One more cleaning question...already searched.

[King Red]

OK, I just bought a 7.62x39 AK last week. This is my first rifle ever, although I do have a lot of experience with handguns.

My question is about cleaning the barrel. The cheap cleaning kit that came with the rifle is inadequate. So, I purchased the Tapco cleaning kit because it comes with a sight adjustment tool. Then I find out that I shouldn't use a three-piece rod and that I should use a one piece rod with a bore guide. If I understand it correctly the bore guide prevents damage when cleaning from the muzzle to the breach (which must be done with the AK).

So, can somebody please tell me which bore guide to get (I can't seem to find one specifically for 7.62x39)? Or should I buy a Boresnake?

I know this sounds terribly naive, but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[redneck2]

I suspect any 30 cal guide should work.

Coated rods are usually recommended over metal and three piece.

I used Bore Snakes and like them a lot.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

I use a 1-piece plastic-coated rod with a jag, and just push it from breech to muzzle. I don't understand your statement about only being able to push from muzzle to breech. (mine is Romanian SAR-1 AK "clone").

One push with CLP, then one with a clean patch. The chrome-lined barrel doesn't need any scrubbing yet

Another option is to use a "pull-through". I use an Otis on my M1 Garand (on that gun, a rod won't work from the breech because of receiver "heel")

Regards

 

[rbernie]

The AK has a chrome-lined bore. As a general rule, using a pull-thru or bore snake should be sufficient to keep the crud down.

 

[dfariswheel]

You can usually clean from the chamber end by flexing the rod so it will enter the chamber.
I made up a simple sheet brass cover that fits over the top rear of the receiver to protect the finish from being worn by the rod.

However, to clean from the muzzle, just buy a plastic or brass cone-shaped bore guide that will fit over your rod:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=18695&title=DEWEY+ROD+GUIDE/GUARD

I do not recommend the Bore Snakes and other pull throughs.
There are reports beginning to come in about these breaking off and leaving the bore plugged, and no practical way to extract the broken off snake.
This seems to be most common with old snakes that have weakened with use.

 

[Impala]

Heres how I clean my rifles:

Use a one piece coated cleaning rod manufactured by dewey.
Use parker-hale style jags to push patches through from the chamber to the muzzle. Use each patch only once for one pass. (Don't use those slotted tips which hold the patch and frequently miss a lot of the bore) I pass wet patches soaked with #9 through until they come out clean then use several dry patches to remove any excess solvent.

For your predicament you should either opt for an Otis cleaning kit or like you said a boresnake. Otis is in use by the FBI, DEA, Navy SEALS, Marine Sniper Teams and the army.

I use boresnakes on my 10/22 and remington 7400, they work well and are an easier alternative to cleaning from the muzzle to the chamber. Or If you prefer using good old patches and cleaning rod I'm sure that would work just as well, just be sure to use a brass bore guide so the crown isn't damaged.

You're AK probably won't need a good cleaning for a while and I have heard of people that have just shot thousands of rounds through them without ever cleaning and they still function reliably, albeit with diminished accuracy.
(This is however a very lazy and careless thing to do and it is always a good measure to clean your gun after each shooting session.)

This months G&A has a good article in it about gun cleaning with some good info on how to remove copper fouling, there are also several excellent military manuals available pertaining to the proper preventative maintenance of the AK type rifles.

 

[average_shooter]

Temporary thread-jack--

I haven't heard about not using 3-piece rods before. What are the issues with them?

 

[King Red]

OK, which is this the correct boresnake for 7.62x39?

Hoppe's #24014: 270, 7mm, 7mm-08, 7-57, 284, 280

or

Hoppe,s #24015: .308, 30-30, .30-06, .300, .303

Thanks

 

[rbernie]

OK, which is this the correct boresnake for 7.62x39?

7.62x39 is actually a .310 bore, so Hoppes #24015.

I haven't heard about not using 3-piece rods before. What are the issues with them?

They're generally uncoaated or coated steel, or aluminium. The theory is that the aluminum ones pick up grit that embeds itself into the soft metal and acts as a bore lap, and that the steel or coated steel are also possibly damaging to the bore. A one piece fiberglass or carbon rod is generally considered harmless to the steel bore.

 

[dfariswheel]

I haven't heard about not using 3-piece rods before. What are the issues with them?"

Among other problems, the jointed rods never screw together perfectly and leave a slight "step" at the joint that can catch and damage the muzzle or chamber.

Second, the jointed rods are not as stiff as one piece rods so the rod flexes more and can damage the bore.

One way to use jointed rods safer is to PULL the rod through the bore instead of pushing it.

 

[rockstar.esq]

So the last few posts regarding the failures of three piece rods overstate a few points. The "step" formed at the rod joint won't scratch the bore if the rod is made of brass which is softer than the bore metal. The aluminum ones aren't looked upon positively because the aluminum oxide (naturally occurring & prevents further corrosion) is a common abrasive. They can and do abrade the bore.

Personally I think the single best reason to use a one piece rod is that when you use a tight fitting patch on a jag, the rod will follow the rifling better AND will allow you to push and pull the jag without unthreading it.

 

[SaMx]

http://patchworm.com/
I'm considering buying one. You can clean from the breech using ordinary patches, and it works with a variety of calibers.

 

[Glockfan.45]

This will make some recoil in disgust but to clean the barrel on my AKs I always just poured boiling water down them. I followed that with a few passes with patches soaked in Hoppes, and then a few passes with dry patches. It works for me and always leaves my bores nice and bright. I use a wooden rod I made out of a left over piece of dowel. Dont get too carried away with cleaning your bore. More damage is done to barrels by too much cleaning than by a lack of cleaning.

 

[Impala]

I have read about that before, but never heard of it being done with an AK. It was actually a preferred method of cleaning the bore after firing corrosive ammunition back in the olden days.

 

[gezzer]

Ah, it's not like an AK is a bench rest gun. Pull though for most cleaning and when more is needed use a 1 piece stainless rod from Midway they are cheap.