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Posted: 10/7/2008 11:47:55 AM EDT
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I’m not a complete newbie to ARs or firearms in general, but there are a couple of questions that have been bothering me for a while. I recently came into owning a LMT and I’m more afraid of harming it than I am my Bushmaster beater, so I’d like to be sure of some things just in case. 1. Are there any lubes/cleaners that I absolutely should not mix? 2. I saw QUIB’s setup with the OMS/CLP. I’d like to try that. In fact, I can’t wait to try it. I’m checking out some French fry baskets for the parts. Would a standard baking pan suffice for the base? What about a normal glass jar for storage? What do you guys think about using only mineral spirits for cleaning, then lubing up with CLP after the parts dry? 3. I’ve always been a cleaner with a rag kind of guy for cleaning my guns. However, with my fatass fingers, it’s hard for me to get a rag into the upper receiver, especially down into the grove where the charging handle is. Are there easier ways to get down in there for a good clean besides using QTips? I have used a nylon brush but don’t I need to wipe the waste away with something cloth like? 4. How do you guys apply your lube? I’m using Hoppes powder solvent and Hoppes oil since that is all I have at the moment. I’ve been trying a silicon cloth with a dap of oil on it but dear god does it leave a lot of lint. I’m guessing it’s from the rough texture of the internal parts on the AR vs the ones on my pistols. Maybe using fingers is an alternative? That’s all of them I think. I’ve looked through the stickies but I had a little confusion so I hope I can clear that up. Thanks all. |
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download the manual...it is the first tack in this forum...Walmart is a great source of baking pans and small baskets. The minerals spirits work and are readily obtainable. Some of the products recommended here are not easliy obtainable with out spending a ton on UPS. I am sure Quib will post his cleaning kit when he gets up and reads this... LOL |
| To clean in the upper I use many things, depending on where the filth is. Sometimes I will use a pistol patch holder with a big fat shotgun patch on it, with some solvent. My favorite thing is shotgun swabs. I have a 10 gauge swab which is good for the bigger parts of the upper, and I also have a .410 swab, which is good for the smaller parts and also fits oh so nicely into the chamber, which allows me to make sure it's good and dry in there. |
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Q: Would a standard baking pan suffice for the base? A: That’s all I use, nothing special. Q: What about a normal glass jar for storage? A: That is how I store my mixture. Q: What do you guys think about using only mineral spirits for cleaning, then lubing up with CLP after the parts dry? A: I first started using mineral spirits years ago on my AKs. At that time I used pure MS, then lubed afterwards. By adding CLP to the mixture I’m trying to prevent the parts from being completely stripped of lube, and let the MS act as a carrier, coating the entire bolt/carrier assembly with a light coat of CLP. Q: I’ve always been a cleaner with a rag kind of guy for cleaning my guns. However, with my fatass fingers, it’s hard for me to get a rag into the upper receiver, especially down into the grove where the charging handle is. Are there easier ways to get down in there for a good clean besides using QTips? A: I cut up small squares of cotton sheet to use as rags for cleaning. For the CH channel in the upper receiver, I stuff a piece of rag in the channel and use the GI tooth brush to push the rag back and forth. Q: How do you guys apply your lube? A: I use BF CLP and LP. I apply both directly from the bottle using the clear plastic straw applicator that comes taped to the side of the bottle. For spreading lube on parts, I use a finger tip. Q: I’ve been trying a silicon cloth with a dap of oil on it but dear god does it leave a lot of lint. I’m guessing it’s from the rough texture of the internal parts on the AR vs the ones on my pistols. Maybe using fingers is an alternative? A: Try using cut up black t-shirts on your rifle. If they do leave lint behind, it’s not as noticeable. |
To each, his own. We all have our own standards of cleanliness, and we all have our own techniques and methods to reach those standards. I find it a lot easier, while I clean the rest of the weapon, to let the bolt, carrier and associated parts soak in my MS/CLP mixture. A quick wash down with the mixture and a cheap paint brush, blow dry the parts, do some quick q-tip detailing, light lube for storage and I’m ready for reassembly. |
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