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Posted: 5/28/2009 12:54:09 PM EDT
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Just finished shooting my AR for the first time (LOVE IT!!) and now on to cleaning it (always the worst party of shooting). The question I have is about cleaning the lower receiver, as well as the feed ramps. I'm used to cleaning small arms the can be completely stripped down with ease, but this one has me baffled. What I'm trying to do is get under the trigger assembly and each groove of the feed ramps. The feed ramps are a little easier to get to, just take a long time. What do you guys normally do to get under the trigger assembly and all the nooks of the lower, and do you know of a faster way to clean feed ramps. Thanks for the help!
Joseph |
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The lower receiver is usually not that dirty. Q-tips and CLP usually suffice there. An air compressor helps as well.
My barrel procedure, which encompasses the feed ramps, can be found here: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=7&t=437499&page=2 |
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Quoted:
......and now on to cleaning it (always the worst party of shooting) You’re already taking the wrong approach to it. You should not view cleaning as “the worst part of shooting“. Maintenance and cleaning go hand in hand with firearms ownership. You should get just as much enjoyment out of cleaning and maintaining your weapon, as you do shooting it. Your life may someday depend on it. 
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One thing to consider as a 1st time AR owner. After cleaning, go back after your 1st cleaning and do a 2nd the next day or later. You'll find spots you missed or did NOT clean as well, it will help you learn to clean better, so you'll get it right the first time in the future. I do this with any new firearm I purchase, until I become more familiar with it and its cleaning.
I've checked with an active duty Marine Armorer, the Marine Corps still requires 3 cleanings between shootings (used to be 3 consecutive days in a row), the Army disagrees with that, and most people will tell you, one good cleaning after shooting (cleaned well and correctly) will keep your rifle working very well and trouble free, and is all that is needed. The Marine Corps requires that of all small arms, so don't get the idea its a M-16/AR15 thing, its a Marine Corps thing. I use the toothbrush for most of my cleaning. BUT even the toothbrush is difficult to get in the areas you mentioned. The armorers brush, that looks like a toothbrush, except it has a smaller brush on the opposite end, and comes in the US issued cleaning kit, the small ended brush can fit somewhat into those areas. Like stated q-tips are your friend. DO you have a chamber brush? A chamber mop also helps to get the dirt out of area in the barrel extension where the lugs are at. Seen suggestions of using a paint brush to clean the lower receiver, the long fibers in the brush can reach down to clean, I've never tried it, but it makes sense to me. |
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Quoted:
One thing to consider as a 1st time AR owner. After cleaning, go back after your 1st cleaning and do a 2nd the next day or later. You'll find spots you missed or did NOT clean as well, it will help you learn to clean better, so you'll get it right the first time in the future. I do this with any new firearm I purchase, until I become more familiar with it and its cleaning. I've checked with an active duty Marine Armorer, the Marine Corps still requires 3 cleanings between shootings (used to be 3 consecutive days in a row), the Army disagrees with that, and most people will tell you, one good cleaning after shooting (cleaned well and correctly) will keep your rifle working very well and trouble free, and is all that is needed. The Marine Corps requires that of all small arms, so don't get the idea its a M-16/AR15 thing, its a Marine Corps thing. I use the toothbrush for most of my cleaning. BUT even the toothbrush is difficult to get in the areas you mentioned. The armorers brush, that looks like a toothbrush, except it has a smaller brush on the opposite end, and comes in the US issued cleaning kit, the small ended brush can fit somewhat into those areas. Like stated q-tips are your friend. DO you have a chamber brush? A chamber mop also helps to get the dirt out of area in the barrel extension where the lugs are at. Seen suggestions of using a paint brush to clean the lower receiver, the long fibers in the brush can reach down to clean, I've never tried it, but it makes sense to me. Thanks again for the speedy responses. Some new/good ideas were given and I will definitely break it down again tonight and see what spots I missed. Now, I have seen two products that look similar, but I was curious how they do not ruin the barrel. In this video there is a tool he uses to get into the barrel lugs. I have also seen another tool similar to this, where the plastic piece is replaced brushes, but still uses to clean out the barrel lugs. Now these tools have a bore brush on the end of it and they are rotating the brush while it's in the barrel. I always see articles saying you should only go from chamber end to muzzle end, so that part that confuses me is how is it safe to screw this brush into the barrel? Any info on that would be appreciated. Joseph |
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No, its NOT a bore brush that he attaches the felt star to, its a modified chamber brush. When he rotates the brush, its only in the chamber, NOT the bore. A chamber brush looks like that tool, except instead of a felt star to clean the lugs, there is a larger secton of wire brush that scrubs the same area. You'd clean the chamber the same way as in that video.
That why I was suggesting a chamber mop as well a brush, but if you prefer the tool you see at Brownells it looks like it would do the same job as a chamber brush and mop. |
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Quoted:
No, its NOT a bore brush that he attaches the felt star to, its a modified chamber brush. When he rotates the brush, its only in the chamber, NOT the bore. A chamber brush looks like that tool, except instead of a felt star to clean the lugs, there is a larger secton of wire brush that scrubs the same area. You'd clean the chamber the same way as in that video. That why I was suggesting a chamber mop as well a brush, but if you prefer the tool you see at Brownells it looks like it would do the same job as a chamber brush and mop. me = nub lol  . That makes a lot more sense now. One last questions  ...I normally just hit up wally world for my cleaning supplies, is that brush something I can only get online, or do they normally carry those at gun stores/ranges?
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Quoted:
No need for a chamber star. Q-tips and a pair of forceps will suffice. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Metroliner/Cleaning32.jpg I use nothing more than the basics you see below to maintain my AR's in a serviceable condition. [Quib, is that a 12 gauge mop? |
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