AR Cleaning

[24/7dude]

Thanks for the help, I think I get it but a few points I am unsure of:

1. Lower Receiver and Upper, outside specifically. I assume don't apply FL as it will leave a shiny yet greasy overall effect? Just keep that wiped down I assume.

2. Outside of barrel, do I remove handguards and apply? Meaning, the 3x of "seasoning" as I would do on my other guns? How important is this?

Also, the chamber brush. I have one, and see it's design is for the star and also will go into bore slightly? So, what is proper use? I know not to even try and push or pull through bore, however a twisting motion to clean star and that small section of the bore? What is proper use?

1. No, just a wipe down of any dirt or oil.

2. Outside of the barrel under handguards or not, does not need lubed. There are no moving parts under the handguards unless you have a piston AR

[Gunowner99]

Thanks all! I am off to a good start with all of your help.

[ragequit]

I'm going to disagree with a lot of this (no surprise, I guess)...

While wet is FAR better than dry for DI AR15s - they definitely can be too wet, you don't want the bore to be wet when you fire it, and the wetter it is - the muddier it's going to get. Which would make it more prone to failures than not being overly wet...

[duqjeep2010]

I'm going to disagree with a lot of this (no surprise, I guess)...

While wet is FAR better than dry for DI AR15s - they definitely can be too wet, you don't want the bore to be wet when you fire it, and the wetter it is - the muddier it's going to get. Which would make it more prone to failures than not being overly wet...

I think you might have missed that he is using Frog Lube. Traditional rules for lube do not apply to Frog Lube.

[ragequit]

I wasn't referring to the OP, but those saying 'wetter the better'/'can't be too wet' and etc.

[duqjeep2010]

I wasn't referring to the OP, but those saying 'wetter the better'/'can't be too wet' and etc.

That is true. I have actually heard grease is recommended by some manufacturers.

[Hawk]

Lubrication and cleaning are overrated.

Personally, I fell those who run their AR's "wet" are just blindly doing so because someone on the internet says that's what you're supposed to do.

I've been shooting the same service rifle in HP competition for 5 years. I have about 8,000 rounds through it. I lightly lube it after cleaning, and I only clean it 2-3 times a year! It's never malfunctioned and still puts them in the 10 ring.

Stop playing with your guns and just go shoot them!

[Gunowner99]

Either you are lucky or you are right. ;-)

[QuackXP]

After each range session I run a bore snake and use a chamber brush to get rid of the fouling from the steel ammo I shoot. If the BCG looks excessivly dirty ill wipe it down if its starting to look dry I lube the rails on it and then cycle the action a few times and inspect it again.

3-4 times a year I really go to town with compressed air and q-tips and lube all the other points on the rifle like the fire control system, etc.

Running a AR dry is bad. But there is a point where lubing gets excessive. There is also an argument that has been made that over lubing can attract more dirt into the rifle and turn the lube into crud and eventually cause stoppages.

[Edg]

I put a light coat of oil on my hunting rifles before I put them away for the year, I dont lube the outside of my AR at all. I usually just spray some lube into the BCG before firing. Firing the weapon forces the oil all thru the upper. When some comes out ill wipe it around the receivers...but I dont purposely put anything on them. I run a boresnake after each range trip, I only use a chamber brush about every 500 rounds. If you run it wet carbon doesnt really stick in there unless you let it dry out.