Initial AR Cleaning

BleedinPurple · November 29, 2012, 11:05 PM

The AR is finally put together and i have not shot it yet...i have not given any attention to cleaning the initial packing grease that is said to be in the uppers when they are shipped...i did not notice any build up but i didnt take a magnifier to it....

where should i focus on to remove the stuff that is not wanted on there before i go shooting with it for the first time?

like i said i couldnt see any noticable build up but im new to ARs

DASHZNT · November 29, 2012, 11:16 PM

If it concerns you.. I would spray the whole thing down with gun scrubber.. preferrably before assembling, but you should be ok. Gun Scrubber is almost like brake cleaner just a little less harsh, you use that to remove the packing oil off of disc rotors for cars so I would do the same process. Then make sure you oil it very well and cycle the bolt several hundred times. I literally drench my bolt and work it in really good before firing, that allows the two to get know one another very well. With that being said, enjoy your new toy and keep em straight!!

DASHZNT

madcratebuilder · November 30, 2012, 07:31 AM

Clean the chamber paying close attention to the lugs and swab the barrel, go shoot.

Mrgunsngear · November 30, 2012, 07:44 AM

Clean & Lubricate an AR15

Quote:

like i said i couldnt see any noticable build up but im new to ARs

Agreed. The chamber is probably most likely to have grease in it. Not lubricating the BCG is probably more likely to cause an issue than not cleaning it though.

Metal god · November 30, 2012, 09:41 AM

What I do with all new gun is clean them like I would if I just got back from the range . For a new AR I would at least clean the chamber and barrel . Then just wipe out the upper receiver and wipe down the BCG as well . Then lube it all back up should be good to go .

BleedinPurple · November 30, 2012, 11:06 AM

thanks for the responses guys...while i did lube the bolt and bcg i didnt really do any cleaning...just kind of had the bolt and all that stuff sitting in break free clp while i finished assembling...i will take a look at the chamber and give it a good cleaning before i go shoot it...and probably relube the whole thing...

i know that ar's like to be wet but im used to cleaning and lubing my handgun and i generally keep that pretty dry by comparison...

i just need to learn what points in the ar need the lube aside from the bolt and bcg...many more moving parts than my PPQ

scsov509 · November 30, 2012, 03:53 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about grease in the upper since its not going to hurt your function at all and will get cleaned out eventually anyway. You will want to lube the bolt and carrier well, paying special attention to the lugs and also the rails on the carrier. I also don't shoot anything new until I've cleaned out the chamber and bore to make sure there is nothing in there that can cause damage once you start running cartridges into the chamber and bullets down the bore. You'll also want to lube your fire control group as well, nothing liberal there but definitely want to make sure they've got at least a little lube on them.

madcratebuilder · December 1, 2012, 07:54 AM

hodaka · December 1, 2012, 10:34 AM

Wow, that's a lot of places to oil. I run mine pretty much dry on the theory that oil collects dust. I do put a couple of drops on the bolt cam but nothing else. Works every time. I probably fire a couple of thousand rounds a year. I can't remember the last problem with function that was not due to a problem with the ammo.

Mobuck · December 1, 2012, 12:11 PM

It should smoke like a forest fire for the first few shots. I get a kick out watching someone else shoot one of my freshly assembled AR's for the first time. I lube the heck out of them.
Clean the chamber/bore as you would any other rifle and leave those areas fairly dry. Everything else can be dripping if you like. I grease the bolt lugs, cam pin and track, a little on the sides of the bolt where it contacts the upper. Some CLP on the bolt and gas rings. Either CLP or RemLUbe on the trigger/hammer pins.
Before my AR's are fired, the bolts are hand worked until they will close and lock when released(open upper) with the upper at a 45* muzzle down angle.
I'm not in the desert or the artic(nor am I being shot at) so the amount and type of lube is not an issue.
My broken in, winter use AR's get a little CLP in the BCG and a drop of RemLube on the FCG pins.

greentick · December 1, 2012, 03:20 PM

I've always been in the light coat on the bolt/cam pin camp as well.

BleedinPurple · December 6, 2012, 11:42 PM

again, guys thanks for the responses...lots of good info...i took the thing apart and lubed most of those things that are shown in the diagram...

now i have heard both good and bad things about just using CLP on ar15's but i like the KISS method...am i really losing out by not using some of the more elaborate greases or oils or is CLP going to be good for everything short of a deep cleanse...

scsov509 · December 6, 2012, 11:47 PM

CLP works fine. An AR will run with just about any lube as long as it gets lubes well and in the right places.

Metal god · December 7, 2012, 02:05 AM

A friend of mine is a Marine and he tells me CLP is all they use . If it's good enough for them it's good enough for me . I do not use it on my BCG though . I like to use thicker stuff on that . Slip 2000 EWL 30 , frog lube , axle grease the thicker moter oils . I use the thicker stuff cus the hotter the bolt gets the thinner your lube gets . CLP is battle proven by the military so its tuff to argue with it . You can try different stuff , I do all the time but you should keep some CLP with you when out shooting .

Marquezj16 · December 7, 2012, 07:43 PM

I just shot qualification this week. All the M4s in class were taken out of the armory and shot without adding any lube to any parts. 200+ rounds, zero malfunctions. Clean them with CLP, remove all carbon, wipe them down until there is not a trace of lubricant and turn them in back into the armory for the next time.

Down range, all I use is CLP, Otis to be precise. Works fine for me.

November 29, 2012, 11:05 PM	#1
BleedinPurple Member Join Date: January 17, 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 91	Initial AR Cleaning The AR is finally put together and i have not shot it yet...i have not given any attention to cleaning the initial packing grease that is said to be in the uppers when they are shipped...i did not notice any build up but i didnt take a magnifier to it.... where should i focus on to remove the stuff that is not wanted on there before i go shooting with it for the first time? like i said i couldnt see any noticable build up but im new to ARs

November 30, 2012, 07:31 AM	#3
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	Clean the chamber paying close attention to the lugs and swab the barrel, go shoot. Last edited by madcratebuilder; December 1, 2012 at 07:50 AM.

November 30, 2012, 09:41 AM	#5
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	What I do with all new gun is clean them like I would if I just got back from the range . For a new AR I would at least clean the chamber and barrel . Then just wipe out the upper receiver and wipe down the BCG as well . Then lube it all back up should be good to go . __________________ 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 .

December 7, 2012, 02:05 AM	#14
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,875	A friend of mine is a Marine and he tells me CLP is all they use . If it's good enough for them it's good enough for me . I do not use it on my BCG though . I like to use thicker stuff on that . Slip 2000 EWL 30 , frog lube , axle grease the thicker moter oils . I use the thicker stuff cus the hotter the bolt gets the thinner your lube gets . CLP is battle proven by the military so its tuff to argue with it . You can try different stuff , I do all the time but you should keep some CLP with you when out shooting . __________________ 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 .

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November 29, 2012, 11:16 PM	#2
DASHZNT Junior member Join Date: July 13, 2012 Posts: 179	If it concerns you.. I would spray the whole thing down with gun scrubber.. preferrably before assembling, but you should be ok. Gun Scrubber is almost like brake cleaner just a little less harsh, you use that to remove the packing oil off of disc rotors for cars so I would do the same process. Then make sure you oil it very well and cycle the bolt several hundred times. I literally drench my bolt and work it in really good before firing, that allows the two to get know one another very well. With that being said, enjoy your new toy and keep em straight!! DASHZNT

November 30, 2012, 11:06 AM	#6
BleedinPurple Member Join Date: January 17, 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 91	thanks for the responses guys...while i did lube the bolt and bcg i didnt really do any cleaning...just kind of had the bolt and all that stuff sitting in break free clp while i finished assembling...i will take a look at the chamber and give it a good cleaning before i go shoot it...and probably relube the whole thing... i know that ar's like to be wet but im used to cleaning and lubing my handgun and i generally keep that pretty dry by comparison... i just need to learn what points in the ar need the lube aside from the bolt and bcg...many more moving parts than my PPQ

November 30, 2012, 03:53 PM	#7
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	I wouldn't worry too much about grease in the upper since its not going to hurt your function at all and will get cleaned out eventually anyway. You will want to lube the bolt and carrier well, paying special attention to the lugs and also the rails on the carrier. I also don't shoot anything new until I've cleaned out the chamber and bore to make sure there is nothing in there that can cause damage once you start running cartridges into the chamber and bullets down the bore. You'll also want to lube your fire control group as well, nothing liberal there but definitely want to make sure they've got at least a little lube on them.

December 1, 2012, 07:54 AM	#8
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923

December 1, 2012, 10:34 AM	#9
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	Wow, that's a lot of places to oil. I run mine pretty much dry on the theory that oil collects dust. I do put a couple of drops on the bolt cam but nothing else. Works every time. I probably fire a couple of thousand rounds a year. I can't remember the last problem with function that was not due to a problem with the ammo.

December 1, 2012, 12:11 PM	#10
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	It should smoke like a forest fire for the first few shots. I get a kick out watching someone else shoot one of my freshly assembled AR's for the first time. I lube the heck out of them. Clean the chamber/bore as you would any other rifle and leave those areas fairly dry. Everything else can be dripping if you like. I grease the bolt lugs, cam pin and track, a little on the sides of the bolt where it contacts the upper. Some CLP on the bolt and gas rings. Either CLP or RemLUbe on the trigger/hammer pins. Before my AR's are fired, the bolts are hand worked until they will close and lock when released(open upper) with the upper at a 45* muzzle down angle. I'm not in the desert or the artic(nor am I being shot at) so the amount and type of lube is not an issue. My broken in, winter use AR's get a little CLP in the BCG and a drop of RemLube on the FCG pins.

December 1, 2012, 03:20 PM	#11
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 261	I've always been in the light coat on the bolt/cam pin camp as well.

December 6, 2012, 11:42 PM	#12
BleedinPurple Member Join Date: January 17, 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 91	again, guys thanks for the responses...lots of good info...i took the thing apart and lubed most of those things that are shown in the diagram... now i have heard both good and bad things about just using CLP on ar15's but i like the KISS method...am i really losing out by not using some of the more elaborate greases or oils or is CLP going to be good for everything short of a deep cleanse...

December 6, 2012, 11:47 PM	#13
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	CLP works fine. An AR will run with just about any lube as long as it gets lubes well and in the right places.

December 7, 2012, 07:43 PM	#15
Marquezj16 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Posts: 2,088	I just shot qualification this week. All the M4s in class were taken out of the armory and shot without adding any lube to any parts. 200+ rounds, zero malfunctions. Clean them with CLP, remove all carbon, wipe them down until there is not a trace of lubricant and turn them in back into the armory for the next time. Down range, all I use is CLP, Otis to be precise. Works fine for me.