing the carbon. Leave it. Now that we've got your attention, we'll explain. Deep inside the AR-10 or AR-15/M-16 bolt carrier is a groove at the end of the chromed cylinder that the gas rings slide in. That groove is GRIND RELIEF. It's a production artifact. It prevents a ledge from being left where the grinding for that cylinder ends. Carbon can build up in the groove and the rear surface of the carrier. It is harmless. The high pressure/temperature operating gas keeps it from building up too much. About the time it gets too bulky, it gets blown out. Don't confuse instincts for cleanliness that you learned in the military with common sense. It's easy for an inspector to know when there isn't a speck of dirt. It's harder to know what's important. Any scraper that'll get to it can damage the ground surface inside the carrier. Bad deal. Clean out what you can with patches or Q-tips, but white-glove cleaning damages more guns than all the shooting we do.

Do what you want but the scraper is unnecessary and can and will cause premature wear. If you don't like what I posted above, you don't have to argue with me. This is my advice. Take it or don't. I feel it is good advice. I won't argue it. I just wanted to educate people. I shoot a minimum of 5K a year through my AR's and I have gone through my share of BCG and Barrels in the past 10-15 years I have been active in the carbine sports

 

[hdrolling]

HD, I bet you can't remember how many times you had to make a soldier drop and push up the ground for a dirty part on their weapon.

Pretty much the first 10 to bring me there weapons too early would always have carbon somewhere.

After watching them sweat the rest of the platoon figured out that they needed to keep cleaning for another hour no matter how clean there rifle was.

And if it was so clean that I couldn't find anything, there were always extra weapons from guys on appt or pass that needed their weapons cleaned for the company armsroom inspection.