AR reliability ????

[Addax]

I like using G96 in all my rifles, it works great, and smells pretty, but it is a bit too oily so I need to wiped down my rifle when using it.

J_Rock, are the thinner oils not recommended since they lack the necessary lubrication properties under heat vs. CLP, correct?

Thin spray oils are not recommended for the AR. CLP is ok but there are better lubes out there.

[J_Rock]

I like using G96 in all my rifles, it works great, and smells pretty, but it is a bit too oily so I need to wiped down my rifle when using it.

J_Rock, are the thinner oils not recommended since they lack the necessary lubrication properties under heat vs. CLP, correct?

Stuff like rem oil doesnt even need heat to become ineffective, the stuff just evaporates after a while! Even when its wet its still a poor lubricator compared to other lubes out there.

Proper application of lube is important especially in sandy places like you describe Addax, you dont need to douse the inside of receiver just put alittle lube on the carrier guide rails, the cam pin and inside the carrier(around the gas rings) and you are good to go.

[Addax]

You maybe right on the lubrication, I think some like myself are stuck on "wet" vs. lightly lubricated.

Stuff like rem oil doesnt even need heat to become ineffective, the stuff just evaporates after a while! Even when its wet its still a poor lubricator compared to other lubes out there.

Proper application of lube is important especially in sandy places like you describe Addax, you dont need to douse the inside of receiver just put alittle lube on the carrier guide rails, the cam pin and inside the carrier(around the gas rings) and you are good to go.

[6172crew]

When I went through MCT (marine combat training) we shot blanks for a week or so then cleaned the rifles and shot real loads, when I put it back together I ligned up the gas rings and the rifle malfunctioned, I fixed the issue by staggering the rings. The rifle was pretty dirty still and the cleaning was a basic, "clean the bolt, punch the bore deal" but that was the only time Ive ever had one fail cept' when I bought a bottom feeder upper and the chamber was too tight.

[FlyingPen]

THere are also some dry lubes.. .maybe those would work better if a sandstorm was expected.

[J_Rock]

lining up the gas rings is a no no

[bwiese]

The IDF has plenty of AKs in wharehouses for FREE if they thought they were superior.

Larry Vickers seems to think ARs should be wet no matter what:

http://www.vickerstactical.com/Tips/weaponlubrication.htm

Amen Brother Vickers.

I know other vendors go this way too.

All my ARs are put together with bolts "wet" with properly...

Yup. If your gunsafe floor isn't wet, your guns ain't lubed OK.

[Linh]

lining up the gas rings is a no no

When I was in my Drill Sergeant said it would blow up if it was lined up (He probably said it to scare us), that had me scared the whole time and makin sure it wasn't lined up. So it won't really blow up would it?

[NiteQwill]

When I was in my Drill Sergeant said it would blow up if it was lined up (He probably said it to scare us), that had me scared the whole time and makin sure it wasn't lined up. So it won't really blow up would it?

No, lining up the gas rings will not result in a kaboom. It MAY result in a FTF or FTE.

[ar15barrels]

In environments like Iraq with Talcum Powder like sand, "wet" lubrication can be an issue.

99.9% of calgunners will never be shooting in fine sand conditions.

AR's like to run wet.
Dirty or carbon build-up matters not.
Just keep it lubed.
I clean my 3gun AR twice a year, wether it needs it or not.
I apply lube at each match.
1000-1500 rounds between cleanings has not caused any problems for me.
I am running a low-mass operating system which everyone will tell you needs to be kept clean...

[BP88]

99.9% of calgunners will never be shooting in fine sand conditions.

AR's like to run wet.
Dirty or carbon build-up matters not.
Just keep it lubed.
I clean my 3gun AR twice a year, wether it needs it or not.
I apply lube at each match.
1000-1500 rounds between cleanings has not caused any problems for me.
I am running a low-mass operating system which everyone will tell you needs to be kept clean...

This man speaks the truth. We had old, dirty, beat up M16A2's in bootcamp and they would almost always malfunction until someone sprayed some CLP on the BCG.

[ar15barrels]

lining up the gas rings will not result in a kaboom. It MAY result in a FTF or FTE.

Only if the rifle has other issues making it slightly short stroke.
If a gun is setup properly, you can remove two of the 3 gas rings and it will function fine.
Remember that the gaps in the gas rings close up when you shove the bolt into the carrier.
Don't believe me? Take a ring off the bolt and slide it down into the carrier about 1" with the tail of the bolt.
When you remove the bolt, you will see how small the gap in the rin becomes.

[Pryde]

99.9% of calgunners will never be shooting in fine sand conditions.

AR's like to run wet.
Dirty or carbon build-up matters not.
Just keep it lubed.
I clean my 3gun AR twice a year, wether it needs it or not.
I apply lube at each match.
1000-1500 rounds between cleanings has not caused any problems for me.
I am running a low-mass operating system which everyone will tell you needs to be kept clean...

Agreed,
I've got nearly 1.5k rounds through my Colt without a single cleaning and it has yet to malfunction. (I run the BCG with heavy lube)

[Addax]

Of course I know that 99.9% of us are not going to be in Iraq type conditions.

I also made a note several times to point out that I was only speaking about an environment like Iraq.


I believe I covered the bases regarding AR lubrication in the following post in this thread:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=1265444&postcount=8

99.9% of calgunners will never be shooting in fine sand conditions.

AR's like to run wet.
Dirty or carbon build-up matters not.
Just keep it lubed.
I clean my 3gun AR twice a year, wether it needs it or not.
I apply lube at each match.
1000-1500 rounds between cleanings has not caused any problems for me.
I am running a low-mass operating system which everyone will tell you needs to be kept clean...

[ar15barrels]

The AR platform has seen and been through a lot of different climates for like 2 decades, and they survive pretty well. Not the greatest, but for a poorly executed gas system (direct impingement) its doing pretty good in its own right.

First, it's been serving sucessfully for 4 decades.
Second, what makes you think the direct impingement gas system is poorly executed?
Don't believe all the piston marketing hype you read.
The hype is designed to make you purchase a solution for a problem that does not exist in your rifle.