How to clean your AR-15 — Three good AR maintenance videos

Let’s face it: AR-platform rifles are dirty. At least, they are dirty compared to bolt-action rifles. The AR-15 works when gas is pumped from the barrel into the bolt carrier. This causes the bolt to unlock, and the carrier to move it backward. The “exhaust gases” from the barrel contain soot and a carbon. Carbon will deposit hard deposits on bolts. Carbon can also combine with lubricant on the bolt carrier, forming a nasty paste-like sludge. This can be a problem when the black paste contaminates the ejector or extractor recess. This Editor has inspected many ARs throughout the years. The most common cause of AR cycle problems, other than mag malfunctions, was oily gunk around the extractor and the ejector. Many AR owners ignore these critical areas. If you look at an AR that’s not been cleaned properly, you’ll likely find black gunk and small brass shavings in the ejector or extractor recesses. Here are three videos explaining how to disassemble and properly clean AR-platform guns. Then they go over the essential lubricants that ARs require to run reliably. Here, ace shooter Jerry Miculek disassembles and cleans a AR-platform rifle that belonged to his daughter Lena. This video is good because Lena’s rifle was “run hard and packed dirty” so you can see the carbon and grease buildup. This 35-minute video covers a lot of ground. Jerry is one of America’s best action carbine shooters. Listen to his advice about cleaning and lubrication. There are many different schools of thought when it comes to AR-15 lubrication. Some guys prefer to run their AR-15 “wet” by using a lot of CLP. Others choose to concentrate lubrication at the points that experience the most friction and wear such as the contact area for the bolt carrier. We recommend that you check the ejector and extractor spring recesses frequently, as gunk can accumulate there and cause malfunctions. Here’s a great video from Pew Pew Tactical – a 7-minute guide on cleaning and lubricating AR platform rifles. This video shows both the upper and lower. This video gives very specific advice about the bolt carrier group that receives the dirty gases directly from the barrel. Check the extractor and/or ejector recesses. This is where old lube and brass shavings accumulate. Follow the instructions in this video to lubricate, and do not over-lubricate your bolt carrier. This will only attract more carbon.Tags: AR Cleaning, AR15, AR15 maintenance, Black Rifle Bolt Carrier Jerry Miculek Modern Sporting Rifle