AR15 gas tube maintenance

[Soundtrackzz]

To clean or not to clean...that is the question. Ive heard from several people that the gas system of an AR15 never needs to be cleaned. Ive also read that it should be cleaned after every shooting. Which opinion is correct? Also if it should be cleaned alot, how exactly do i do it? It seems cemented in place on my rifle and i dont think a pipe cleaner would even begin to do the job

Thanks
Z

 

[briansmithwins]

Don't clean unless clogged.

If clogged replace with a new gas tube.

BSW

 

[Hiaboo]

squirt brake cleaner down there.. spray it out with compressed air.. rinse and repeat i guess.. It's cheap enough to just to replace.. I've never cleaned mine.

 

[rbernie]

They are relatively self-cleaning; the carbon buildup is more stain than impediment.

 

[jad0110]

squirt brake cleaner down there.. spray it out with compressed air.. rinse and repeat i guess.. It's cheap enough to just to replace.. I've never cleaned mine.

I do the same thing, except I use Gun Scrubber instead of brake cleaner. Seems to work well enough. I've heard of some guys using pipe cleaners.

 

[Stinger]

There is absolutely no reason to clean the tube...it cleans itself.

 

[mrsig]

And craps all over the bolt group in the process...

- Sig

 

[45B@cav]

You don't have to clean the tube unless it's clogged. Though I will say it can't hurt. If you're really dead set on cleaning it get a long pipe cleaner. Brownells or Midway USA has them pretty cheap.

 

[Bartkowski]

Don't bother. The pressure should push all the crap in there out into the action. Of course, if your tube is clogged you should clean it...

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

It is self cleaning.

 

[Soybomb]

I've heard of some guys using pipe cleaners.

I've heard of problems cause by stuck pipe cleaners and bits of pope cleaners. Problems from being dirty...not as much

 

[Onmilo]

If in doubt change it out.
Gas tubes are less than ten bucks each, if the condition concerns you, just replace the gas tube.

Trying to clean them with anything doesn't seem to do any good and sometimes causes problems from stuff getting stuck in the tube.

 

[MassMark]

Many moons ago, I bought a Colt National Match. I also bought a package of those fancy pipe cleaners. I poured ammunition through it and the person who now owns it, re-barreled it and still does the same. Those fancy pipe cleaners never saw a gas tube - they went into my daughters art supply box and have long ago been used to make a spider or something else....Total waste of money and completely unnecessary...

 

[Grunt]

What does the manual say? Where in the manual does it say to pour, spray, dump, dig, ream, push, ram anything be it solvents or pipe-cleaners into the gas tube? Read the manual and you will have your answer.

 

[cracked butt]

If 50,000 or so psi isn't enough to keep to keep carbon fouling to a minimum, nothing that you could poke into the tube could ether.

 

[CBS220]

If 50,000 or so psi isn't enough to keep to keep carbon fouling to a minimum, nothing that you could poke into the tube could ether.

This is really all that needs to be said.

It's a tiny tube through which only gas passes (normally). The tube has no moving parts, and when was the last time you saw residue from burnt powder build up on a significant level?

 

[rcmodel]

Gas port pressure is nowhere near 50,000 PSI.

More like 14 - 16,000 probably, by the time the bullet gets that far down the barrel.

But regardless, there is nothing growing inside a gas tube!

Cleaning it is a total waste of time, and will do way more harm then good if you get a pipe-cleaner stuck in there.

rcmodel

 

[twofourthree73]

I'll just throw this out there.

What if you shoot .22 lr with it through a ciener kit?

 

[matrem]

Yep, about 18000 psi is what I recall,but regardless whether 10000 or 50000psi,barring some extreme circumstance,(which isn't coming to me)it will clean itself.