Just how fragile is an AR rifle?

[TheProf]

Please educate me on this. It's my first black rifle: Ruger AR 556. (Direct gas impingement.)

Essentially, is the base model of ARs. Yes I know that one must keep ARs clean. I actually do clean it after every range session...regardless of round count. I actually like cleaning guns.

But what threw me for a loop was that in the manual it stated that moisture in the barrel can cause catastrophic failure. If I had seen this warning..I would have gone the AK route.

What??? It this just lawyer speak?

Does this mean that the rifle can't be used on rainy days?
If I were to accidentally drop the rifle in a puddle of water...does that render it useless until I take it back to the shop for a thorough cleaning?

Since this is my first black rifle...please educate me on the "ruggedness" of ARs. I need assurance that I did not make a mistake on purchasing this rifle.
I'm assuming it must be rugged enough...after all, our military uses the same type of rifle.

And should I gave gone the piston route? (I'm not concerned about the cleaning aspect... just the environmental elements rendering the rifle a danger to me.)

 

[carbine85]

You should clean after each outing if you are using corrosive ammo. Most modern ammo isn't corrosive.
The AR is a durable, rough and tumble system. You don't have to baby it. I can't speak about the Ruger piston guns since I don't have one.

 

[rcmodel]

Really?

The M-16 has been the standard Army rifle since the Vietnam war.
About 50 years.

You think solders never ever get wet??

The SOP if the rifle is immersed totally in water, is to point the barrel down, and pull the charge handle back just enough to un-seat the round it the chamber, to break the vacuum, so the water runs out of the barrel.

Then re-seat the bolt with your thumb, or the forward assist.

And no, a few rain drops in the bore will not cause the rifle to blow up!!

rc

 

[CraigC]

Water in the bore can cause catastrophic failure of ANY firearm. Water does not compress and under the extreme pressure of firing, it has to go somewhere. It represents a bore obstruction like anything else.

 

[TheProf]

That's what I thought...but wanted to make sure. I'm more of a pistol guy..and just exploring the rifle thing now.

 

[OilyPablo]

"Just how fragile is an AR rifle?"

Not fragile at all. Why do you ask?

Don't worry about all the wasted typing in your thread starter. Just find the Daniel Defense abuse video.

 

[rcmodel]

Watch this:

Firing AR-15 underwater:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMZ4iP12S64

Firing AR-15 after full submersion:
And this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MA1IFKwdAQ

rc

 

[ugaarguy]

ARs are very rugged. Just keep the bolt carrier group well lubed and you'll be fine. They're also very easy to clean. Just treat it like any other rifle, shot the heck out of it, and enjoy it.

 

[OilyPablo]

Yes, run them wet.

Here's the Daniel Defense abuse video I was thinking of...not the original one though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCBcV2Nb2Wo

This is a remade video from the original long one. Same rifle and abuse, just condensed down.

 

[earplug]

Keep it lubed

A well lubed, dirty AR will function better then a dry clean AR.

My chromed bore 20" barrel will shoot about a inch low with a oily bore.

Takes about three shots to get back to zero.

Don't worry about the rain. Soldiers don't.

 

[ugaarguy]

Posting Links

Folks, when you post a link provide a quick description of what's in the link. It's proper netiquette, and it's also a THR rule. Those who posted links, please edit your posts so other folks know what they're clicking on. Thanks.

 

[Zerodefect]

Please educate me on this. It's my first black rifle: Ruger AR 556. (Direct gas impingement.)

Essentially, is the base model of ARs. Yes I know that one must keep ARs clean. I actually do clean it after every range session...regardless of round count. I actually like cleaning guns.

I run just a patch down the bore after each session and re-lube. the carrier. I only detail strip the upper if it's my duty weapon. I only brush the bore if it needs it. After a day of training I'll hose I'll strip it and hose it down with CLP in the hotels bath tub.



But what threw me for a loop was that in the manual it stated that moisture in the barrel can cause catastrophic failure. If I had seen this warning..I would have gone the AK route.

Anything obstructing the bore will explode the rifle. AK blow up to.

What??? It this just lawyer speak?

Does this mean that the rifle can't be used on rainy days?
If I were to accidentally drop the rifle in a puddle of water...does that render it useless until I take it back to the shop for a thorough cleaning?

Just shake the rifle off, then shoot. Shooting in the rain is encouraged. Shooting at the rain is not.

Since this is my first black rifle...please educate me on the "ruggedness" of ARs. I need assurance that I did not make a mistake on purchasing this rifle.
I'm assuming it must be rugged enough...after all, our military uses the same type of rifle.

Best rifle ever made. With modern touches, Federal ammo, proper maintenance, and Pmags, I've had far better reliability out of AR's than AK's.

And should I gave gone the piston route? (I'm not concerned about the cleaning aspect... just the environmental elements rendering the rifle a danger to me.)

Nope, the AR's piston is on the end of the bolt. Same thing, different location. AK Piston style AR's stink. Lesser accuracy, carrier tilt, more expensive, heavier, and not even a hair more reliable. Snake oil.

The best way to go the "piston route" is with a Bushy ACR, Sig 556, FN FS2000 etc etc. Rifles and carbines designed, not converted to piston operation. I've tried each of those, and still came back to the Ar15.

Blue.

 

[Robert]

They are pretty dang stout and contrary to internet blustering one does not have to keep them spotless. Mine gets cleaned every 500 rounds or so. It likes to run wetish but will not run dry at all.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Plenty of shooting in the rain... and snow, and dust.

There's a military SOP for clearing water out of the barrel. You can also cover the muzzle with a condom or a latex finger bandage if you are paranoid.

I clean mine after I shoot them.

 

[Rule3]

"Running them Wet" as in lots of lube or God Forbid, grease is a internet fable.

Read the owners manual as to lubrication. There are actually 3 bearing surfaces on the bolt of a standard direct impingement system. Piston operated ones will foul up with to much lube on the piston, Oil attracts dirt and crud.

Show me a manual that says put excessive amounts of oil or grease on the firearm??

I have BullPup gas piston rifle that calls for a total of 5 drops of oil.


Your gun, read the manual maintain as you wish.

 

[tark]

I'll second earplugs motion. When I was in Nam' (67-68), I had to hide my M-14 to keep it from being stolen by a Grunt, who would leave his M-16 in its place.

An awful lot has happened since then! Today's ARs are anything BUT fragile! It is more important to keep them lubed, than clean. I seem to remember someone firing his AR up to a five figure round count, without cleaning it! It was simply kept well lubed.

I used to dislike everything about ARs.....nowdays my only complaint is that sissy caliber.

 

[shotsfired]

OK, after 25 years i bought an AR15, supposed to be a rock river, got it home, broke it down to look inside, put my thumb on the hammer and pulled the trigger, then released it with only less than 1/4" of travel left.
The mild impact from the hammer hitting the inner pocket wall caused the bolt hold open lever to break and go flying across the room

I sold it, and the guy i sold it to, sold it to a cop, who called me trying to trace down the inners and told me it was a rock river receiver with cheapo parts used in a bubba build.....

I told myself "I can't own a gun that breaks this easy", but they got the best of me with their inherent sexiness and i now have another

 

[shotsfired]

25 years of wanting one...

 

[herrwalther]

There is a large practical difference between water in a barrel and moisture in a barrel. Yeah if you try to shoot the rifle with the barrel submerged with the chamber dry, you might have a bad time. But moisture/water vapor/humidity/even a few flecks of snow? Fire away. Lawyer speak is just ridiculous.

 

[ironworkerwill]

On a newly striped and clean M16 we was instructed to wipe down the Bolt Carrier group and internal surfaces with the oil rag. Of course, everything is rationed, and the rifle ran relatively dry.

Too much lube will result in too much grime. The weapon is to be transported with a magazine installed and dust cover closed at all times. With the fairly tight tolerance of the weapon dust and grit is not welcome.

 

[HisStigness]

Water in the barrel isn't any more of a concern than with any other rifle. When they say "moisture" I think they mean fully submerged; they're just trying to cover their own butts as usual. A gas tube full of water can be an issue because water is incompressable and can rupture the gas tube, which results in a single shot rifle.

I have a Windham Weaponry rifle and tried some of the same tests Daniel Defense did. I buried it in snow, no problem. Buried it in sandy dirt with the dust cover open, no problem. Filled the magazine with dirt, problem (pmag) . Threw the gun down into a frozen creek, problem (magpul flip up polymer sight broke).

The most important thing with AR rifles is to keep the lugs on the bolt face and barrel extension clean. If those get clogged, then the bolt won't lock to the barrel and the gun won't shoot. I keep my BCG wet with gun oil (tetra), but not grease because I think it is too thick, especially in the winter.

 

[Trent]

I read that Ruger was doing a direct impinged AR pattern rifle just a couple days ago. To the OP be sure to post up your range results when you take it out! Curious to see how well it performs.

 

[sappyg]

Please educate me on this. It's my first black rifle: Ruger AR 556.
If I had seen this warning..I would have gone the AK route.

And should I gave gone the piston route? (I'm not concerned about the cleaning aspect... just the environmental elements rendering the rifle a danger to me.)

I don't like to shoot in the rain personally. Doesn't matter whether it's an AK or AR I'm more likely to quit before the gun does.

If I saw a warning like that I probably wouldn't by a Ruger AR but I definately wouldn't choose an AK over and AR for shooting in the rain or otherwise.

A piston gun would be effected by rain or water in a very similar way as a DI gun.

 

[TheProf]

Here's my range report:
Took it out to the range on two occasions. 150 total rounds fired using American Eagle 5.56 (62 grain) "green tip".
100%. No hiccups of any kind.

Sorry.. no pics. Like I said, I'm a total rookie when it comes to "freedom rifles". (I don't like the term assault rifles.) And since I am rookie... I'm too embarrassed to talk about MOA. (Still not quite even sure if I am using the term correctly.)

But... I'm learning...

 

[Robert]

Show me a manual that says put excessive amounts of oil or grease on the firearm??

There is what the manual say and what my rifle tells me it likes. I'll listen to my rifle thanks.