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AR15 cleaning question/help

Phil731

Phil731

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Hi guys, im new to the AR world and just looking for some suggestions on what to use to clean with? I just shot my new AR the other day just 100 rounds and im going to shoot it again later then do my first cleaning. I clean my pistols with Ballistol but i got Hoppes#9 solvent and oil because the guy recommended it but after watching a few more videos Ive seen people use Ballistol, Hoppes, Motor oil to lube and some people use grease also so i just want some suggestions from u guys and woks works best! thanks in advance!
 
Hoppes solvant and lube oil... I usually just bire snake my barrel with a little oil and it stays very clean. Some claim hoppes eats away at chrome lined barrels... but could say more on that
 
Beater/chrome lined ARs get cleaned very infrequently with WD40 and a bore snake.

Match barrels get the MPro7 or Ed's Red bore solvent treatment, Dewey rod w/ patches.

All BCG's get cleaned with WD40, and Ed's Red if necessary (but usually just WD40).

Only lube I use is Mobil 1 0W-20 mixed 50/50 w/ ATF.
 
I clean with Hoppe's and brushes, swabs, and bore snakes for every caliber I shoot. I have used various oils and greases.

They all work pretty well. As I sit here, I have Safariland CLP, Hoppe's Lubricating Oil, SLP 2000 Gun Lube, RemOil, and Tetra Gun grease on the shelf.
 
You still need to shoot another 4-500 rounds before you need to even start thinking about cleaning it... [devil]

I use M-7 Pro with Mobile 1 and that's the best solution for my needs. Steel rails are greased with Enos Slide Glide.

And yes, you will get AT LEAST 50 answers to this question: Let trial & error be the judge.
 
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Exactly what Greg said "Get ready for fifty different answers all explaining how what they use is the best.";
except that it might not be exactly fifty answers, and his particular answer about Ballistol and Marvel Mystery oil is of course wrong...

It's like every other firearm, shoot it, clean it, lube it.
All of my guns with two exceptions get sparing applications of oil.

The Glocks get very little oil - per manufacturer recommendations -
and the ARs get lots of oil - they seem to run best wet.
 
I use motor oil on small parts and bearing grease on metal surfaces that move against each other like slide to frame, BCG in upper contact rails. High temp wheel bearing grease will not break down with the heat and is fairly inexpensive. I use this on most of my hand gun slide to frame contact areas as well.
Cleaning I use Hopes or rem action cleaner and sometimes a little WD-40
 
100 rounds isn't enough to bother with a cleaning IMHO, but pretty much anything will work. Clean it with something, lube it with something, shoot it a lot. So simple a Marine can do it.
 
Only really important thing is grease, not oil on the BCG. As for the barrel, whatever solvent/lube youve got lying around will work just fine unless this is an accurized rifle.
 
If its just a mil spec or other non-match type AR, just clean it with whatever you have.

WD40 works great.

WD40 is not however a good lube. Motor oil or ATF works great.

You don't need to overthink this.

If you already have breakfree CLP, thats fine too. Although I still use ATF to lube it.

Google Ed's red.

Don
 
jasons said:
100 rounds isn't enough to bother with a cleaning IMHO, but pretty much anything will work. Clean it with something, lube it with something, shoot it a lot. So simple a Marine can do it.
Click to expand...

The onlty thing I'd worry about is giving the barrel a good scrubbing. I'm pretty anal about barrel break in and my guns have all performed better than I expected.
Of course my sample size is small, but it works for me.
 
I've never used grease of any kind on any of my guns. They all get cleaned and lubed with CLP. Very rarely do I ever need to use any sort of bore solvent but that's probably because I usually clean my guns after every single time I shoot them. Way overkill, I know, especially with Glock and AK, but I do it regardless.
 
Grease will last longer, provides a better film between 2 parts, it is generally better at dealing with heat and does not wipe off easily.
 
Here is a over load of info google these TM9-1005-249-23P army service manual
links

http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/fm3_22x9.pdf

dont over think it..... if you have a steel barrel a quick patch to remove loose stuff then a heavy oil patch for storage until next range trip. Dry patches before you shoot it again, chrome barrel.......I dont worry much about chrome lined barrels....

heres the marine guide www.tecom.marines.mil/Portals/120/Docs/.../FMST Manual/m16.doc

They do not need to be "cleaned" often. A quick wipe down will do just fine for many many rounds even with cheap ammo. CLP is as basic as it gets.

My Dads secret cleaner growing up..... warm water and dish soap.

another over load of info http://www.frfrogspad.com/ar.htm Im sure there is a ton more and im sure there are endless debates if any of this info is good or bad.

AND EVEN STILL MORE INFO FROM THE FOLKS THAT BEGAN IT ALL ARMALITE TECH NOTES http://www.armalite.com/Categories.aspx?Category=35e8a0b0-7e71-4af3-b335-53f4a7dc8f08

have fun
you could just read the owners manual also?
 
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I use grease on the BCG contact points in the receiver. LSA (the '70s version of CLP) on everything else that needs lube. In the winter I use less grease and more oil. In the summer I use a heavier LSA...the kind often used for longer term storage. For a solvent I use Hoppes #9 and every once in awhile I will use Bore Scrubber spray AFTER the solvent to blast everything out. If you do that, take some extra time to make sure everything and I mean everything metal that Bore Scrubber touched is properly and generously lubricated. If you get a lot of oil on your eye protection when shooting your AR, you used too much, which is OK as you can just wipe the excess off with a rag. After a while of experimenting and trying different things you'll settle on a way that works best for you and your rifle(s). In all likelihood it will have something in it that is different than what ever else is posted here. Welcome to the land of the AR.

You'll likely have another 100-200 different ways to take care of your rifle posted here before the end of the week.
 
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Supermoto said:
why is grease important?
Click to expand...

Because if you get the gun hot (actually hot, not just light target shooting), the oil thins out, flings away from the bcg, and leaves very little protection.

It takes longer for grease to disperse, it generally stays where you put it, and leaves a thicker coating on high stress parts.
 
Adding to the 50 replies...Wipe-Out Tactical Advantage is the best Bore Cleaner I have found and does not harm chrome-lined barrels. Tru-Recoil is the best lubricant I have found.
 
glockforlife said:
Adding to the 50 replies...Wipe-Out Tactical Advantage is the best Bore Cleaner I have found and does not harm chrome-lined barrels. Tru-Recoil is the best lubricant I have found.
Click to expand...
Serious question, not trolling. I thought the chrome lining makes your barrel MORE durable, not less? What solvents harm a chrome lined barrel? Thanks
 

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