Cleaning carbon from AR bolts.

gushulak

gushulak

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Can someone recommend a good way to clean the back of an AR-15 bolt, all the carbon that gets deposited there.

I usually soak several times in solvents and use dental picks to get my bolt back into OEM shape, I like getting all the carbon out as possible.

Can anyone recommend a better way of cleaning the bolt or other cleaners to try out. They way I am doing it seems to take too long and I am sure there is a quicker and easier way out there.

I do use a carbon removal tool from Brownells to get the BCG clean. Elbow grease, some solvent or CLP will get it out but its time consuming.

Rifle is a 14.5" Sabre.

Thanks guys.
 
it is somewhat difficult to get ARs completely clean so it doesnt have to be "white glove inspection" clean but people try anyway cuz its their personal gun. If you want to take off a few more mins during the cleaning process try oiling up the AR right after you finish firing on the range and let it soak/break down the carbon on the way back home then just whipe them dry. For baked on carbon on the tail of the bolt i dont think there is a easier way to do that but letting it soak on the way back does make a difference. Ive also heard a few military guys use break cleaners to blast the Gun clean but make sure you oil it up again or else your bolt will rust. Hope that helped
 
I use butches bore shine. Works really really well, but the tried and true way for really cacked on stuff. Get a crappy knife and start scraping. Hell brownells even sells carbon scrapers. Scared the crap out of me the first tim I had to do this, but it doesn't do an harm. Still dont like it, but after slathering it with butches there is much less scraping.
 
More rifles are damaged from over cleaning than from wear and tear when used. The AR does not have to be spotless to function. There are contact points on the rifle and moving parts that need to be clean to function properly. That being said, you don't have to clean every spec of carbon out. Until I get over 1K or 2 down the pipe, I don't get too fussy on cleaning. I wipe the bolt and bolt carrier down and relube between shooting seasons. When you start breaking out a knife to clean carbon off, your over the top in my books. It is a battle rifle, not a parade square inspection rifle. Keep it lubed and shoot it. Most people don't get enough rounds down their rifles to get all worked up.

The only exception to this is gross reloads or crappy ammo which leaves a ton of gunk in the carrier and bolt. Even with that, it rates a wipe down and relube...never a knife to scrape....
 
Got a mason jar? Got a local gas station? Premium unleaded in a sealed mason jar will dissolve most of the carbon fouling without damage.
 
Thanks guys for the replies.

I give it a good cleaning every shoot (approx. 300rds), but I am doing a good cleaning as I have about 1200rds downrange.

I have been shooting IVI and Winchester stuff exclusively, good factory stuff.

Was just wondering while the gun is apart (cleaning is in progress) if I need to worry about it. Some solvent and some elbow grease gets 80%, but I am noticing a buildup at the back of the bolt that is getting thicker and harder to clean with each session.

I tend to baby my AR, gets a good bore clean, CLP all the parts and keep the BCG and bolt wet when the gun goes back together.

Being a precision shooter as well I try hard to watch out for overcleaning, especially in firearms that don't need it.

Thanks for all the replies guys, knew I could get a bunch of answers before I had all the pieces wiped down and clean!
 
Most of the carbon build up is at the rear of the bolt, near the gas rings. I also use Butches bore shine, and a dental pick, even a sharp object (knife) to gently scape the build up off it (careful not to scratch to finish on the bolt)

After the dirty work is over, I blast it with crude clutter spray (degreaser), then a WD-40 bath, wipe dry, finally a nice light coat of oil to keep it healthy :)

Cleaning the interior of the bolt carrier is just as important, I use a .45 cal bore brush on a drill (slow speed) and go in there a few times, when I'm done it sparkly clean...give it a super-light coat of oil/lube, and the complete bolt assembly is super-slick, and ready to rockNroll :)
 
Mike K said:
I've had good luck with Slip 2000 Carbon Cutter. Just dunk the bolt in it for a few minutes and the carbon and gunk wipes right off of it.
Click to expand...

I've heard this stuff works awesome, you just confirmed it again. did you pick it up at C-tire?

My bolt is just coated in a carbon/lead deposits below the gas rings and where it fits into the carrier. It won't come off with anything i've used, brake cleaner, carb cleaner, engine degreaser etc. Just won't work.
 
Mike K said:
I've had good luck with Slip 2000 Carbon Cutter. Just dunk the bolt in it for a few minutes and the carbon and gunk wipes right off of it.
Click to expand...

I went this way on Mike's advice...purchased the Slip 2000 from Dave's...works like a charm, my bolts were seriously dirty as everyone here knows I am allergic to cleaning guns...
 
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