Cleaning AR-15 After Corrosive?

[Bensmiata]

I am a rifle newbie. There, I said it. I shoot handguns and it's what I do best. However I did buy and receive today my new M&P15R (5.45x39). Obviously bought it to shoot cheaply and thats what I plan to do. Now I know the ammo is corrosive so what are the best ways to go about cleaning it and what exactly do I need to clean? Keep in mind this is my first AR (Sig 522 was my first rifle) so I'm still fairly clueless beyond basic operation and field stripping.

Thanks!

 

[ST19AG_WGreymon]

Clean with hot water, ammonia(Windex), Ballistol, people will be along to add more and then do your regular cleaning regimen.

Places to definitely clean using the above:
Gas tube
Bolt face/bolt
Barrel
Flash hider
gas block
Chamber

 

[Russ D]

The last test of cleaning products I saw had Hoppes#9 as the most effective chemical to use.

 

[Bensmiata]

Clean with hot water, ammonia(Windex), Ballistol, people will be along to add more and then do your regular cleaning regimen.

Places to definitely clean using the above:
Gas tube
Bolt face/bolt
Barrel
Flash hider
gas block
Chamber

How do I clean the gas tube and gas block?

 

[lx1x]

The last test of cleaning products I saw had Hoppes#9 as the most effective chemical to use.

+1 they were originally was made to remove salt. (found out on 7.62x54r.net)

 

[lx1x]

How do I clean the gas tube and gas block?

only i can think of hand.. a turkey syringe w/ tubings?

 

[DarthZed]

Ballistol/Water mix at 10/90%. Apply liberally (I hold a finger over the muzzle and practically fill the barrel and gas tube) clean with soaked patches, rinse, then clean with pure balistol, and finish up with a patch of CLP (probably overkill). Ammonia is not necessary. The mineral salts from the primers disolve with simple water (The Ballistol helps with corrosion prevention, especially if you're doing a quick cleaning at the range, but really isn't needed), and the ammonia can damage a chrome lined bore. A quick search will bring up MANY threads on this subject.

 

[04RWon]

How do I clean the gas tube and gas block?

Ever heard the term "suck a golfball through a garden hose"?

 

[IndispensableDestiny]

How do I clean the gas tube and gas block?

A long pipe cleaner for the gas tube. I've sprayed brake cleaner through mine and watched the stuff flow out of the barrel. I'm not sure how effective that is, but it makes me feel good.

 

[Nemesis]

piss on it...

 

[BradMacc82]

You can get full-length gas-tube cleaners from Cheaperthandirt.com, personally I only use them after about 12-1500 rounds spent on d.g.i.s uppers, but if your shooting bulk russian you may want to do it a little sooner.

 

[BradMacc82]

And that would be one of the reasons I went to a piston-driven upper.

 

[Russ D]

And that would be one of the reasons I went to a piston-driven upper.

LoL WUT?

 

[Jimbob2.0]

LoL WUT?

I assume he means because the gases in the piston system are largely constrained to the gas tube and not the receiver. I have gone back and forth but dont see a real advantage, doesnt take that much more time to clean an AR upper (isnt that much to the receiver and trigger group) compared to an AK.

I know I am going to stock up on 5.45 before I event consider one, worst comes to worst my Romak II will eat it.

 

[Russ D]

I assume he means because the gases in the piston system are largely constrained to the gas tube and not the receiver. I have gone back and forth but dont see a real advantage, doesnt take that much more time to clean an AR upper (isnt that much to the receiver and trigger group) compared to an AK.

I know I am going to stock up on 5.45 before I event consider one, worst comes to worst my Romak II will eat it.

Exactly. Not to mention the gas tube almost never needs cleaning. If using corrosive ammo a quick spray through the tube is sufficient. Also who exactly is shooting corrosive ammo with a piston Ar anyway?

 

[BradMacc82]

I'll run some cheap russian Silver-Bear if funds don't permit U.S. ammo, piston components in mine are a coated stainless, so it doesn't bother me any. I have both, d.g.i.s upper and a piston upper in 5.56. Just like the idea of not having to worry about possible gas-tube rupture/failure in general.

 

[Nemesis]

I'll run some cheap russian Silver-Bear if funds don't permit U.S. ammo, piston components in mine are a coated stainless, so it doesn't bother me any. I have both, d.g.i.s upper and a piston upper in 5.56. Just like the idea of not having to worry about possible gas-tube rupture/failure in general.

silver bear isint corrosive...just sayin...

 

[Russ D]

I'll run some cheap russian Silver-Bear if funds don't permit U.S. ammo, piston components in mine are a coated stainless, so it doesn't bother me any. I have both, d.g.i.s upper and a piston upper in 5.56. Just like the idea of not having to worry about possible gas-tube rupture/failure in general.

Gas tube rupture is basically a non existent issue. It's fine if you like piston guns, it's your money.

 

[BradMacc82]

I know, I heard Silver-Bear was ok, but the lacquer-coated stuff in AR's would gum up the bolt... don't know personally, I normally run russian ammo in russian guns, and american ammo in american guns....

 

[BradMacc82]

Almost non-existent is true, but it was a possibility I don't want to ever encounter, non-firing weapons are just depressing.