I use a 2-3" sheet-rock screw to scrape carbon off bolt, it fits the contour of the bolt tail perfectly and you just run it back and forth to take the carbon off.
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I use a 2-3" sheet-rock screw to scrape carbon off bolt, it fits the contour of the bolt tail perfectly and you just run it back and forth to take the carbon off.
Dood, the whole action and function of the AR is based on metal on metal contact. During my time in the service, I can't tell you how many times I have seen all kinds of crazy instruments used to scrape carbon off of an AR. High carbon steel knives, razor blades, screwdrivers, and basically anything else we could get our hands on, to get that rifle clean, so it would pass the ridiculously anal white glove inspection. I am sure you saw this practice in play also. Never once, did I observe a failure of a bolt, in any of those guns, that were hastily scraped of carbon.
Note: I don't condone or practice using such tools to remove carbon, but point is, I never saw one fail from doing it over, and over, and over...
Use of a specificly made scraper or softer metal tool to remove carbon from your bolt, will not cause the world to counter-rotate.
Some folks clean, some folks don't. Both will probably work just fine, as long as you lube. Do whatever you want, and what feels right for you.
I never said i didn't think i was scraping metal on metal, but I do think I am helping my carbine run better.
Taking a sheet rock screw and scraping the carbon off is not doing any measurable damage, the screw is softer than the bolt, i am not applying insane amount of pressure. After about 1k it gets pretty nasty, so I clean everything, this involves taking carbon caking off. Do you think keeping it there is helping the carbine run better?
razor blades are great.. shaves the carbon off, and much too soft to hurt the metal.
a lot of guys use a .45 casing... same thing as above- brass is softer than 158 carpenter
the carbon scrapers are nice, however, in that they work just by having tight rotational tolerances- no different than a bolt face sliding and locking into barrel extension. the carbon is sheered off, but the pieces are form fitted so you cant damage the part.
the only ones i dont like are the "polishing" scrapers- deliberately rubbing the parker off your bolt tail isn't good.