Cleaning the outside of the barrel around the handguard

[shawnfergie]

Hey guys,

How would I go about cleaning the outside of my barrel on my MP15-22 after a hunting trip? Dried the gun out but want to make sure I don't get any rust. I've used a very small rag and used it as a CLP wipe (using MPRO 7 CLP or LPX).

Wanted to see if anyone had any better ways or suggestions and thanks in advance.

 

[Boz]

Right after I brought the 15-22 home and was cleaning it for the first time I found that if I wiped the barrel with a clean white cloth there were traces of rust that came off. The last thing I did before closing the lid on the case was to spray some Rem Oil on a cloth and wipe it all over the outside of the barrel.

I'd like to know what to do, too. Especially under the Quad Rail.

 

[VectorSix]

i remove the barrel when i want to clean under the handguard.

 

[Gopher Slayer]

Someone in another thread said they use a cleaning rod with a 20 or 12ga. bore mop. You need to remove the end cap on the handguard to do it that way.

 

[Buckskinner]

I don't think you need to worry about it. The grease that they put on is a very good protectant and probably as good as cosmoline. A couple squirts of brake cleaner would take most of it off and then a couple squirts of CLP to protect if you want. Not sure how brake cleaner affects the polymers though...

If you get your gun really dirty and muddy, I would recommend taking your gun in the shower with you... Dry then spray CLP.

 

[team sidewinder]

Someone in another thread said they use a cleaning rod with a 20 or 12ga. bore mop. You need to remove the end cap on the handguard to do it that way.

That is what I use. Just need to slide the endcap up to the very end of the barrel and clean/lube away.

 

[shawnfergie]

I've got the mop and an Otis kit with the flex rod that should work.

 

[Boz]

Did anyone else notice slight rust on their new barrel?

 

[Gopher Slayer]

Did anyone else notice slight rust on their new barrel?

Not me.

I never see rust on firearms around here unless someone is completely neglecting them for a long period of time. I think I could put a humidifier in my safe and be just fine.

It's pretty much the same with vehicles. When I was a kid I worked at a car rental place. We would get fairly new vehicles from the east coast that looked like they had been sitting under water for the last year. The frames and wheels were always the worst.

 

[Garand Man]

That's because of all the salt they use on the roads in the winter to melt ice and snow... also occurs in the midwest here... ruins vehicles, rots them out really bad over a few years time...

have torn apart 3 15-22's... early guns... built in 2009... all 3 had nasty brownish rusty looking oil at the barrel nut area...but NO rust had developed... all 3 guns had been setting NIB...when I bought them 2 months ago...

 

[Buckskinner]

Just because it's red/brown doesn't mean that it's rust, it's likely the color of the protectant that S&W puts on.

 

[Gopher Slayer]

That's because of all the salt they use on the roads in the winter to melt ice and snow... also occurs in the midwest here... ruins vehicles, rots them out really bad over a few years time...

We get the corrosion from the salts, but not completely surface rusted frames and factory steel wheels on three year old vehicles.

 

[Blockhead75]

Just because it's red/brown doesn't mean that it's rust, it's likely the color of the protectant that S&W puts on.

What he said.

 

[Garand Man]

Just because it's red/brown doesn't mean that it's rust, it's likely the color of the protectant that S&W puts on.

Sorry, I don't ASSUME... anything.!!! These rifles had been setting in boxes for 3 years.... There were torn apart, cleaned, and ANYTHING...!! anything that had the remotest chance of being that old and slimy and RUSTY looking was removed, cleaned and relubed... And it did not have the consistency of any protectant or assembly lube that I have used...

And, not knowing how the fellow that had bought them new, had oiled or taken care of them, as he was now taking the eternal dirt nap!!! and his unbeknowing family had any idea... I DIDN'T and DON'T leave anything to chance.!!!!!

That's how I roll,

Paul

 

[Buckskinner]

Well Paul...

I wasn't commenting to your post, I was commenting to BOZ, so take your pill...

But it still wasn't rust. Where you are pointing out is where there would be an excess of protectant. Haven't you ever cleaned a gun preserved in cosmoline? It's brown and greasy.

Nothing wrong with removing it, although what ever you put on it won't protect as well as that stuff.

They used to wipe down tanks with the stuff for over sea voyages to protect from the salt water.

 

[Garand Man]

No pill to take....

You see my name title... I have handled more Cosmolined Garands and Carbines than most....and tons of parts, still new in wrap, covered in cosmoline..... In 30 years of collecting USGI military surplus firearms... I do know exactly what cosmoline is....this WAS NOT cosmoline.... dont know what it was...left a rusty colored residue on a white rag... it had to go....thats all there is to it....

your comment was posted after mine and directed to no one... ;0)

 

[Buckskinner]

4 minutes after, never read your thread...

Yeah, saw your name. That's why I asked the question. Figured you would be able to tell rust from protectant...

Never said it was cosmoline, but if it was NIB it was a factory applied protectant and if there was rust it would have been on the exposed part of the rifle not the area covered in grease... That's the way oxidation works.

 

[Boz]

I'm not familiar with Cosmoline, so maybe I mistook that for surface rust. All I know is I wiped the barrel with a clean rag and what came off the barrel looked like rust.

Just to be clear, there's no signs of rust damage to the surface of the barrel that I can see. When I was done, I wiped the barrel down with Rem Oil and a clean cloth, and made sure I didn't touch the barrel when I placed the rifle back into the case.

It's times like this I wish I new some local experts.

 

[team sidewinder]

I've got the mop and an Otis kit with the flex rod that should work.

Ya it might work ok but while I have the Otis also I just used a cleaning rod and mop soaked in CPL for cleaning between the handguard and barrel. Not sure if the Otis cable is stiff enough to get pushed between the barrel and handguard but give it a try.

 

[ajzadavis]

Not saying its the best way to clean it but a few q tips worked pretty good for me with three kids with dirty ears i try to keep some on hand.
you can bend them around the corners and when they get dirty just toss them in the trash. The q tips not the kids .lol