Cleaning A Neglected AR

[kev74]

What a pain in the balls!

I had the bolt soaking in the ultrasonic cleaner for about an hour and I still had to scrape a bunch of crusted carbon off of it.

The barrel has been getting swabbed with solvent, brushed and run through with clean patches for over 2 hours now and they're still coming out black. I bought this upper used, and can't remember how well I cleaned it when I got it... or when I cleaned it last.

I'm waffling back and forth about 50-50 whether this means I should clean these things more often, or continue the neglect.

 

[Vapor]

You might need to put some solvent down the bore and leave it overnight.


Seriously, most gun owners way over clean and do more damage the crown or throat than they do good.

 

[Calculon]

If it's really bothering you try some Hoppe's Foaming bore cleaner and plug the barrel. Let stand overnight.

 

[togmaster]

If it shoots why worry?

 

[Calculon]

You can also try a steamer.

 

[kev74]

If it shoots why worry?

That's what I'm sayin'...now.

Letting it soak for a bit. Again.

 

[togmaster]

That's what I'm sayin'...now.

Letting it soak for a bit. Again.

Mine have been soaking for almost 7 years now......at the bottom of a lake.

 

[@thewheels]

I love the smell of Hoppes and other cleaners. Makes the repeated scrubbing and swabbing bearable.

Fumes? What fumes?

 

[BDinPutnam]

You can also try a steamer.

Cleveland?

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Best to read the instructions in some of those cleaners.
Many of the foaming ones etc etc specifically say do not let stand multiple hours. They can do more harm than good.

why not shoot it and see how it goes.

ps. I have some you can clean for me!

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

In the sonic cleaner try a shot of simple green and some lemi shine. Seems to work well for me.

 

[kev74]

In the sonic cleaner try a shot of simple green and some lemi shine. Seems to work well for me.

In was using mineral spirits. I might try something with a detergent in it next time.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

In was using mineral spirits. I might try something with a detergent in it next time.

Mine has a heater too. Makes a big difference.

 

[Mosinitis]

Every time you use a bronze brush, you will have dirty patches after you use it, no matter how clean is your barrel. You know this, right?

 

[kev74]

Every time you use a bronze brush, you will have dirty patches after you use it, no matter how clean is your barrel. You know this, right?

Yup. It wasn't copper / brass. It was black.

 

[kev74]

I finished with that one and started on the one I use the .22 conversion. There's a bunch of lead in the barrel. I'm letting that one soak till tomorrow.

 

[Twogunwilly]

lube, shoot , repete.

 

[togmaster]

Let the barrel soak in Kroil overnight.

 

[Acer-m14]

when using Hoppe's you have to put some on your neck and behind ya ears for it to work .. and female shooters will love you ..

also say Kev has a awesome oped for the AR vs M16 .. AR's cant assault if dirty LOL ..

 

[Vapor]

I just use mp7. Let it soak in the bore for about a bbn hour. Then patch dry.

Non toxic, no smell.

I may use a copper solvent too. Only usually if accuracy is degraded. Never on a chrome bore will I use a copper solvent.

 

[Bananabandit]

Its definitely no AK...

 

[ProgSpear]

What's this cleaning thing you are talking about? Is that the ritual where you take the gun off the rack every 10 years or so and swab all the metal bits with Mobil 1 5W-30?

 

[kev74]

What's this cleaning thing you are talking about? Is that the ritual where you take the gun off the rack every 10 years or so and swab all the metal bits with Mobil 1 5W-30?

Mobil 1? Ooohh... look at Mr. Rockefeller!

 

[ProgSpear]

Mobil 1? Ooohh... look at Mr. Rockefeller!

Buy once cry once. Bought a quart 20 years ago for $1.74 and I’m guessing I have another 70 years worth left.

 

[kev74]

Buy once cry once. Bought a quart 20 years ago for $1.74 and I’m guessing I have another 70 years worth left.

It was a good investment. That stuff is like $10 a quart now.

 

[FrankenCub]

Mobile 1 is all I've used for gun lube for a long time.

 

[Marine Cpl]

As long as you oil it and wipe it down normally without going overboard with regular oil whether it’s motor oil or fancy gun oil that does the same thing, you are good.

Solvents aren’t necessary and cleaning the fuck out of it until patches are pearly white isn’t necessary either. The gun will run each and every time and won’t rot if you oil it and wipe it down after each use.

In the military, I’ve had different standards depending on the unit. Some units white gloved it and others just wanted it reasonably cleaned and oiled after each use. Whether I had anal Staff Sergeants or reasonable Staff Sergeants, the result were the same. The guns ran and didn’t rust.

 

[GOPerfect]

As long as you oil it and wipe it down normally without going overboard with regular oil whenever it’s motor oil or fancy gun oil that does the same thing, you are good.

Solvents aren’t necessary and cleaning the fuck out of it until patches are pearly white isn’t necessary either. The gun will run each and every time and won’t rot if you oil it and wipe it down after each use.

In the military, I’ve had different standards depending on the unit. Some units white gloved it and others just wanted it reasonably cleaned and oiled after each use. Whether I had anal Staff Sergeants or reasonable Staff Sergeants, the result was the same. The guns ran and didn’t rust.

I was one of those anal Staff Sergeants. Even worse as a 7!

 

[nortatoga]

I was one of those anal Staff Sergeants. Even worse as a 7!

So what you are saying is that AR of yours wasn't always white? LOL!!

 

[Robin]

I was one of those anal Staff Sergeants. Even worse as a 7!

You call that clean Joe!!!!!!! That ain't gold in there Joe! drop and give me twenty!! Then clean the MF!!!!!!!

Always kept mine clean, still do.
Robin