AR15.Com Archives
 Cleaning the buffer tube....
Brucea4  [Member]
3/8/2012 4:57:19 AM
Gang,

I have never cleaned the inside of my buffer tube on either my old AR or my M16. I have misplaced my military M16 manual at the moment and am curious as to how many of you clean & lube the inside of the buffer tube as well as the buffer & spring? I'm thinking maybe a 12 ga shotgun rod with a 12 ga shotgun patch?????
Andrewphillipf  [Moderator]
3/8/2012 7:16:43 AM
Skip to 7:00 for the buffer and spring. I've never cleaned more than an inch or two into the tube.

QUIB  [Team Member]
3/8/2012 7:53:33 AM
Originally Posted By Brucea4:
Gang,

I have never cleaned the inside of my buffer tube on either my old AR or my M16. I have misplaced my military M16 manual at the moment and am curious as to how many of you clean & lube the inside of the buffer tube as well as the buffer & spring? I'm thinking maybe a 12 ga shotgun rod with a 12 ga shotgun patch?????


You're on track with the shotgun cleaning accessories.

I wipe the buffer spring down with a damp CLP rag. I then wrap that rag around a shotgun bore mop attached to a short section of cleaning rod. A couple runs back and forth through the buffer tube is all that's usually necessary.
Brucea4  [Member]
3/8/2012 1:43:38 PM
Sounds good!
T-TAC  [Member]
3/8/2012 4:26:37 PM
Once every couple of years a patch or two with Brakleen or Gunscrubber down the tube and when the patch are pretty clean a dry patch. Hose the buffer spring with the same stuff and dry. Then hose buffer spring with CLP oil, blot excess off and reassemble.