First time dissasembling and cleaning my AR

[gym]

I decided to take my AR apart and clean it after 100 rounds I put downrange last week. I have been really waiting for my wife to be gone, as the smell of any cleaning products make her ill. So last night about 9pm I took her apart. "the gun that is". I had taken the bolt out once when I got it, just to clean the barrel and lube the bolt. I also put an accu wedge in it because I didn't like the wobble. But doing it for the first time was indeed interesting, having never seen one cleaned down to the guts before. I got it ship shape pretty quick, these little manuals they give you are so small you realy need a glass to see all the parts. But I did it, and now am sure I can do it faster.
The only problem I had was not realizing you needed to half turn the bolt to get it back in, once I realized it won't fit in the way I was trying to insert it, It went back together easily. Made sure the carter pin was in right.
Do we have a sticky on how to field strip and clean an AR? Since many THR members have or want one, perhaps we should have one.

 

[Robert101]

It wasn't that long a go that I purchased my first AR type rifle too (an LR308). They are fun to shoot and clean in my book. I did spend some time on You Tube looking at video for cleaning and smithing. It helped me a lot. I continue to use You Tube for trigger work, and other issues gun related.

Doing a search on what oil and cleaning solvent to use, well that's a whole other story.

 

[taliv]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seEegWV5RYM she does it right. don't forget the function check.

 

[C-grunt]

From my experience if you keep the gun well oiled it is a lot easier to clean.

 

[tyeo098]

Do we have a sticky on how to field strip and clean an AR? Since many THR members have or want one, perhaps we should have one.

I'll write one up this weekend if a mod thinks it'd be a good sticky.
Something like a 'knowlegebase' we can have. People contribute disassembly videos or threads.
Maybe a sub-forum of Gunsmithing & Repair. Thoughts?

 

[taliv]

i'd be happy to add it to the library. start a new thread to write it up. (or if you find an old one with good info, bump it and add to it)

 

[briansmithwins]

Mpro7 is a very good cleaner with no smell as it is soap in water.

I've been using Simple Green Aircraft cleaner as it's cheaper than Mpro7 and cleans almost as well. No smell also.

Don't use regular SG as it will eat aluminum and anodized aluminum. Ask me how I discovered this some time.

I do agree 100% that AR's work much better when well oiled. If you relive the rifle after shooting, while it's still warm, the oil will soften the fouling and keep it from getting so hard.

BSW

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Let me know if I can contribute anything to the write up. I can snap some photos or something.

 

[tyeo098]

i'd be happy to add it to the library. start a new thread to write it up. (or if you find an old one with good info, bump it and add to it)

We already have a library?

And It'll have to be this weekend once I decide to do my "spring cleaning".

 

[TurtlePhish]

We already have a library?

And It'll have to be this weekend once I decide to do my "spring cleaning".

Library!
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=208641

On a side note, if field strip stickies are needed I can throw one together for an AK right now.

 

[tyeo098]

Library!
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=208641

On a side note, if field strip stickies are needed I can throw one together for an AK right now.

Oh.

Well thats just Rifle section. I was thinking more of a general disassembly section in Gunsmithing.
That way we can do Rifles, Pistols, Shotguns, RPG's, etc.

 

[taliv]

most of the people who are going to ask how to clean their new rifle are going to look here, not in gunsmithing. generally, the people reading gunsmithing are already going to be pretty familiar with basic operation

 

[TurtlePhish]

That way we can do Rifles, Pistols, Shotguns, RPG's, etc.

Can an RPG be field stripped?

 

[gym]

Great ideas, I am sure there are many less experienced folks who are hesitant about taking apart their weapon, only because they are afraid of putting it back together properlly. Pictures of bolts and carter pins along with explanations of turning the bolt to enable getting it in with the charging handle would be a big help to someone who never did it before.
I can remember several guys who were afraid to shoot their guns for fear of having to clean them. Also a list of products which is simple yet efficiant, to use on both rifle and pistols, AK's and AR"s, are the main ones,
Ak's, are pretty simple, but if you aren't handy, or don't have a go-to guy to show you, the idea is what stops people from doing it, for fear that they may do it wrong.
I just naturally like taking things apart, but if you don't have a video of what you did, finding the proper sequence on the internet, could be quite annoying. Also little things like showing the proper placement of a red dot, accuwedge, floating rail etc. nothing that requires gunsmithing, it could be a great reference for first timers.
I learned that I need to have a half dozen spare parts, in reserve for replacement, in case of wear loss, or breakage. Those little springs can get lost fast. I use a new #3 pencil on handguns to test the gun after it's been cleaned and oiled, been using that little trick for 25 years. At least I know if the pencil flys out, the firing pin is functioning, and the first round will fire.
Little things like that are a big help. I read recentlly some guys fire a round or two just to know the gun will fire, this enables you to find out without having to do that, any little tricks would be of value.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I don't usually correct spelling, for a lot of reasons. But in case some other new person is researching this, it's "cotter pin", not "carter pin", if you're trying to look that item up.

Good shooting to you all.

 

[68wj]

Can an RPG be field stripped?

Yes, 2 push pins if I remember correctly.

 

[Prof]

This sounds like a very good idea. Since I am not in the least mechanically-inclined, I have purchased the appropriate AGI Gunsmithing series DVD for each firearm I own. It has given me the confidence to take them apart and work on them (minor stuff). A few years ago I had the good fortune to run into Bob Dunlap (who did a bunch of them) at Shot Show and was able to thank him personally for the help he had given me through the videos. Having a similar resource here would be great for beginners (and those of us who are still learning!).

 

[dubya450]

This all sounds like a great idea. I think it'd benefit alot of new AR and AK guys like myself gain some confidence in being able to takedown and put everything together the correct way. I will say of all the firearms forums I've checked out, THR is the only one that I use on a regular basis because its so much more informative and doesn't have all the nonsense associated with the other forums. Keep up the good work guys!

Cory

 

[gotigers]

Brownells has videos and AR15.com has tutorials.

 

[tyeo098]

Brownells has videos and AR15.com has tutorials.

Well yeah, lots of people have them, but theyre not "by THR members, for THR members"
Threads I can do:
AR-15
Mosin (The bolt can be rather confusing)
Mossberg 702 Plinkster
Makarov
CZ75B
Remmy 870

I should be able to get them done by Sunday. Then I'll do a writeup with pics and post 'em here. Where would I post the pistol/shotgun ones?

 

[Carne Frio]

Here is a visual aid to taking care of your AR.
It's written for GIs and many thousands of
them used it.

http://www.ep.tc/problems/25/02.html

 

[Southernsorrow]

for quick cleaning you can spray the upper with a spray cleaner to remove the bulk of the gunk or use synthetic safe brake cleaner, then wipe all that out and use some Patch-out or a good branded solvent and clean every peice you dare for being a new gun.. for lube/anti rust nothing beats Eezox and or Gun Butter

 

[Southernsorrow]

also check your buffer tube by removing the buffer and spring somtimes they pack those with grease from the factory you don't want that in there! causes jams, and leaks out when hot

 

[mortablunt]

First time I saw a disassembled AR I was thinking "Isn't DI supposed to be simpler than this?"

 

[gym]

Ok nice and eaasy is the trick, thanks for the link. Hardest part for me was geting the charging handle and bolt back in. Finally it just went in almost by itself, thanks.