AR cleaning? Is it best to leave everything Dry?

[birdbustr]

I recently had a bad experience with my Colt M-4. The time before I took the rifle out and it was cleaned from the last time in the usual way with only a little of the Tetra Grease being used on the wear points on the Bolt Carrier Assembly. Other than that I just use Barnes Copper Solvent or Hoppes Bore cleaner to clean out any excess carbon. So that time at the range the rifle was reliable and trouble free as ever with only about 100 rounds through it for the day. I took it home and instead of completely taking it down I just sprayed a little Browning Gun oil into the action since I was going to go back to the range in a few days.

A few days later came or at most a week and I went to the range again. One missfeed after another. I mean no more than 3 or 4 rounds without a problem. It seemed like the Bolt Carrier Assembly wasn't coming back enough to fully eject and bring in the new round. Maybe the gun oil had got into the gas tube or some other part of the gas operation system. What do you think?

I'm hearing some soldiers don't lubricate their rifles at all and they run great. Just clean the carbon out and leave it dry. I'm thinking that is the way to go after my last experience. The rifle is dry now and I won't be able to try it again for a week or so. How do you clean your AR for reliability?

 

[dfariswheel]

My experience is, the AR seems to "like" being run a little wetter than most rifles.

Unless you're operating in a sand storm, lubrication is necessary to reliable operation and long service life.
An un-lubricated rifle, like any machine will wear badly.

Other factors are the type of lube, with the AR's seeming to like CLP Breakfree and similar lubes, and whether the lube runs off, evaporates, or dries out.
A lot of people are surprised to lube up a firearm and upon checking it a few weeks later, finding the lube gone and the metal dry.

On the AR-M16, excess lube won't "get into the gas system" since there really isn't a gas system in the conventional way, and excess lube will actually cause the rifle to have more gas to operate it, since excess lube blocks the ports and gas rings.

In your case, I suspect a dry weapon, dried up or gummed up lube, a bad magazine, bad ammo, etc, before I'd suspect TOO MUCH lube.
Another possible factor: Some lubricants are not compatible. It's possible the Tetra and Browning are not.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Is it really a Colt M4?

Is it really a Colt M4? They mostly come with full instructions and somebody to oversee compliance. The real M4 feed ramp has a good reputation. Reused magazines are more likely to be an issue in a full auto. Then too the buffer and other maintenance is flat necessary for high round counts.

I run a 6920 and I choose to run it pretty wet. One of the reasons I feel comfortable doing this is the ongoing discussion of the AR platform in S.W.A.T. magazine and elsewhere - see e.g. the current and earlier issues. The books from Walt Kuleck and Fulton are well worth a look.

People finally are getting the word that the M4 platform needs lube- more is better, and what you use isn't as important as where you use it.

Pat Rogers

Time was I might have used DrySlide or today I might use one of the wonder lubes that works with heat from an oven, a heat gun or from firing to leave a lubricated finish that attracts less dust if I operated in a dusty environment. This isn't even close to running the rifle dry and bare metal free of all lubrication.

Truth is I'd be more inclined to drip crankcase oil from an engine dipstick than to run my own rifle unlubricated.

 

[birdbustr]

It's the MT6400C Colt Rifle. Not auto. http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/MTM4.asp
I don't know about the feed ramp being the same as the military M4, but I have a Colt. This model comes very demilitarized. I've had the barrel threaded and put on a flash surpressor instead of just a the chunk of metal held on by 2 pins, and the stock is actually collapsible and doesn't just look to be. I'm going to take it to the range dry and then spray it if any problems arise. I did use several magazines and 2 different loads last time so I don't think it was magazines or the ammo. The rifle is usually very reliable. I'm just glad that it wasn't any kind of life and death situation. It still brings down my confidence in the rifle.

 

[Nimitz]

wet is the key for the most part IMO. i lube up the bolt, the BCG, and once assembled 2 dabs and cycle the action.

I have yet to be to the sandbox...the key there from what my buddies tell me is constant cleaning. unfortunately its a battle you will lose, the more CLP the more dirt is attracted.

Chad

 

[packnrat]

leave a good coating of oil on everything...but not to the poing of dripping.


.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

AR's run WET...with quality oil (CLP, Mobil 1 Synthetic, various other more expensive lubes)...

Thats true even in dirt, sand, or whatever...its better to be dirty and wet...than just dirty.

 

[rbernie]

No grease - CLP. There was a thread in the Rifle forum a while back about a DoD test; the conclusion of the report showed a wet bolt lubed with CLP did the best.

 

[birdbustr]

Thanks a lot. I think I'll try the Mobil 1 synthetic since I have some in the garage. Many thanks.

 

[1911 guy]

I goober up the bolt and carrier on mine pretty good with CLP and they seem to run well for extended sessions. I've never reached the point of dripping wet, but a good coat on the innards can't hurt. Just make sure to keep it inside and not smearing all over the exterior to attract migrating crud. It'll do enough of that without you helping it.

 

[JohnMcD348]

I saw a test once on G&A television where they did some kind of torture test on teh AR platform and fired some upteen thousand rounds through one and it worked just fine. The tester just had to put a little oil back on it every once in awhile. While I was in the service, I ALWAYS kept my ar unit wet, be it the 16, CAR or M4 and it never failed me in the dirt, sand, jungle or snow.

 

[koginam]

I have been building Ar's for over 25 years and I have always recomended they be lubbed with only three drops of lub one down the gas tube and two in the bolt carrier holes. This worked well for me and my customers so far.