How often to clean an AR? - Page 2

droptrd · October 10, 2012, 07:11 AM

Can any servicemen here tell us what the military recommends for AR/M4 cleaning?

Metal god · October 10, 2012, 07:17 AM

Sorry Im not in the military but its my understanding they clean them every chance they get . Seeing how there lives really do depend on them and we all just act like ours do .

Mrgunsngear · October 10, 2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Can any servicemen here tell us what the military recommends for AR/M4 cleaning?

Sure. Warning: this process will likely make you shake your head a lot...

In both the USAF and US Army units I've been in we clean the rifle for at least 2 days prior to turn in (or every time after firing). This is in a garrison/training environment. Your supervisor will go over the weapon at some point in the process and say something like 'you missed here..., focus on the star chamber, ect....' Then once it's clean we completely strip the rifle of any CLP

. The reason for this is that the CLP will continue to break down any carbon residue it encounters and when you go to turn it in to the arms room or weapons pool (unit depenant) it will appear to be 'dirty' from the CLP further doing what its' designed to do---i.e. clean the carbon residue. Then they're stored until used again.

When deployed most guys break down the rifle every day and wipe out any dirt/sand that got in there and re-lubricate.

Eppie · October 10, 2012, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Can any servicemen here tell us what the military recommends for AR/M4 cleaning?

I don't know what they teach now, but I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed. When I went through Basic training we had to clean the M16 immediately upon return to the barracks, before we could turn them in to the arms room. The only exception was night firing, then we had to do it after PT and breakfast.

With family and all, I'm not as compulsive as I used to be. I've been known to let a firearm wait as long as 2 days before I clean it.

You have to understand that my first gun was an M-16 and I was 17 in the summer of '72 when going through Basic. I enjoyed shooting the breeze with the other guys after a day at the range talking sh**t and wondering what 'Nam was going to be like. Fortunately, I went to Germany.

Now that I'm 58, when I sit down to clean pistol/rifles the smell of the solvent and the feel of metal brings back memories of those days. So for me cleaning guns is a fun and a trip down memory lane.

Justice06RR · October 10, 2012, 06:50 PM

It depends on how often you shoot your AR and how many rounds per session. I've gone as long as 2months without cleaning (haven't cleaned my Spikes M4 in that long), I just keep it well lubed and it runs fine.

then again I also have multiple rifles so not one AR gets used too much...

Strafer Gott · October 10, 2012, 07:11 PM

LSA, IIRC smelled like Ballistol that'd gone south. Anyway, that's what I'm using. It seems to give the "dry look" we go for better than LSA ever did,which always left an organic fat molecule that would emerge under high intensity inspection. You'll laugh, but we would take them in the showers to steam them. That's some serious chickenstuff, and that all went away at Oakland, praise Jesus!

greentick · October 11, 2012, 01:03 AM

I did an urban assault course in the army and over the course of the range week put about 3000rds through my M4. We were instructed specifically to not clean, just apply the issue breakfree CLP 1-2x per day. Supposed to build confidence in your weapon. I never had a stoppage and can't recall anyone else complaining either.

Mrgunsngear · October 11, 2012, 12:51 PM

I had a similar experience with two of the Army's Asymetric Warfare Group classes I went to. We used a 50m zero and never cleaned the guns. You should have seen the crusty old guys go nuts!

gunfighter48 · October 11, 2012, 06:20 PM

With ARs I run a bore snake thru them after a range trip. Then if I'm shooting on a regular basis, every month or so, I'll generally clean them after every couple of range trips. I usually fire 200 to 400 rds per outing for 223 and 40 to 100 rds of 308 per trip. I used to be one of the "clean it every time you shoot it" guys. But with today's metals and coatings they really don't need to be cleaned every trip out, unless your using corrosive ammo. I do take out the BCG and oil them up before each shooting.

With my 1911s I do usually do a light cleaning after every trip as these are my EDC and home defense go to guns. After a couple of range trips, I break out the spray cleaners, Hoppe's, patches, all the cleaning gear, and give them a full cleaning. But I only field strip them, I don't do a complete strip down to the frame. With spray cleaners there's no reason to do a complete tear down, IMO. You can do more damage than good tearing them down all the time. YMMV

October 10, 2012, 07:17 AM	#27
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	Sorry Im not in the military but its my understanding they clean them every chance they get . Seeing how there lives really do depend on them and we all just act like ours do . __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

October 11, 2012, 12:51 PM	#33
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	I had a similar experience with two of the Army's Asymetric Warfare Group classes I went to. We used a 50m zero and never cleaned the guns. You should have seen the crusty old guys go nuts! __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel

October 11, 2012, 06:20 PM	#34
gunfighter48 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2006 Location: Mill Creek, WA Posts: 167	With ARs I run a bore snake thru them after a range trip. Then if I'm shooting on a regular basis, every month or so, I'll generally clean them after every couple of range trips. I usually fire 200 to 400 rds per outing for 223 and 40 to 100 rds of 308 per trip. I used to be one of the "clean it every time you shoot it" guys. But with today's metals and coatings they really don't need to be cleaned every trip out, unless your using corrosive ammo. I do take out the BCG and oil them up before each shooting. With my 1911s I do usually do a light cleaning after every trip as these are my EDC and home defense go to guns. After a couple of range trips, I break out the spray cleaners, Hoppe's, patches, all the cleaning gear, and give them a full cleaning. But I only field strip them, I don't do a complete strip down to the frame. With spray cleaners there's no reason to do a complete tear down, IMO. You can do more damage than good tearing them down all the time. YMMV __________________ gunfighter48 A 45 may not expand but it will never be smaller than .45!! NRA Benefactor Life Member

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October 10, 2012, 07:11 AM	#26
droptrd Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 342	Can any servicemen here tell us what the military recommends for AR/M4 cleaning?

October 10, 2012, 06:50 PM	#30
Justice06RR Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Central FL Posts: 1,360	It depends on how often you shoot your AR and how many rounds per session. I've gone as long as 2months without cleaning (haven't cleaned my Spikes M4 in that long), I just keep it well lubed and it runs fine. then again I also have multiple rifles so not one AR gets used too much...

October 10, 2012, 07:11 PM	#31
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	LSA, IIRC smelled like Ballistol that'd gone south. Anyway, that's what I'm using. It seems to give the "dry look" we go for better than LSA ever did,which always left an organic fat molecule that would emerge under high intensity inspection. You'll laugh, but we would take them in the showers to steam them. That's some serious chickenstuff, and that all went away at Oakland, praise Jesus!

October 11, 2012, 01:03 AM	#32
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 261	I did an urban assault course in the army and over the course of the range week put about 3000rds through my M4. We were instructed specifically to not clean, just apply the issue breakfree CLP 1-2x per day. Supposed to build confidence in your weapon. I never had a stoppage and can't recall anyone else complaining either.