How often do you clean your piston?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How often do you clean your piston?

Posted: 1/16/2015 11:31:53 PM EDT

I am buying a lancer handguard for my sig 516 competition rifle and the extended version requires you take the handguard off (6 allen screws) to take out the piston assembly. My question is with regular lubing and cleaning on the bolt and bolt carrier how often do you need to take out your piston and clean it?

Posted: 1/16/2015 11:55:54 PM EDT

[#1]

I thought this was going somewhere else

Posted: 1/17/2015 12:05:52 AM EDT

[#2]

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Posted: 1/17/2015 12:41:03 AM EDT

[#3]

I haven't messed with anything and have never cleaned my piston. Not a lot of rounds, but I've rarely take any of my piston systems apart.

Posted: 1/17/2015 2:25:06 AM EDT

[#4]

I had an Adams Arms upper and cleaned the piston for the first time after around 2,000 rounds. There were no issues prior to cleaning. I just wanted to see what it would look like. There was some crud on it and it didn't come out of the upper cleanly. It wasn't overly difficult either. I had to scrub some of the build up off, but not a big deal either.

Posted: 1/17/2015 5:07:28 AM EDT

[#5]

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Posted: 1/17/2015 7:45:30 AM EDT

[#6]

I clean my SR556 piston and entire weapon after every range trip. As well as all my weapons I like cleaning them as much as shooting them.

Posted: 1/17/2015 9:33:36 AM EDT

[#7]

I've stopped cleaning all together. These things don't need to be cleaned, they need to be shot. From time to time I'll squeeze a few drops of lube on key spots on the BCG and keep going.

Posted: 1/17/2015 10:32:40 AM EDT

[#8]

Ruger says that there is no maintenance required on their system.

What does Sig say about theirs?

Posted: 1/17/2015 11:09:42 AM EDT

[#9]

General consensus I've heard is around the 3000 rd mark but that could be hooey. Likely no need for a very long time, but occasional maintenance can't hurt.

Posted: 1/17/2015 3:52:20 PM EDT

[#10]

Osprey siad it doesn't need cleaning but if we insist, 10,000 rounds and scraper/wire brush only.

Posted: 1/17/2015 9:01:04 PM EDT

[#11]

In a way they're self cleaning as it scrapes off it's own soot as it fires. If things are not smooth I'd go to town.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How often do you clean your piston?

AR-15 » AR Piston Systems

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