Cleaning AR upper.......

TroyF · Jun 25, 2011

So as I was cleaning my AR yesterday, I was wondering if anyone has an ingenious way of cleaning their uppers. Particularly the area where the bolt locks up.

I can get it clean, but what a PITA. Currently I use acombination of fish tank brushes, various toothbrushes, Q-Tips, etc.....

Tell me what you do...

I'm getting lazy in my old age

Rustyzx9 · Jun 25, 2011

Solvent to get things started and compressed air to make the mess large enough then rags to clean everything up...

foghorn918 · Jun 25, 2011

I'm interested in hearing anwers to this as well, keep them coming.

Not to hijack the thread, but when you guys break down the bolt carrier group do you always remove the extractor for cleaning after every range trip too, or is there a certain round count number you hit to do that?

TroyF · Jun 25, 2011

I do remove the extractor. It's an extra step that takes just a few minutes. Worth the piece of mind to me.

Scott Hearn · Jun 25, 2011

Here's my method:

It kind of steals part of Rusty's method.

Crack open a beer.

Separate upper from lower.

Remove BCG

Disassemble BCG and drop bolt in a jar of Kroil

Spray the barrel and locking lugs with clp generously.

Using an M16 chamber brush clean the chamber and lugs well. Give them another shot of CLP and place upper barrel end down on a rag somewhere you won't knock it over and jack up your optic.

Crack another beer

Spray the locking lugs again lightly

Turn to lower and spray generously with CLP

Blow out with air hose and wipe down the mess. Lower is now clean and lubed.

Crack another beer.

Clean the BCG, lube and reassemble.

Spray once again into the locking lugs, don't let these little bastards dry out.

Crack another beer.

Take the air hose and blast the hell out of the locking lugs.

Wipe down the mess.

Run a bore snake through the barrel to get the crud you just blew into it out.

Put it all back together. You now have a clean rifle and a nice buzz in progress...

drmitchgibson · Jun 25, 2011

You can get a bolt lug recess cleaning kit for $15 or so from Midway. They're awesome. It comes with a tool that holds special cotton rolls by the center, and you can stick the ends into the lug recesses to wipe them clean. Like a boss. It comes with a bunch of cotton rolls, and extras are fairly cheap.

I also have an ultrasonic cleaner, so I just dump my bolt into it and it comes out clean after about 20 minutes. What would be the bomb would be a vapor condensation cleaner/recycler. Who has one of those?

TroyF · Jun 25, 2011

I like Hearn's method, but since I do all of my cleaning in my office......the beer part is out.
The only thing I was missing was using air to blow everything out. Thanks guys...that should speed it up.

I'm thinking of buying an ultrasonic cleaner this year. 60 officers with ARs, yeah I think I can justify the purchase.

Scott Hearn · Jun 25, 2011

Troy,

Seriously, one of these will have it shining after about 6 twists. They work great.

Chamber kit

This is the replacement brush.

Chamber Brush

cheech_029 · Jun 27, 2011

I thought drinking on duty was only frowned upon. I hadn't heard it was a big deal tho.

I have one of the chamber brushes if you want to try one out. Unfortunately they still require a little patience if you shoot the same crappy training ammo we get.

imacgyver · Jun 27, 2011

If it is anything like my AK - Field strip it anywhere there is a flat surface. Take a palmful of sand or dirt and rub the tip of piston in it for a few seconds. The rest I dunk in my bucket of used motor oil from the oil changes of the year and then spray it off with a hose. Put it back together and it's done.

Are AR's easier than that? I am thinking that I could just attach my single point sling and wear it in the shower to clean it next time.

KeithCross · Jun 27, 2011

If it is anything like my AK - Field strip it anywhere there is a flat surface...

What? You field strip yours! I just throw mine in the dirt and kick it a couple of times!

imacgyver · Jun 27, 2011

I just like to smell it with the dust cover off. Sometimes I forget to put the cover back on and just shoot it at the range, you can pour dirt and sand on it as you are shooting it to help keep it clean too.