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Page AR-15 » Maintenance & Cleaning
AR Sponsor: bravocompany
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Posted: 6/18/2012 6:36:10 AM EST
Simple question.  IF you clean your gas tube, how do you do it?

Thanks.
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 7:08:53 AM EST
[#1]
A pipe cleaner would suffice, but generally I dont do it. The gas pressure foced through the tube when firing will force anything that may be in there out.
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 7:09:06 AM EST
[#2]
install new one.
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 7:10:51 AM EST
[#3]
There is no need to clean the gas tube.  Save yourself the hassle.
 
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 7:13:50 AM EST
[#4]
Do you think a little nylon brissled brush will remove anything that thousands of PSI gas won't? And $10 in cleaning items for a $7 part? When you replace the barrel, toss on a new gas tube. Untill then, leave it alone.
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 7:27:33 AM EST
[#5]
I think it would be especially wise to keep pipe cleaners out of the gas tube.

All the rest has been said above, don't bother.
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 7:29:32 AM EST
[#6]
Pull the trigger with a live round in the chamber.
 
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 7:46:50 AM EST
[#7]
If it really bothers you, spray a carbon-dissolving cleaner down the breech end, and let it drip out into the bore, then clean the bore. However, this, or any other cleaning, is not necessary or advantageous.
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 7:54:54 AM EST
[#8]
Thanks guys.  I liked USMC88-93's answer the best.  

Just something I was wondering about, . . . and now, . . . no longer have to.
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 11:00:30 AM EST
[#9]
Quoted:
Do you think a little nylon brissled brush will remove anything that thousands of PSI gas won't? And $10 in cleaning items for a $7 part? When you replace the barrel, toss on a new gas tube. Untill then, leave it alone.


Actually, yes, it will.  With a package of these:

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1544/Product/AR-15-GAS-TUBE-CLEANERS

and two weeks in Kuwait w/out a Theatre Clearance Memo, I was able to scrub a small amount of residue out of my gas tube.  Granted, I wasn't using CLP but Hoppes' No 9.

Most of the gas tube cleaning threads I've seen seem to have the typical posts - 1 - that the high pressure gas in the tube cleans everything, so there's no need to do so, & 2 - somehow something will get left behind in the tube, gas port, or bbl, causing some sort of failure (which the high pressure gas that was previously cleaning everything out now suddenly can't remove : )  Very few people seem to have gone to the trouble to actually clean them, so it wouldn't seem to be particularly necessary.  Nor do we have recent reports of items jammed in gas tubes causing failures.

Gig 'em,

backbencher
Link Posted: 6/18/2012 12:08:42 PM EST
[#10]
I generally crap the hell out of my ARs with lots of rimfire conversion use and have not had a problem yet.

Any brush or pipe cleaner type thing has a chance to get stuck and any solvent could leave ash or carbon behind when it gets burnt off.

I suppose there might be some special considerations when fireing through a can or with full auto use and useing a rimfire conversion
but for normal semi auto use the gas tube takes good care of itself .

If you want to be extra cautious buy yourself a spare gas tube and let it collect dust in your spare parts kit.

All the pipe cleaners,spray can squirting and useing a mag of centerfire after rimfire use are either a waste of time or money
Link Posted: 6/27/2012 12:49:51 AM EST
[#11]
He asked those that DO clean their gas tube how they do it.
Haven't done it yet, but if I were to do so, I'd squirt some non-chlorinated brake parts cleaner through the tube, let it work a bit, then finish by blowing out the tube with compressed air, etc.,.
Link Posted: 6/27/2012 5:13:22 PM EST
[#12]
Long pipe cleaners and Slip 2000 carbon killer.
Link Posted: 6/29/2012 5:22:48 AM EST
[#13]
Blast it out with brake cleaner then run a patch through the bore.
Link Posted: 6/29/2012 5:50:24 AM EST
[#14]
The inside, never. I just clean the outside of all the built up carbon. I do clean the inside of the gas key though.
Link Posted: 6/29/2012 6:55:53 PM EST
[#15]
Not needed
Link Posted: 6/30/2012 8:44:20 AM EST
[#16]
Not needed according to military,but I'm OCD with my guns.I spray Simple Green down the tube,pipe cleaner down the tube after ,watch the carbon drip off of the flash hider!! Finish with hot water,and compressor air shot! Works for me,BTW Simple Green is some of the best carbon cutter that I have found in my 51 years!
Link Posted: 6/30/2012 6:04:56 PM EST
[#17]
Every five years or 50,000 miles I plug the muzzle and squirt foam bore cleaner in the chamber until foam comes out the gas tube.
Link Posted: 7/1/2012 1:59:51 AM EST
[#18]
I dont see a big deal using a pipe cleaner down the gas tube.  I have done it many times over the years.  No issues.  Even after guys tell me not to.  My gun never melted or magically broke.  However,  Every single time the pipe cleaner came out just as clean as it went in.  There was no point in cleaning it because it was already cleaned from the pressure.
Link Posted: 7/1/2012 2:56:33 AM EST
[#19]
Link Posted: 7/1/2012 9:47:54 AM EST
[#21]
Quoted:
Pull the trigger with a live round in the chamber.  


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is my preferred method as well
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:15:53 AM EST
[#22]
Quoted:
Long pipe cleaners and Slip 2000 carbon killer.


Great stuff that Slip 2000

And extra parts on hand, saves a trip when you wanted it yesterday.
Link Posted: 7/3/2012 5:15:19 PM EST
[#23]
Thanks for the heads-up on the link! I mix  Simple Green 50/50 which looks to be correct, Hot water rinse,100 psi of air to dry, and CLP to finish,CLP will neutralize any of the high PH of any residual SG,which is negligible amount.I would be more worried about spilling a Coke on it than using SG. It has worked for 40 years now for me,and I only plan on having this weapon for 40 more!
Link Posted: 7/5/2012 8:15:05 PM EST
[#24]
Good info. Was wondering the same thing.

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