AR15 gas tube cleaning?

[DNS]

I've never cleaned the gas tube other than shooting some cleaner down it with the barrel on the floor and letting it run out. Did the same during my time with Uncle Sam. I've heard some folks say never clean it.

So AR guru's whats the answer?

 

[briansmithwins]

What are you going to clean out of it that hot 10,000psi gas isn't go to blast loose?

Replace the gas tube when the barrel goes. If you must, keep a spare one handy in case it gets plugged somehow.

BSW

 

[mljdeckard]

The only cleaning I have ever done of one is to swab out as far as a pipe cleaner will go into the bottom of it, and only to appease drill sergeant inspectors. Leave it alone.

 

[briansmithwins]

I suspect most gas tubes are replaced due to attempts to clean them.

BSW

 

[taliv]

Nothing wrong with squirting brake cleaner down it but I don't think it's necessary.

Whatever you do don't stick pipe cleaners in it.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

I suspect most gas tubes are replaced due to attempts to clean them.

BSW

Nothing wrong with squirting brake cleaner down it but I don't think it's necessary.

Whatever you do don't stick pipe cleaners in it.

We have 2 winners!!

 

[Slamfire]

Carb Cleaner or brake cleaner down the tube followed by compressed air.

I have done that and I suspect improved nothing.

Back in the 60's when the M16 was first fielded, Remington/Dupont (page 147 of the Black Rifle) provided IMR 4475 for the cartridges. The M16 even though it had been fielded was still an underdeveloped rifle system and required powder tolerances that exceeded state of the art process controls. Remington/Dupont could not hold the tolerances for each and every lot and instead hand selected lots from production to load for the .223 round.

When Remington no bid, for reasons in the Black Rifle Book, the Army was left with WC846 to use. This powder worked fine in M14's but the pressure curve was out of tolerance for the M16 and it left a lot of residue in the gas tube.

That took time, and a number of dead GI's to figure out, but eventually the powder was cleaned up and today's powders are a lot cleaner. It is hardly worth the effort to clean the gas tube.

Unless you are obsessive, such as I, about your rifle maintenance.

 

[briansmithwins]

The real problem with ball powder is that Olin was making it from recycled condemned artillery powder, which was acidic. To neutralize the acid, Olin added calcium carbonate (chalk) to the powder mix. Chalk doesn't burn very well and clogs gas tubes.

BSW