Mini 14 report

[Ocular_Trauma]

I have a question..... Mini 14. Since the chamber is larger than the bore, what do I clean and lube the chamber with? Cleaning kits sell bore cleaning gear but do not include in the kit a chamber cleaner?

What is best to use on a chambered 5.56 like the Mini? What equipment and what lube? Should I lube or oil the bore at all? Thanks in advance.

*** Warning: Most of this stuff is personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt. I always recommend you consult your manual or call Ruger for specifics. ***

Chamber should be easy, find a AR-15 chamber brush and go to town. Remember, its a chamber brush... don't jam it down the bore. It looks like this: http://www.thecountryshed.com/AR15ChamberBrush.jpg

I prefer the 1 piece style of cleaning rod, say from J. Dewey or equivalent. I always work in one direction... chamber to muzzle. I'd rather push crap and solvent out the bore rather than back into the chamber/action.

As for cleaners/solvents, any firearm specific bore cleaner will work fine on chambers and bores for basic cleaning. Just make sure you mop it all up. Solvents evaporate and do not protect metal. I like Shooters Choice and Hoppe's #9.

On the mini, don't forget you have a gas piston under the barrel and stock. It needs love too!

As to lube in the barrel and chamber... DO NOT! It's ok to leave a film of some sort of preservative on any exposed metal for extended storage (personally I like Kroil or Break Free CLP) but that better be a VERY THIN FILM in bores and chambers. When I say thin, we are talking microns here! Once you are done cleaning, damp patch with oil through the bore and chamber and then several dry patches. Bores and chambers are designed to run dry. Any excessive lube in the bore or camber can cause your gun to go BOOM, in the 'bad' way.

Do you need a fancy one piece cleaning rod and a bunch of hard to find chemicals? Heck no! The basic Hoppe's #9 kit at your local sporting goods store works just fine

Hope that helps!

[Jack L]

*** Warning: Most of this stuff is personal preference, so take it with a grain of salt. I always recommend you consult your manual or call Ruger for specifics. ***

Chamber should be easy, find a AR-15 chamber brush and go to town. Remember, its a chamber brush... don't jam it down the bore. It looks like this: http://www.thecountryshed.com/AR15ChamberBrush.jpg

I prefer the 1 piece style of cleaning rod, say from J. Dewey or equivalent. I always work in one direction... chamber to muzzle. I'd rather push crap and solvent out the bore rather than back into the chamber/action.

As for cleaners/solvents, any firearm specific bore cleaner will work fine on chambers and bores for basic cleaning. Just make sure you mop it all up. Solvents evaporate and do not protect metal. I like Shooters Choice and Hoppe's #9.

On the mini, don't forget you have a gas piston under the barrel and stock. It needs love too!

As to lube in the barrel and chamber... DO NOT! It's ok to leave a film of some sort of preservative on any exposed metal for extended storage (personally I like Kroil or Break Free CLP) but that better be a VERY THIN FILM in bores and chambers. When I say thin, we are talking microns here! Once you are done cleaning, damp patch with oil through the bore and chamber and then several dry patches. Bores and chambers are designed to run dry. Any excessive lube in the bore or camber can cause your gun to go BOOM, in the 'bad' way.

Do you need a fancy one piece cleaning rod and a bunch of hard to find chemicals? Heck no! The basic Hoppe's #9 kit at your local sporting goods store works just fine

Hope that helps!

Thank you for this information. It really helped me out. I'm going for a AR-15 chamber brush right now.

[Ocular_Trauma]

I prefer the 1 piece style of cleaning rod, say from J. Dewey or equivalent. I always work in one direction... chamber to muzzle. I'd rather push crap and solvent out the bore rather than back into the chamber/action.

Note on this... some guns like my 10/22 will not let allow me to work chamber to muzzle due to the receiver and barrel design. In that case, be very careful working the rod down the bore from the muzzle end. You can in theory damage the crown of the barrel with the rod and screw with your accuracy. The older mil-spec steel rods are notorious for this, aluminum is softer but not ideal, something coated is safe-er-ish, but you still have to pay attention. A Bore Snake can also work well when you can't get a rod in place. I'm not 100% sold on them yet, but some people wouldn't dream of using anything else.

Barrel crown --> http://oi35.tinypic.com/2sb3hbb.jpg

Good luck!

[OHW]

Thank you for this information. It really helped me out. I'm going for a AR-15 chamber brush right now.

A pistol cleaning rod with a custom bend, and a 9mm bronze brush for the chamber.

A 24" piece of weed-eater cord, melted on one end and sized while gooey in a spent case mouth. When hard put a patch on the knob and you have a cheap otis cable.Or get the Otis cable so you can use a bore brush.

Don't forget the copper solvent from Hoppes as well.

[Jack L]

Just got back. Got a chamber brush for AR-15, a bore snake for .223, and a 9mm brush too. I also bought one of those goodies that you use at the front end of barrel that keeps the rod aliened so it will not damage the crown. I think I'm set for now.

Many thanks for all the information.