[Catch]

I just obtained an AR15 made by Colt. The cleaning is pretty much straightfoward except I am confused about the best way to clean the gas tube. I have used a large pipe cleaner with some solvent on it, and without taking the gun apart, I don't know much else to do. I hope someone will tell me their methods and give me some ideas....... Thanks.

 

[hailstone]

I've never worried about cleaning the gas tube nor did we while on active duty early seventies. Its stainless steel tubing only costs a few dollars if replacement is ever needed. Since it operates under such high pressure and has no nooks and crannies for carbon to build up doubt if there's ever a problem. Frankly I suspect someone came up with the notion about cleaning it either too sell the long pipe cleaners at outragous prices. Or they were someone obssessed with cleaning anything and everything.

 

[pisgah]

The tube is supposed to be "self-cleaning" -- and, wonder of wonders, it pretty much is.

 

[Darkker]

Personally I have used Diesel, and also brake cleaner. That being said, I've also never had a problem with them plugging.

 

[lemeatm]

From all the M-16s I have had the pleasure to shoot and clean run a quick pipe cleaner into the receiver end, through the holes surrounding the tube, and under it (over it) and call it a day. Most of the carbon builds up in the BCG.

 

[GuyKickInIt]

Get my pipe cleaners or now called Fuzzy Sticks at wally world. I guess Pipe was not PC, couple bucks for 100
I just let it soak in some Hoppes #9 and run a dry one through.
I notice if I leave it wet, then when I fire it the 1st round sends a cloud of stinky gas out. Oh wait, I like that smell.

 

[meh92]

I've never worried about cleaning the gas tube nor did we while on active duty early seventies. Its stainless steel tubing only costs a few dollars if replacement is ever needed. Since it operates under such high pressure and has no nooks and crannies for carbon to build up doubt if there's ever a problem. Frankly I suspect someone came up with the notion about cleaning it either too sell the long pipe cleaners at outragous prices. Or they were someone obssessed with cleaning anything and everything.

+1 I have never even tried to clean one and it hasn't caused me any issues.

 

[PriseDeFer]

Pipe cleaner goes into the bolt carrier key. Keep it and any of your other personal appendages out of the gas tube.

 

[60DRB]

A reply to this ancient thread...

Long ago, at a place known as "Ft Bragg", Pv2 Snuffy (possibly could have been me ) wanted to impress his Squad Leader with the cleanest M-16 EVER. So the upper minus hand-guards and BCG goes into the dry solvent tank in the motor pool. Never figured out how a liquid solvent was "dry"...
Let it soak a while with some occasional stirring around. While waiting on the soak, it occurs to Snuffy "Hey! I bet I can use the air hose off the compressor (for filling tires) to clear the gas tube out". Very carefully the end fitting of the hose was inserted into the upper receiver chamber and a good shot of air was delivered. Presto! A jet of solvent and solvent mist comes out of the gas tube... straight into my face.

You know those safety goggles that hang by the solvent tank/tray? They work well for the eyes, but not so much for the mouth and nose. Just so you know.

That gas tube was absolutely clean and clear.

PS: In 37 years of using/shooting these things, I have never heard of an AR gas tube getting so dirty it failed to work.

 

[Eljonny]

I've never worried about cleaning the gas tube nor did we while on active duty early seventies. Its stainless steel tubing only costs a few dollars if replacement is ever needed. Since it operates under such high pressure and has no nooks and crannies for carbon to build up doubt if there's ever a problem. Frankly I suspect someone came up with the notion about cleaning it either too sell the long pipe cleaners at outragous prices. Or they were someone obssessed with cleaning anything and everything.

+1 I have never even tried to clean one and it hasn't caused me any issues.

+1 same here. I also never tried to clean it and also have not had any issues.

 

[bsn]

Best way to clean it out is to shoot it-they are self cleaning.

 

[Combat Diver]

The only time I've been concerned about cleaning out the gas tube was when I used to have a M261 .22LR conversion. After a day of shooting those soft round nose slugs would replace the BCG with the 5.56 BCG and fire couple of rounds of 5.56 to blow out any residue. Since 14' been a SOCOM armor down range and only maintenance on the gas tube is replacement when rebarreling a shot out barrel and these are now running suppressed usually.




CD