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

JaPes said:
I used to change hand guards by compressing the delta ring by hand. Changing hand guards by hand, by myself, was time consuming, frustrating, and frustrating. I broke down and bought a $10 hand guard tool.

I shot a video:

AR Delta Ring Compression Tool - YouTube
Click to expand...

Okay John, this video was great - but it is also the reason I need a new keyboard. I absolutely lost it when you flipped the handguard off. :D Chicken soup everywhere man!
 
spclayne said:
So, anyone have any recommendations for the bore snake and how to clean it? Ive had mine for a couple years? Dishwasher, laundry, by hand??
Click to expand...

Because the Boresnake is most likely contaminated by lead and other contaminants I don't want to spread around, I hand wash it. I wash it in a cheap bucket & in a utility sink.
 
I've been using Frog Lube and cleaning the bcg is simply a matter of wiping it off after heating it up with the blow dryer or heat gun. Carbon just melts off.
 
Just a little update. I've been shooting rifles every weekend for the past couple months. Because the rifles are being shot more often, I'm not obsessing about thorough cleanings for longer term storage. I purchased a new Viper Boresnake that has longer brush surface.

So far wet the portion before the bristles with CLP & pull through three times...

  • M&P 15 Melonite Treated Barrel = Gets most of the fouling out. Good enough for weekly trips to the range.
  • CMV non-lined barrel = Gets most of the fouling out. Good enough for weekly trips to the range.
  • IWI Tavor Chrome Lined = Gets the bulk of the fouling out.

This is just me shining a light down the bore and doing a very subjective visual evaluation. The Boresnake doesn't remove all the fouling as the traditional four step cleaning:

1. Push dry patch down bore to dislodge loose fouling.
2. Push solvent wetted patch down bore, let solvent dwell.
3. Push solvent wetted brush down bore from breech to muzzle three times.
4. Push jag and patch down bore until patches come out clean.

The advantage to the Boresnake is that I don't have to take as many fouling shots for poa/poi to stabalize.

As far as the rest:

The chamber gets quickly brushed with a chamber brush.
The upper/lower or single unit receiver gets wiped out
The bolt or gas piston gets wetted down with Hoppes, leave it to dwell, then wiped off.

The standard BCG gets carbon fouling at the usual places. A wipe down doesn't get all the carbon off. What's left doesn't impede operation. Combustion fouling wipes right off the Fail Zero NiBx BCG. I'm running it dry.

I've burned through about 2K rounds over the three rifles. I'll do a complete clean of all three over Thanksgiving.
 
On a side note, a buddy of mine finally pulled the gas piston from his 4 year old FN SCAR 16. I'm not sure how many rounds he shot, but imagine all the fouling that occurs in a DI AR-15's BCG and upper concentrated onto a piston.

Filled a small jar with Seafoam, dropped in the piston and let it sit. 1/2 hour, wipe off the loosened carbon. Drop it back in, repeat. Worked like a charm.
 
JaPes said:
I finally got around to acquiring a Chicago Electric Ultrasonic Cleaner. I purchased it at Harbor Freight Tools. It was on sale, and I stacked a 20% off coupon. :D

I didn't do any shooting today, so I didn't use it to clean any firearms parts. I did experiment with once fired brass. The brass definitely comes out better than it went in. The brass comes out clean, but not 100% shiny & polished.

At this point, I think it might be good to start to reload but I'm not 100% certain. I'm not a reloader. To get it nice and polished, I'd need to acquire a media tumbler.

I think the ultrasonic cleaner will make quick work of cleaning & degreasing any metal part I put in there. Until I ascertain the differences in cleaning solutions, no aluminum parts go in the cleaner.
Click to expand...

I just use strait vinegar non diluted in my Ultra Sonic cleaner that I get at Walmart they have a cleaning vinegar thats 6% instead of 5% little stronger same price white or apple same never mind cleans the same, let it run for about 45 minutes and the brass comes out looking like new but you'll need a tumbler too get it nice and shinny.

Paul
PS thanks for all the good advice
 
spclayne said:
So, anyone have any recommendations for the bore snake and how to clean it? Ive had mine for a couple years? Dishwasher, laundry, by hand??
Click to expand...

I usually either clean my by hand with some Dawn dish soap or I put it in a sock and throw it in the washing machine if I have need to also wash some rags that are dirty, but still have some life left in them.

EDIT: FYI- there are bore guides out there that can be used on multiple rifles that are less money. Might was well buy something that has multiple uses, right?
 
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As far as tools go, some of these may not be all that important for an AR, but they're good to have if you own other firearms.
-Brass hammer. I use a Grace USA 8oz brass hammer
158874.jpg

-Gunsmith Screwdrivers. I use a set of Grace USA screwdrivers.
71tRwZ3GeZL._SX466_.jpg

-Set of tweezers: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DVIEJ14/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"]6pcs Non-magnetic Steel Fine Curved Tip Tweezers Forceps Anti-static ESD 10 11 12 13 14 15 SMD chip - Power Soldering Accessories - Amazon.com@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41yrm66YpLL.@@AMEPARAM@@41yrm66YpLL[/ame]
-Universal Bench Block:[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047WKF84/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"]Amazon.com : Wheeler Universal Bench Block : Hunting And Shooting Equipment : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41hVwVd8l2L.@@AMEPARAM@@41hVwVd8l2L[/ame]
-Set of Roll Pin Punches
 
When I get around to cleaning my AR I spend no more than 20 minutes. I use a Hoppes Bore snake with Hoppes 9 solvent down the barrel, wipe off the bolt carrier, bolt, and gas block with Hoppes 9 on a rag, brush the breech face with a nylon brush and Hoppes 9, lube with FP-10 and I'm done. No scraping, no hard brushing and no mess.

No other tools required. Did I mention mine is a piston AR???
 
Lee in Quartzsite said:
When I get around to cleaning my AR I spend no more than 20 minutes. I use a Hoppes Bore snake with Hoppes 9 solvent down the barrel, wipe off the bolt carrier, bolt, and gas block with Hoppes 9 on a rag, brush the breech face with a nylon brush and Hoppes 9, lube with FP-10 and I'm done. No scraping, no hard brushing and no mess.

No other tools required. Did I mention mine is a piston AR???
Click to expand...

I do the same with my DI AR-15's now that I installed Nickel Boron (NiBx) treated BCG's. Even though the DI system poops where it eats, I just wipe the carbon fouling off the NiBX bolt and carrier. Since the NiBx is lubricious, I don't have to lube the BCG. No lube = nothing to catch the fouling.

Want to make a direct gas impingement AR-15 a breeze to clean? NiBx BCG is the way to go. If you want to just make cleaning the bolt easier, go buy a NiBX treated bolt.

EDIT 4-25-2015 8:00pm CST:

Went to the range today. Shot around 200 rounds from my home built AR-15 that is equipped with a NiBx BCG. I ran the bolt dry. I put a few drops of oil on a patch and wiped the BCG rails and the underside where the hammer contacts when it's reset. That's it. The AR ran perfect. Cleanup was fast.

  1. Field strip AR. Separate upper from lower.
  2. Inspect lower. Turn it upside down and shake. Gave it a quick wipe.
  3. With a dry rag, I wiped the Bolt carrier.
  4. With a dry patch, I wiped the cylinder in which the bolt rides.
  5. With a dry rag, I wiped the bolt.
  6. Chamber brush + solvent. Swab out chamber.
  7. Bore Snake + CLP. 3 passes.
  8. Wipe charging handle.
  9. Quick wipe of the upper.

That's it. That NiBx Bolt Carrier ameliorates the issue of the AR-15 pooping where it eats.
 
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These little pointed cotton swabs come in handy to clean in small area's and crevices. Or for places that need lightly oiled soak the tip and spread in on, really useful for cleaning and lubing pistols but I use them on the AR quite a bit too.

Can find them at Walgreens/CVS:
Studio 35 Beauty Dual-Tip Cosmetic Applicators | Walgreens

Tried the "Q-tip" brand and they were not as durable as these, ended up with a mess of cotton.
 
Great info.
How many rounds do you shoot between cleanings?
 
I live very close to the Club and am there quite often, so a range visit isn't a marathon workout. I clean my AR when I feel like it. Maybe every 500-1000rds or a few range visits. It's never required cleaning to function properly. It's a battle rifle. I figure it needs to work when a bit dirty, right? ;)
 
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