Originally Posted by
mack7.62
http://www.slip2000.com/blog/s-w-a-t...ine-filthy-14/
FILTHY 14. As of this writing, EAG students have 31,165 rounds downrange through Filthy 14. During this evaluation period, it was cleaned once (as in one time), at 26,245 rounds. The end result is that Rack #14 was—and remains—filthy. It is filthy because it has been shot at class. Only at class.
Cleaning an AR isn't that hard unless you decide to go all USMC white glove on it. Every time someone mentions Filthy 14 I kind of cringe, because I think folks miss the point:
Caveat, as we are not carrying these guns for real, we spend little time doing any preventive maintenance. We know that a properly maintained AR will function well. Our purpose here is to see how well the guns will function when left dirty but well lubed. I don’t suggest that you try this at home, especially if you are carrying these guns professionally.
Pat Rogers understood what he was doing in this - laying waste to the myth that since the the AR/M4 'shits where it works' they won't shoot when dirty. He wasn't saying this is the way to treat your rifles.
Thanks to tests like this, we understand that old-style military style cleaning regimens actually wear firearms out faster than less detailed cleaning at moderate intervals.
Realistically, I think what we can take from Filthy 14 is don't limit your shooting because you don't want to clean the rifle. Get out and shoot.
Also, this data points kind of give us an idea of what to expect in parts longevity:
.... the extractor spring was replaced at 13,010 rounds.
....two bolt lugs broke at 16,400 rounds.
.... we had several failures to extract at 24,450 rounds. The shooter gave it a field cleaning and replaced the extractor and extractor spring.
At 28,905 rounds, we finally cleaned Filthy 14. As part of our year-end maintenance schedule, we inspect and replace parts as necessary. Filthy 14 looked like the inside of the crankcase of Uncle Ed’s ’49 Packard. It was disgusting to look at and contaminated everything near it, somewhat like the toner cartridges for old printers.
Notice Pat Rogers differentiates between wiping down the bolt and a more thorough cleaning.
And towards the end of the article Pat Rogers repeats his earlier admonition:
Again, let me repeat the caveat. If you are carrying a gun for real, you need to be looking at it every 5,000 rounds or so. But if your cleaning takes more than 10 to 15 minutes, you are wasting your time on nonsense.
I think the motto of the 60-70's stoners I knew fits well: use not abuse.
JMO YMMV
Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President... - Theodore Roosevelt, Lincoln and Free Speech, Metropolitan Magazine, Volume 47, Number 6, May 1918.
Every Communist must grasp the truth. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party Mao Zedong, 6 November, 1938 - speech to the Communist Patry of China's sixth Central Committee
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