Posted: 7/28/2008 6:10:50 PM EDT
This was requested, so here you go. This should get you going.  Basic Cleaning. Basics you are going to NEED for cleaning are, Rod (long enough to reach out the muzzle from the back of the receiver), Jag (end of rod device, for pushing patches, in size of your caliber, that fits your rod. 22cal for 223/5.56),Brush( caliber size, bronze, copper, or nylon ONLY, no steel), Patches (smallest you can find, for 223/5.56. I find Kleenbore 17/22 work well) Note: you may have to cut bigger ones down if they will not push through, Solvent (you pick, they all work pretty well if you follow the directions) i like Hoppes and Shooter's Choice (powder/copper solent). Note: you don't really need Lead solvent if you shoot only FMJ, but Copper solvent is nice, Oil (again, you pick) I like Rem Oil spray and Hoppes gun oil (all i use), Old BLACK t-shirts/rags (white ones make your rifle look like crap), Q-Tips (cheap ones work ok, but q-tip brand work best) and something to scrape with (a brass tube, smashed flat, and rounded a bit, works good. Needs to be about 6 " long or so, for getting inside the carrier). That is the basics: Rod, jag, brush, patches, Solvent, Oil, black rags, q-tips, and scraper. These are all you NEED to clean your rifle. You will find other things along the way to make it easier, like Brake cleaner, Chamber brush, stand, tools etc, but we'll go with the basics. First off (and i cannot stress this enough) make sure your firearm AND mags are unloaded. Sounds simple enough, but it will bite you (or someone you love). It is best to start with an area that is able to get dirty, or at least prep it to get that way, and large enough as to not be cramped. Now, field strip your firearm. Since this is ARFCOM, i will stick with the AR15 style of rifle. Start by running a solvent soaked patch down the barrel 2 or 3 times (nice and wet) then let it sit (all solvents need time to work). Disassemble your BCG and wipe all the dirty oil off it, using a "dirty only" rag. After that, wet all the BCG parts down with solvent (i like to use a soak pan and just drop them in). Using your q-tips and a little solvent, clean-up your charging handle, paying special attention to the hole in the end, that goes over the key (change q-tips often). Once your q-tips are getting pretty clean, then use dry ones to remove the solvent. Once dry, spray or wipe it down with a little oil. Set it aside (it's done). Now, run your barrel brush down and back a few times (remember to EXIT the muzzle before changing direction). If you think that a bronze, brass, or nylon brush is going to hurt your barrel, then remove the brush when you exit, pull the rod, and go again from the chamber end (i DO NOT do that). Now, push a couple dry patches down your barrel then another wet one a couple of times. Now using your q-tips and solvent, go to work on the inside of your upper receiver till it's clean (pay special attention to the gas tube area, it gets really yucky). Once you feel it's clean enough, finish up the barrel before you wipe out the receiver.To finish up the barrel, run a couple of dry patches down the barrel. How do they look? If it's not clean enough for you, repeat the above process till it is. After it is clean enough for you, and you have run your last dry patch through, liberally oil a patch and run it through 4 or 5 times. Barrel done. Using a "clean only" rag Wipe out the receiver, and apply a little oil. Wipe down the outside of the upper with a little oil and you are done with the upper assembly. Note: That is why i like the Rem Oil spray, i spray a coating on, then wipe off excess with a clean rag, and it's good. Back to the BCG. Using your scraper, clean out the back end of the bolt bore (in the carrier) by scraping the carbon out (i use an old 30cal brass brush on a rod to get down through the hole, and clean it). After that is all clean, finish cleaning the rest of the carrier (no q-tips in the key, it may get stuck in there. If that happens, use compressed air to remove). When it's clean, oil it up, and done. Now, clean the bolt by scraping the carbon off the "tail" portion (do not shove a q-tip in the hole, see above). Clean the bolt face with a q-tip. Wipe down, oil and done. The lower receiver can be a pain, due to all the small parts packed closely together, but time, solvent, q-tips, and a rag will get it plenty clean, mainly because it doesn't get THAT dirty. What i do, is hold it over a trash can, hose it out with brake cleaner really good. Let it dry, then hose it with Rem Oil. Wipe all the excess oil off, and use the Hoppes gun oil to lube the trigger mating surfaces, pins, safety, takedown pins, and mag catch. Note: Brake cleaner removes ALL the oil, re-oiling is a MUST if brake cleaner is used. Wipe off the buffer and spring, and lightly coat with oil. Now is the time to inspect your rifle for trouble. Check the upper for cracks, gouges,looseness, abnormal wear patterns, etc. Check the lower for trigger/hammer wear, broken springs, broken pins, binding parts,lug cracks, etc. Check the bolt. Extractor has no brass build-up in claw and not broken/worn. Check lugs for cracks or wear. Check area around cam pin hole for cracks, Check for broken rings, mushroomed tail,and ejector for function, etc. Check the carrier for loose/broken key and screws, abnormal wear, etc. Check cam pin for excessive wear. Check firing pin and retainer for broken tip, bends, mushroomed tail, etc. Replace any suspect parts. Make sure all the parts have a light coat of oil on them. Time to re-assemble. Assemble the BCG using liberal amounts of gun oil on bolt tail, rings and bearing surface (oil it up, it won't hurt it). Apply good coat of oil to the cam pin. lightly oil the firing pin and pin retainer. Now turn the BCG up (bolt facing up) apply a drop of oil right on the ejector, then work it a few times using your scraper tool (push it down and let it up several times. Now apply a good "line" of oil on each of the carrier "ridges" (look at the carrier, just aft of the bolt, and you should see 4 ridges, two on top next to the key, and two on the bottom). Apply a coat of oil to the "outside" of the charging handle, and then install them in your upper. Make sure you have oiled your lowers moving parts, apply a coat of oil to the back end of the carrier where it contacts the buffer. Then, assemble your rifle and function check. If you let it sit for a couple of hours then wipe it with a black rag, it will look as close to new a possible. I hope this helps any of the new folks to the AR. You will develop your own techniques for cleaning. If you check the forums, you will find a lot of good tips and tricks, as well as developing one or two of your own. Try not to dwell on the "if you don't use product A, your rifle will fall apart tomorrow. That stuff is CRAP!! These rifles can be cleaned with kerosene and lubed with motor oil, and they will give a lifetime of service. Remember though, the AR platform will run just fine when dirty, it will not run well when dry. If you can't or won't clean it.....add more oil. Thanks for reading, and feel free to let me know what you think. 
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