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Posted: 11/9/2008 7:16:57 PM EDT
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So, after sighting in my new AR this weekend, I did a total strip and clean. Really got into the bolt and cleaned her up, then used a bore snake and dewey rob with some patches and Hoppe's 9 to clean the chrome lined barrel. I also used some patches well soaked with Hoppe's to wipe down the other crevasses inside the upper, the outside of the lower, etc.
The only thing I couldn't figure out how to clean was the gas tube (is that the proper name?). Is this part of the upper that is just understood to be uncleanable? Do I soak the whole thing in my bathtub? Or should I just get some 16" pipe cleaners to get the gunk out? It's a pretty tiny tube, and I'm worried about it getting blocked up with residue. Opinions and advice are appreciated. Thanks! |
All the posters you're going to hear are wrong, you have to replace your gas tube every 351 rounds.... That is an EXACT number you MUST follow. It is impossible to clean, Eugene stoner intended for the gas tubes to be outright replaced at that interval. People DON'T replace them at 351 and wonder why their AR jams a lot!
 Dude you don't have to clean the tube.
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Read a little into the forum. There are at least two recent threads dealing with gas tubes.
For those saying there’s no published procedure for cleaning the gas tube...... do a little studying in your -23&P. You do have a copy downloaded right? And refer to it often right? 
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There is a procedure, but like many things the military does it is unecessary. Your time is better spent staring into space.
It is self cleaning. I once offered in open forum to sell a proprietary pipe cleaner for several dollars a whack, for cleaning the gas tube. I got mass IMs. It was a joke! |
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Quoted:
There is a procedure, but like many things the military does it is unecessary. Your time is better spent staring into space. It is self cleaning. I once offered in open forum to sell a proprietary pipe cleaner for several dollars a whack, for cleaning the gas tube. I got mass IMs. It was a joke! Unnecessary? I'll agree that the gas tube does not need preventative maintenance on a scheduled basis. For the most part it is self cleaning. But the -23 lists this procedure for a reason. Gas tubes do on occasion, I'll admit, it's very seldom, but they do get carbon build up and there is a prescribed procedure for removing it when it happens. The -23 states if this procedure does not clear out the carbon, then replace the gas tube. I have helped a few folks here on this site with short stroking issues where their gas tube was blocked with carbon. Cleaning it resolved the issue. |
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Quoted:
There is a procedure, but like many things the military does it is unecessary. Your time is better spent staring into space. It is self cleaning. I once offered in open forum to sell a proprietary pipe cleaner for several dollars a whack, for cleaning the gas tube. I got mass IMs. It was a joke! your too late we had them as issue when i was in the army. cotton pipe cleaners about 2 feet long. |
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Can some one please tell me what a -23 manual is? http://www.ar15.com/content/index.html#manuals <––––Manuals and downloads http://www.ar15.com/content/manuals/FM23-9.pdf For the most part it is self cleaning be careful about gunking it up of plugging it with anything. |
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Can some one please tell me what a -23 manual is? http://www.ar15.com/content/index.html#manuals <––––Manuals and downloads http://www.ar15.com/content/manuals/FM23-9.pdf For the most part it is self cleaning be careful about gunking it up of plugging it with anything. Thanks for the links! Don't worry, I don't plan on doing any cleaning of the gas tube based on the info in this thread... unless I start having some malfunction! |
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