After having conversations on other forums about cleaning and maintaining AR-15's, I'm going to purchase one of these.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95563I have used them before at the last place I worked, and they will clean brass to the point after polishing, you cannot tell it from new. I think it will be just the ticket for AR-15 carbon encrusted bolt and carrier assemblies, gas pistons, as well as slides and barrels of auto pistols. It's a nice sized one for the price. I'm also going to get some of this to use in it. Not a very big investment to help save time and effort involved in cleaning guns. Bill T.
http://www.lrultrasonics.com/industries/weapons/solutions.html