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Thread: Cleaning your AR barrel.

  1. #1
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    Cleaning your AR barrel.

    I have a POF p415 upper. I use a bore snake to clean the barrel.
    I was wondering is there a huge difference using a bore snake vs. using a patch to clean the barrel?

    I've had my AR for a few months and put about 600 to 700rds through it.

  2. #2
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    The bore snakes are useful in the field and work fairly well as long as you frequently clean them.Otherwise its like cleaning your bore with a dirty patch and brush.Other than field use for a quick bore wipe I have absolutely no use for a bore snake.
    So no IMHO they do not replace a cleaning rod,patch and brush.They also do little to nothing when it comes to cleaning the barrel extension and chamber,for that you need to use a USGI chamber brush...which is a much needed item to any cleaning kit.
    Glock Certified Armorer
    Armed Protective Services II

  3. #3
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    Oh i see. I did buy a chamber brush but the problem is I can't find a rod that goes with the chamber brush my AR. I bought it at a gun show and they didn't have the right rod to screw into the chamber brush.

    Can you recommend any inexpensive kits? Thanks.
    By the way i'm a new to the AR seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by Blankwaffe View Post
    The bore snakes are useful in the field and work fairly well as long as you frequently clean them.Otherwise its like cleaning your bore with a dirty patch and brush.Other than field use for a quick bore wipe I have absolutely no use for a bore snake.
    So no IMHO they do not replace a cleaning rod,patch and brush.They also do little to nothing when it comes to cleaning the barrel extension and chamber,for that you need to use a USGI chamber brush...which is a much needed item to any cleaning kit.

  4. #4
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    I try and use a boresnake while the rifle is warm after a range session just before I put it away and use the patch and rod at home. I do keep a Boresnake for ea cal. I have to use in the field, but don't seem to use them very often

  5. #5
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    I save the tp I used today for the toilet trip tomorrow
    GET IN YOUR BUBBLE!

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by tvfreakarms View Post
    Oh i see. I did buy a chamber brush but the problem is I can't find a rod that goes with the chamber brush my AR. I bought it at a gun show and they didn't have the right rod to screw into the chamber brush.

    Can you recommend any inexpensive kits? Thanks.
    By the way i'm a new to the AR seen.
    For my chamber brush I use a dewey 9" loop pistol rod that I picked up from brownells for $6. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=1...oop_Pistol_Rod

    The loop at the end gives you plenty of leverage for twisting the chamber brush. Cheap and easy.

    I find it's much more cost effective to build your own cleaning kit with exactly what you'll use, as most of the ones you see available for sale either have junky components, or try to make you feel like you're getting "value" by including all kinds of worthless stuff. For me, if I was starting from scratch, the bare minimum I would get is:

    Jag
    Bore brush
    Chamber brush
    9" pistol loop rod for chamber brush
    Dewey coated rod
    Q-tips
    Patches

    All of the above is just over $50 at brownells, and $30 of that is the dewey rod. You can substitute for something cheaper, but make sure it's one piece and coated or brass.

  7. #7
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    I like bore snakes. They do a great job for what they are intended to do. I also use Otis cleaning chamber-to-crown cleaning kits for almost all my cleaning. I have about five Dewey rods that no longer get used at all.

    For bore cleaning, I ...

    Run a wet patch twice, wait five minutes.
    Run another wet patch.
    Run a brush about eight times (adjusting for use, sometimes more or less).
    Run a wet patch, then a dry.
    Then a clean bore snake.

    I am not going to do the old "wet, then dry until patch is pristine" routine. Works pretty well for me.
    'That whole effort was held together by sweat, shame, and a tiny bit of pride.' -- Son of Commander Paisley

  8. #8
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    To clean the chamber I put the USGI chamber brush in 1 section of a USGI cleaning rod, and then chuck the rod in a cordless drill on low speed. Dip the chamber brush in SLIP Carbon Cutter, and then insert it through the rear of the upper into the chamber. A few seconds on low speed cleans the chamber very well, and isn't going to damage anything. Then spray out with something like Powder Blast or brake cleaner.



    On a chrome lined barrel the only thing I do every few range sessions is an application of foaming bore cleaner, rinse out, and then a few passes with a bore snake.


    You do not need to get an AR spotlessly cleaned. The most important thing to keep the gun functioning is to keep it lubed.


    With a stainless barrel I will use patches and copper solvent every couple of thousand rounds. My 1st stealth upper went around 7k rounds only getting cleaned with a rod and patches once, and was still shooting under MOA. I did use foaming bore cleaner every other range trip which would be every 500-1000 rounds. My 2nd stealth upper has not been cleaned since I bought it, and its currently at around 1500rds still shooting sub MOA. Neither one has also had any failures of any kind. My SR15 is currently at 3k rounds without cleaning, and also no failures.

  9. #9
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    I use the Otis gun cleaning kit most of the time. That's not to say I don't ever use a rod.

  10. #10
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    Bore snakes are ok for a quick dusting of the bore.
    I don't like to have sand/grit in the bore when I shoot, and they do a good, fast job of getting it out.
    The bristles aren't aggressive enough to really break up carbon in the throat/lead, and won't do much for copper fouling either.
    To actually clean the bore there are better solutions, likewise, a beautiful one-piece rod would be a bad choice if you just needed to quickly get the remnants of a dust bath out of the barrel.
    Jack Leuba
    Director, Military and Government Sales
    Knight's Armament Company
    jleuba@knightarmco.com

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