Cleaning Dirty AR (Actual Dirt)

[gdubyacobb]

First off, even though I don't live in MD anymore I keep coming back here cause MD Shooters has a better "feel" than any other gun forum.
Okay now the question:
I spent the last two days back country camping and back road driving in my CJ in southern AZ (right on the Mexican border) with the AR on the back seat.
I never fired it once but it is filthy with super fine dust and sand.
I never use spray and run off cleaners. I always clean with the oily rags in my kit the way my Marine father taught me.
I don't want to get my rag all gritty so; should I wipe it down with another damp/oily rag (to pick up the dirt) or just dust it off with an dry old tshirt or something? (Talking about the outside, prior to cleaning inside)
Hopefully someone understands and can answer my question.
Thanks!

 

[Russ D]

Do you have access to compressed air? Otherwise hose it down with clp and let the grit run off.

 

[gdubyacobb]

No compressed air, I thought of running a hose over it.

 

[lx1x]

hose will work as long you dry and oil it good.

 

[gdubyacobb]

Its a dry heat, things dry fast in Arizona.

 

[BradMacc82]

If your Colt can't handle a good bath every now and then...

j/k

 

[gdubyacobb]

If your Colt can't handle a good bath every now and then...

j/k

 

[BradMacc82]

Thought I'd get a chuckle from you with that one.

Haven't had real fine dirt stick to my AR yet, but then again we don't have that fine dusty dirt in SoMd, at least in January anyways.

 

[clandestine]

Do you have access to compressed air? Otherwise hose it down with clp and let the grit run off.

THIS!


You dont need to clean off the dust, just add some Syn Motor Oil to the carrier and she will chug right along if its a well built AR.

If you can dont use GI mags and buy magpuls. Magpuls run better when gritty than G.I. do. Mags are a big failure point for the AR when it does fail, so eliminate the waek point and get PMAGS.

 

[gdubyacobb]

Uh oh...
This thread just started to remind me of a cartoon I saw recently.

 

[clandestine]

Uh oh...
This thread just started to remind me of a cartoon I saw recently.

TM/FM Cartoon?

 

[yellowsled]

If this was an AK, there would be no problem....

 

[honda53s]

If this was an AK, there would be no problem....

This^^^

 

[clandestine]

If this was an AK, there would be no problem....

This^^^

AK's like Vodka to clean the action, pee to clean the bore (Pee with lots of Vodka in it), and Motor Oil to lube, preferrably used motor oil from chernobyl.

 

[Rattlesnake46319]

Do you have access to compressed air? Otherwise hose it down with clp and let the grit run off.

THIS!


You dont need to clean off the dust, just add some Syn Motor Oil to the carrier and she will chug right along if its a well built AR.

x2. Buy a couple cans of air at Office Depot. Also a couple of thin bristle paint brushes at your local hardware store. Both of those worked well after dust storms when I was deployed.

 

[bean93x]

AK's like Vodka to clean the action, pee to clean the bore (Pee with lots of Vodka in it), and Motor Oil to lube, preferrably used motor oil from chernobyl.

theres alot of truth to that statement...

 

[HardHatMan]

AK's like Vodka to clean the action, pee to clean the bore (Pee with lots of Vodka in it), and Motor Oil to lube, preferrably used motor oil from chernobyl.

This is the proper way to clean an AK. But instead of motor oil, I use bacon grease to lube it. It adds to the great smell of burnt gun powder.

 

[platekiller]

This is the proper way to clean an AK. But instead of motor oil, I use bacon grease to lube it. It adds to the great smell of burnt gun powder.

I may just have to try that. We still have the grease from the bacon we cooked up yesterday. Bacon and gunpowder what a good idea.

 

[hvymax]

After "extreme" conditions like me falling in a swamp and finding my gun by stepping on it I use the hose/tub of soapy water and brush to dissasemble and clean everything followed by a good detail clean and lube.

 

[SCARCQB]

I use dishwashing soap, tooth brush......rinse with water

Boil a big pot of water, use this to do a final rinse. pour onto disassembled parts ( assemblies) with a laddle or cup. make sure that the barrel set vertical to allow for it to drain and air dry.

The hot water will heat up all parts and will immediately dry out. lightly oil surfaces with mobil 1. heavy oil on the bolt group. A hair dryer may also come in handy. ( I use this procedure for cleaning M16's/ ARs that are exposed to salt water, mud, fine dust, suppressor soot and other extreme grime.or AKs/ PSL with corrosive ammo)

For dusty areas, I use " pledge" multi surface cleaner/ wax on exterior surfaces... It repels dust