AR-15 Cleaning

[tec]

Good evening gents. A few days ago I posted this- thread . I went to the range today and the problem has yet to be solved. After doing a bit of research, I've come to two conclusions: I over-oiled the rifle, oil crept into places it shouldn't have; or some combination of the two. I want to give the weapon a thorough cleaning, concentrating on the bolt and chamber. Here is my question- would it harm the disassembled bolt if I soaked it in a solution of soapy water for a few days? If that is a no-go, would it work to soak the pieces in Hoppes No. 9 Solvent? My goal is to rid the weapon of as much oil as possible. Basically, try to get it like it was when I first purchased it. Thanks for your time, as always any/all input is much obliged.

[bert304]

Is your gas tube clear? If you are using cheap ammo it may be clogging your gas tube. Get some of the long pipe cleaners made for cleaning the gas tubes and clean the gas tube. I have a Stag and never had the problem you are talking about. I use mil spec ammo or hand loads.

[Kaos]

you can use gun scrubber...it's a few bucks and easy as tar to work with.
it will get your pieces dry in no time with little effort. It's an aerosol spray like hairspray but it's basically solvent.

Go from there.

[Lycanthrope]

Starting fluid will strip oil in seconds.

I run my bolts and carriers sopping wet with oil.

I think you have other issues.

When is the last time you cleaned the exctractor?

[Guns4Fun]

I have yet to have a problem from "too much oiling" of the bolt or bcg. I think your problems lie somewhere else. Good luck.

[1blindref]

I use Brake Cleaner to completely "dry" the oil or shipping grease out of something. It's much cheaper than Gun Scrubber and it dries without leaving any residue.
Good luck with your AR

[normanvin]

I use Brake Cleaner to completely "dry" the oil or shipping grease out of something. It's much cheaper than Gun Scrubber and it dries without leaving any residue.
Good luck with your AR

+1 on the brake cleaner..

Don't get any near your eyes...

[Lycanthrope]

+1 on the brake cleaner..

Don't get any near your eyes...

It can be used as a brass cleaner as well.

And....don't smoke either.

Lycannoeyebrowsthrope

[Kaos]

I use brake cleaner as well...Gun Scrubber was the first thing that came to mind. I just hit like biglots and buy 4 or 5 cans of bc...lasts a long time.

[colagrrl]

I learn the most useful stuff on here

That said, does anyone possibly have a link to instructions (pictures might help) on using brake cleaner to clean your AR? More specifically, just an upper that's heavily coated in shipping grease.

The back of the can of cleaner I bought says to avoid contact with plastic, rubber and painted surfaces, but is there anything that I shouldn't spray it on? Do I need to scrub/wipe the cleaner in or if I just take it outside and spray it down, will it work on its own? The directions on the back of the can lead me to believe that I don't have to do anything other than spray it down, but I just want to be sure.