plodder
Member
I generally clean after every range session, but once in a while I am either pressed for time or unmotivated and stick them in the safe for a few days. What say you?
How many rounds before cleaning your AR?
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Blackhawk30
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I have a 16 lightweight that I built after the expiration of the AWB in '04.I have yet to clean it.I just squirt some oil in it before I shoot it.It probably has 2k thru it.Runs fine.No jams.
Outlaw Man
Member
I'm similar to Blackhawk. I clean them occasionally, depending on their environment, but 250 is well less than my "limit."
That actually goes for a lot of my guns.
That actually goes for a lot of my guns.
J_McLeod
Member
I clean my AR and XDs when they stop working or I get ready for a match.
Shifty
Member
All of my firearms get a good bath after they are used. To me, its just part of the fun of a good range day. Therapeutic even.
And honestly, in regard to the AR....... Its pretty dang simple to clean, so why not just do it?
And honestly, in regard to the AR....... Its pretty dang simple to clean, so why not just do it?
I wouldn't really say I have a hard/fast rule.
Sometimes, if I have time, I will clean my AR even if I just shot 80 rounds through it.
Sometimes, if I don't have time, I may go 4-5 range trips of 100 rnds/each before cleaning. Maybe I will squirt a few drops of lube on the BCG, maybe not.
Sometimes, even if I cleaned the AR since the last range trip, I'll clean it again, just for gits and shiggles.
If I shoot steel-cased through it, usually I try to at least scrub out the chamber afterwards.
Sometimes, if I have time, I will clean my AR even if I just shot 80 rounds through it.
Sometimes, if I don't have time, I may go 4-5 range trips of 100 rnds/each before cleaning. Maybe I will squirt a few drops of lube on the BCG, maybe not.
Sometimes, even if I cleaned the AR since the last range trip, I'll clean it again, just for gits and shiggles.
If I shoot steel-cased through it, usually I try to at least scrub out the chamber afterwards.
CoRoMo
Member
I don't count rounds but there's no way I'd clean an AR with only a few hundred rounds through it unless I had dropped it in water or something.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
A lot!!!
most of my ARs I clean as part of a routine maintenance (e.g. replacing action spring, extractor springs and inserts, etc every 5000 rounds)
my Service rifle got cleaned every year after camp perry in august.
my race gun with aluminum bolt carrier got cleaned after every match since the gas system was tweaked to be right on the edge of reliability and i couldn't let it get filthy
my current go-to carbine has a suppressor and gets REALLY dirty fast, so i clean it and reapply anti-seize and lube maybe every 1000 rounds.
my Service rifle got cleaned every year after camp perry in august.
my race gun with aluminum bolt carrier got cleaned after every match since the gas system was tweaked to be right on the edge of reliability and i couldn't let it get filthy
my current go-to carbine has a suppressor and gets REALLY dirty fast, so i clean it and reapply anti-seize and lube maybe every 1000 rounds.
hueyville
Member
I clean them when they need it. No particular round count. Sometimes one of the plinkers may see over 1,000 rounds before its cleaned. My match versions will be carefully stripped, cleaned and lubed after every session. It boils down to the particular rifle and its role. The one hole groupers are treated as such and the truck bangers are shot till they start getting hinky. I do not use steel case ammo, bi-metal bullets, or any import ammo. Most of what I shoot are handloads with known very clean burning powder. Thus I can get a lot of rounds through one before it acts goofy.
Slightly off topic: I did an experiment on a box stock stainless 10/22 recently. Took it out of box new, ran a brush down the bore, lubed it, fouled it with one magazine and fired three 5 shot groups off a rest of Federal Premium Match at 25 yards. Then sent 7,500 rounds of mixed brands and types without cleaning the rifle at all. At the end of the cycle I fired three more 25 yard groups off he rest again with Federal Premium Match. I completely disassembled the rifle, cleaned it meticulously, fired one magazine to foul the bore then fired three more 5 shot groups at 25 yards under same conditions. With this bone stock rifle the difference between 7,500 rounds dirty and clean as a whistle was discernible but negligible. The worst set of groups were the first set when it was new. Now it is ready to be stripped and built into a tack driver. Figured might as well see if I could break it before I rebuilt it. Tough little rifles.
Slightly off topic: I did an experiment on a box stock stainless 10/22 recently. Took it out of box new, ran a brush down the bore, lubed it, fouled it with one magazine and fired three 5 shot groups off a rest of Federal Premium Match at 25 yards. Then sent 7,500 rounds of mixed brands and types without cleaning the rifle at all. At the end of the cycle I fired three more 25 yard groups off he rest again with Federal Premium Match. I completely disassembled the rifle, cleaned it meticulously, fired one magazine to foul the bore then fired three more 5 shot groups at 25 yards under same conditions. With this bone stock rifle the difference between 7,500 rounds dirty and clean as a whistle was discernible but negligible. The worst set of groups were the first set when it was new. Now it is ready to be stripped and built into a tack driver. Figured might as well see if I could break it before I rebuilt it. Tough little rifles.
Sav .250
Member
It all boils down to ..................How you`ve been trained.
briansmithwins
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One round or 1000, after I'm done shooting the rifles get cleaned.
If I'm pressed for time I may just add lube and run a wet patch down the bore. I'd rather have the dirty bits wet for when I do get around to cleaning them thoroughly.
BSW
If I'm pressed for time I may just add lube and run a wet patch down the bore. I'd rather have the dirty bits wet for when I do get around to cleaning them thoroughly.
BSW
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Not really. I used to clean all my guns after shooting because that's what I was taught but eventually learned to think for myself.
When I do clean them, it's usually out of boredom. That usually falls somewhere between 250-500 rounds. Now, cleaning is usually nothing more than wiping down the bolt carrier and upper with a rag, wiping out under the extractor with a cotton swab, and reapplying lube.
To prove a point to my soldiers, on our last train up to Platoon live fire, I did not clean my M4 once from "group and zero" all the way through squad live fire. I passed my rifle off, so it went down the lane on every iteration. By the end of the training, my rifle had around 1000 live rounds and 1200 blanks fired through it. If you're not familiar with blanks, they are beyond filthy. New lube was applied at the start of every training day, and by the end my rifle was full of sludge. It still worked flawlessly.
To prove a point to my soldiers, on our last train up to Platoon live fire, I did not clean my M4 once from "group and zero" all the way through squad live fire. I passed my rifle off, so it went down the lane on every iteration. By the end of the training, my rifle had around 1000 live rounds and 1200 blanks fired through it. If you're not familiar with blanks, they are beyond filthy. New lube was applied at the start of every training day, and by the end my rifle was full of sludge. It still worked flawlessly.
hueyville
Member
I have to agree with CraigC. I was trained to clean my weapon every chance I got whether it had been fired or not. Said weapons may have been cleaned a dozen times without a round going down the bore. Then it may be a full day of range time and immediate cleaning. Now I think for myself. A well built lead slinger is just that and if it won't take a 1,000 rounds of good ammo without cleaning, it needs to be fixed because it is broken. An H-BAR with all match components will be cleaned after every session. Sometimes may have to wait a day or two but it gets done.
Every 500 to 1000 rounds. Depends on how much I shoot in the season.
wally
Member
~1000 would have been my vote.
JustinJ
Member
Define clean. Sometimes i just wipe down the bolt/carrier and receiver. Other times i detail clean, use a bore cleaner, etc. I don't mind leaving it dirty for extended periods of time so long as i apply a light coat of oil first.
chas08
Member
I may go a whole hunting season without cleaning it, if its only been fired a few times at game! Or after a range session that could be 25 - 250 rounds! So I voted 10-50! If I've ran 50 rounds through it and its going to be put away for a while, I'll clean it thoroughly and put it away regardless of round count!
briansmithwins
I'm usually on the briansmith bandwagon, but just for giggles, I made 3 range trips and fired about 500 rounds of Wolf 7.62x39 from my AR before cleaning, just to see if the world would come to an end. It didn't, but I felt guilty for not cleaning in over a month, so I cleaned it.
I'm usually on the briansmith bandwagon, but just for giggles, I made 3 range trips and fired about 500 rounds of Wolf 7.62x39 from my AR before cleaning, just to see if the world would come to an end. It didn't, but I felt guilty for not cleaning in over a month, so I cleaned it.
waffentomas
Member
I have been 'cursed' by the Marines and the constant harping of my drill instructors. I can't shoot a round without taking it home and cleaning it. Shine a light down your BCG in that dead space behind the bolt. I bet it's black.
I use dental tools to scrape away the carbon.
Hell, I'm so brain washed I couldn't bring myself to buy an AR unless it was a Colt, as that's what I had when I was in.
I fired about 200 rounds through it last week, and have cleaned it twice since then. I'll clean it again today.
My rifle, though not inspection grade clean, is a couple cleanings away from it at worst...I just can't help it. Couple that with some terrorist wannabes shooting at me back in '83 - I just have to keep it cleaned and lubed.
Even my Norinco NHM-91 is super clean.
I use dental tools to scrape away the carbon.
Hell, I'm so brain washed I couldn't bring myself to buy an AR unless it was a Colt, as that's what I had when I was in.
I fired about 200 rounds through it last week, and have cleaned it twice since then. I'll clean it again today.
My rifle, though not inspection grade clean, is a couple cleanings away from it at worst...I just can't help it. Couple that with some terrorist wannabes shooting at me back in '83 - I just have to keep it cleaned and lubed.
Even my Norinco NHM-91 is super clean.
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