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What do YOU do to clean your AR-15?

E

edkern

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 27, 2011
0
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37
Salt Lake City, UT
I'm putting together a precision AR with a Krieger barrel. This is my first AR,and I would like to know what you do to clean your AR's to keep them functional and accurate. What cleaning procedures are important for accuracy?

Thanks for your input.
 
Re: What do YOU do to clean your AR-15?

Every third time or so to the range, I run a single dry patch through the bore and clean the BCG. Other than that, keep the bolt well lubed between range sessions. Clean the bore when the accuracy drops off.

If you clean the rifle spotless every range trip, you'll spend most of your life cleaning.
 
Re: What do YOU do to clean your AR-15?

Shooters choice after.a match 100rds
Sweets 7.62 every 500rds
JB bore paste every 1000rds
 
Re: What do YOU do to clean your AR-15?

Oh and check out the barrel break in procedure on Kriegers www site.
 
Re: What do YOU do to clean your AR-15?

Run it soaking wet with Otis AND Break Free CLP, pull it apart soak everything again and wipe it all down, clean the bore with Shooters Choice and Wipe Out using a combination of patches, nylon brushes and a Hoppe's Bore-Snake. If you stay up on it and take care of it, cleaning won't take that long.
 
Re: What do YOU do to clean your AR-15?

Second for what Temp9 said minus the dry patch. There are several very good posts on cleaning the bore out there. Besides Krieger what are the other details of your build?
 
Re: What do YOU do to clean your AR-15?

Kreiger 1:7.7 18" 223 wylde H-BAR barrel.
Daniels Defense A4 upper
LAR lower
BCM BCG
Geissele SSA-E
Magpul PRS stock
Larue QD scope mount
Vortex Vipet PST ffp 4-16x50
Troy Alpha 15" VTAC
Atlas QD bipod
YHM QD SS phantom (will only shoot suppressed every once in a while)
Ergo or Magpul grip

I'll be shooting paper and varmint hunting. Mostly paper as this is my first rifle for reaching out beyond 100 yard.
 
Re: What do YOU do to clean your AR-15?

Dismantled the BCG and clean everything with choke & carb cleaner.

Dry patches down the tube. A good bore guide and a rod are essential.
 
Recently started using Wipe-Out and it makes me want to throw away the rest of my cleaning collection.
 
I use "Dunk-Kit" from Cylinder & Slide. It comes in a 5 gallon bucket. I clean all my AR's, and hand guns in it and can put them up dry because it has a built in lube. I bought some cheap wall paper trays so I can put the barrels in after cleaning to drip dry and then wipe off. I used to spend a ton of money on cleaning supplies and this was an up front cost that I have not had to revisit for 4 years.
 
Bore guide, Dewy rod. Wipe off BCG with break free and clean the bore with KG copper remover every 800 rds or so. Keep the chamber clean.
 
I clean BCG and barrel with MPRO-7, after every range trip to get the carbon out of the barrel and off the BCG.
I don't strip copper until accuracy drops off. Carbon left in the barrel for long periods will pit the barrel (I was told).
I never use a brush in the barrel, only run a patch with jag. Always use a bore guide (JP bore guide).
 
Dacam said:
I clean BCG and barrel with MPRO-7, after every range trip to get the carbon out of the barrel and off the BCG.
I don't strip copper until accuracy drops off. Carbon left in the barrel for long periods will pit the barrel (I was told).
I never use a brush in the barrel, only run a patch with jag. Always use a bore guide (JP bore guide).
Click to expand...

^^^This exactly. Or I'll just throw it on my roof rack when I go through the car wash...
 
For SS or bare Chromoly barrels
MPro7 or KG Carbon Cutter - I usually brush it patch, brush etc as I find that patching does not get all the carbon.
I only go after copper aggressively when I see accuracy drop or its been around 1k rounds, and then I will use Sweets762 and or JB Bore Paste.
I use Tipton Carbon Fiber rods and a bore guide

For Chrome barrels like my ECC - I will clean it when I see accuracy drop off or if I am bored (usually 2-3k round for accuracy).
I generally will do a quick patch if I have shot a lot suppressed as well at the end of a shooting day.
 
Last edited:
Since I run most of my AR's suppressed - Break down and clean BCG, clean receiver and chamber then a quick lube of the parts and back in the safe until next time. I only clean the bore when accuracy drops off or if it will be unfired for a little while, and I rarely use more than 4 patches total with a few brush strokes. Back pressure from suppressors makes things a bit more messy from the chamber back into the receiver.
 
There are really 2 questions here:

1. Barrel Break IN... For a chrome lined barrel or SS I shoot 5 to 10 rounds and clean the barrel with a good copper solvent/dry patches/wet patch/dry patch.

2. Regular cleaning... I only use a barrel snake when I finish and then fire a spoiler round. When I begin to see a drop in accuracy I break out the copper solvent but I prefer to keep some carbon in the barrel. With chamber and bolt assembly, I keep those areas clean and oiled -- use break free where needed.
 
I use Wipe Out liquids & foam, (wont use anything else) for all my rigs. BCG I strip down 1x a month & clean out/oil up, carb cleaner & tooth brush for carbon buildup/wipe up & put away.
 
If its real bad I start with Brakleen (be careful on plastics and painted parts!!) or something similar followed up with a bore scrubber and a brush
 
Nothing expensive is needed.
Mineral Spirits cleans. It cleans every part I have ever needed to clean.

Automatic Transmission Fluid penetrates and cleans. So does Kroil, but its expensive.

Synthetic grease and motor oil are the best lubricants. Use grease on every moving part you can see, and use oil on the parts you cannot see or where the grease won't go. Pay close attention to the bolt cam and locking lugs. These are high pressure areas needing lubricant.

Get a chamber rod. The chamber is critical. Keep it free of fouling.

Experiment with a Bore Snake. Lots cheaper and easier to use, and clean, than a rod and guide. No patches needed. Apply spirits or ATF / Kroil to the first part of the snake. Only clean the bore after wet weather shooting, or 200 - 300 rds fired. Clean the bolt, carrier and chamber after each shooting.
 
Casey Simpson said:
Nothing expensive is needed.
Mineral Spirits cleans. It cleans every part I have ever needed to clean.

Automatic Transmission Fluid penetrates and cleans. So does Kroil, but its expensive.

Synthetic grease and motor oil are the best lubricants. Use grease on every moving part you can see, and use oil on the parts you cannot see or where the grease won't go. Pay close attention to the bolt cam and locking lugs. These are high pressure areas needing lubricant.

Get a chamber rod. The chamber is critical. Keep it free of fouling.

Experiment with a Bore Snake. Lots cheaper and easier to use, and clean, than a rod and guide. No patches needed. Apply spirits or ATF / Kroil to the first part of the snake. Only clean the bore after wet weather shooting, or 200 - 300 rds fired. Clean the bolt, carrier and chamber after each shooting.
Click to expand...

I thought I was the only one who cleaned like. this no one ever talks about white spirits don't know why its so cheap
 
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