AR Cleaning and Maintenance

[Graybeard]

OK I've got the ARs and now am wondering what's next? Normally before I take a new rifle out to shoot it I clean it and especially the barrel and do a bit of proper lubing prior to shooting them. I dunno how to do that with the AR or just what is needed.

I was under the impression that with an AR you can open it up and clean it from the breech like I do on bolt guns but notice there is a bolt in the way of that. Where do I find directions for getting it out for cleaning or is that even the way you do it?

What other routine maintenance other than barrel cleaning do they need.

[Default]

 Bill push the rear pin connecting the lower and upper reciever out from theleft to right .. it should stop at the end of its travel and which point you can raise the back of the upper out away from the lower ... it will pivet like on a hinge , then pull the cocking handle ... this will slide the bolt and carrier out towards you .. once out of the way you can visually inspect and clean the bore how you so choose ... if you pop the front pin in the same manner as the rear you can then remove the whole upper for a little easier time working with the upper


   Good luck and feel free to ask more "Q"s ,

     Default

[Graybeard]

Is the bolt and carrier under any spring pressure or is there anything that might fall out that I'll need to know how to put back or is it merely a matter of lifting it out and putting it back? From what you wrote it seems like the latter?

[Totenkopf]

The videos I linked on your other post should cover the cleaning. The bolt is not under pressure. The spring that returns the bolt to chamber is in the butt stock. I use white lithium grease on contact points and a silicone spray on the trigger group so it doesn't hold as much powder on the trigger group as oil. The bolt needs to be disassembled, brushed and picked clean as well. If those videos don't show that just let us know.

[AtlLaw]

I was under the impression that with an AR you can open it up and clean it from the breech like I do on bolt guns

That's about it...   

What other routine maintenance other than barrel cleaning do they need.

Once upon a time, long long ago in a land far far away, I had an RTO whose idea of cleaning/preventative maintenance on his M16A1 was to open the ejection port cover and squirt some LSA onto the bolt, work the bolt with the charging handle a few times and call it good enough.  I told him that the first time his rifle malfunctioned I would Court Marshall him.  Never did charge the boy... and this was someone whose idea of fire discipline was full mags on full automatic as fast as you can run them through!     God love you Wesley, wherever you are!   

For a man of your experience, just field strip it and clean it as seems right and prudent to you.   

[Old Syko]

Hit the link to download a Free Ops Manual.  http://gunmanuals.net/Manuals/dpms_manual.pdf