The AR-15 rifle is the most popular either for hunting or sporting activities. If you own one, then you understand why regular cleaning and maintenance is vital for its safe use and robust performance. If you are joining the club of AR 15 owners, then it would serve you well if you know how to clean your gun perfectly with the help of the Best AR 15 Bolt Cleaning Tools.
Here is a simple guide to cleaning your AR 15 rifle effectively.
Where to start
Just for like any other gun, the first thing you should learn about you AR style rifle is how to disassemble it. There are several reasons why you need to know this but top on that list is breaking it down enables you to do a proper and thorough cleaning. If you intend to use your rifle regularly, it is prone to get dirty and may malfunction or damage some components if not inspected and cleaned regularly.
Clear your Firearm
Now before you start cleaning your rifle, the most important step you need to take is to clear it! Ensure that the rifle is pointed towards a safe direction and with the bolt locked, inspect the chamber visually for any cartridge. When certain that the rifle is clear, you can now release the bolt using the bolt catch and then switch the selector to safe.
Separate the receivers
The AR 15 features 2 major components, the lower and upper receivers. These are held together by a pair of pins; a take down pin on the rear and a pivot pin on the front. The pins are held in place by a detent and usually stay attached to the receiver even after disengaging them. Once you have separated the receivers, proceed to removing the charging handle and bolt carrier.
Disassemble the bolt group
This step involves removing the cotter pin as well as the firing pin. Then proceed to remove the cam pin, this may require some skill; if unsure contact your manual. Once done with these pins, you can now remove the bolt. Proceed to removing the extractor pin before finally removing the extractor. Some of these parts are really small therefore you need to remove them in an area where you are not likely to lose them.
Remove the buffer and the buffer spring
This is the last step that you need to take before you can begin cleaning your rifle. There is a buffer retainer that holds in place the buffer assembly. You need something rigid to depress the retainer; take caution because of the spring tension.
Once the buffer components have been disassembled, it is now time to clean AR 15 rifle’s components. Many of these components can be cleaned using a gun cleaner, brush and cotton cloth. We will discuss the other cleaning tools later in this article.
Inspect and Lubricate
After cleaning all the parts individually, inspect each part looking for any defects or sign of damage while applying a light lubricant. Pay special attention to the bolt face looking for any signs of corrosion or spitting, the bolt to make sure it not bent and the gas rings are intact, the bolt carrier and key to make sure the screws are in place and that the key is properly staked and lastly on the buffer to check for any signs of cracks.
Reassemble
When confident that every part in your AR 15 rifle is looking great, it is now time to reassemble your gun back together. Start with the bolt, then the bolt carrier group, buffer assembly and lastly the upper and lower receivers.
Function check
The last step is doing a function to ensure that your AR 15 rifle has been assembled properly. In the majority of the time, your AR 15 rifle will pass all the function checks but it is absolutely necessary that you carry them out anyway for safety and performance reasons.
The 6 best AR 15 bolt cleaning tools
While most gun cleaning kits will just work fine on your AR 15 rifle, for the best performance, we recommend that you use special kits personalized for the AR 15 style rifles. These best AR 15 Bolt Cleaning Tools will guarantee proper cleaning and the best performance for your gun be it for hunting, sporting or home protection. They include;
1.Real Avid .223 Gun Boss – Compact .223 Caliber Cleaning kit with Gun Cleaning Rod
The features that make this cleaning kit ideal include;
- It comes with 7 threaded and coated steel rods for a thorough cleanup.
- 1 rod features a rotating end for cleaning efficiency.
- It comes with a number of cleaning supplies that include a cleaning brush and cleaning pads.
- All these come in a travel case that is weather resistant allowing you to clean your gun on the go.
The benefits you will get using this cleaning kit include;
- The 7 steel rods are designed to enhance your cleaning experience for your AR 15 rifle. This will ensure that your rifle is functioning optimally thus lessening any risk of mishap.
- This kit comes with every cleaning tool that you need allowing you faster cleanup so that you can concentrate on your hunting or sporting.
The weather-resistant travel case allows you to go wherever you need with this kit. You can have your gun ready at any time anywhere with this case.
This kit is one stop source for all your cleaning requirements for your AR 15 rifle. The rods have been improved to remove as much dirt as possible while one features a rotating handle for more efficiency making it one of the best AR 15 Bolt Cleaning Tools. Additionally, the weather-resistant travel case makes this case easy to go with for hunting and sporting trips.
2.Combat Application Tools Barrel Scraping Tool for Gun Cleaning and Maintenance
The features that make this cleaning kit an excellent choice includes;
- The scraping tool is made of stainless steel.
- Compact size for easy storage.
- Cleans the firing pin flange, bolt carrier and the bolt.
The benefits of using this cleaning kit include;
- It is highly effective in removing any carbon build-up in your rifle.
- Since it is made of stainless steel, this kit is durable and highly reliable.
- Its compact size makes it not only easy to carry around but also to store.
Made of stainless steel, this gun cleaning kit is highly efficient in cleaning all accumulated carbon and other dirt in your AR rifle. Thus, it guarantees you consistent and safe performance at all times. Moreover, this kit is compact in size which makes it easily portable and easy to store.
3.NO-M.A.R Cleaning Link gunsmith 4/15 armorers tool for rear pin
The features that make this cleaning kit great include;
- It has a sturdy and durable construction for reliable use.
- It is highly efficient in cleaning your AR 15 rifle without leaving any marks.
- Additionally, this kit is uniquely designed to clean your AR 15 much easily.
- It is compact and easily portable for use while in the field.
The benefits of using this cleaning kit include;
- It is quite effective in cleaning your AR 15 rifle for optimum performance.
- Made of strong and durable materials, this kit is reliable and can be depended on when in the field.
- It is also compact and easy to store and carry.
This kit gives you confidence whether you are going hunting or sporting. It is highly effective in cleaning your AR 15 style rifle and does that without leaving any marks. On top of all that, this kit has a compact and portable design.
4.MLLL Cleaning Bolt Tail BCG AR15 Scraper Scraping Tool Carbon Remover AVAR15S
The features that make this kit highly effective include;
- It has been designed to clean up to 12 surfaces on the bolt carrier group that are critical.
- It cleans any carbon build-up with much ease in the bolt carrier.
- This kit also features a swivel design that makes cleanup of carbon buildup much faster.
The benefits of using this cleaning kit include;
- Designed to clean up to 12 bolt carrier group surfaces, this kit ensures no carbon buildup remains in your rifle.
- Its swivel design also allows for faster and more effective carbon removal.
- It is also compact and easily portable for use while in the field.
This kit has been specifically designed to offer a thorough cleaning on the bolt carrier group. It ensures that there is no carbon buildup whatsoever that can compromise the performance and safety of your rifle. In addition, this kit is easily portable and has been designed for use while in the field.
5.CAT Outdoors Talon Lug Scraper .223cal/5.56mm Bolt Carrier Recess Cleaning Tool
The features that make this cleaning kit an ideal choice includes;
- The scrapping tool is made of stainless steel that is not only effective in removing all carbon buildup but also offers a durable performance.
- It also has a swivel design that allows the scrapping tool to rotate and scrap carbon away more quickly without bending like normal brushes do.
- It works with most bore brushes that get attached to the tip for a thorough cleanup.
The benefits of using this cleaning kit include;
- Its stainless-steel construction makes it not only durable and reliable but also ensures that it effectively cleans all carbon buildup in your AR 15 rifle.
- The rotating mechanism also allows for faster and easier carbon removal.
- Its compatibility with most bore brushes is also a great feature as it ensures thorough cleaning of your AR 15 style rifle.
What this cleaning kits offers is reliability and dependability with its rotating stainless steel scrapping tool. It is highly effective in removing all carbon buildup to guarantee optimum performance of your rifle. Moreover, you can use it with a number of bore brushes for even a more thorough cleanup.
6.Patriot Pin Castle Nut Wrench – Spanner Wrench & Carbon Scraper
The features that make this cleaning kit an excellent choice includes;
- This kit includes a muzzle wrench, castle nut as well as ¼” and 3/8” bit drivers.
- It also comes with a BCG and pin scrapper that help get rid of all carbon buildup in your AR 15 rifle.
- It is sturdy and durable and is made of stainless steel.
- Additionally, this kit comes with a convenient bottle opener to ensure you easily get refreshed while in the field.
The benefits of using this cleaning kit include;
- Its combination of bit drives, a wrench and scrapper makes it highly efficient in offering a thorough cleanup of your AR 15 rifle.
- This kit is made of durable and reliable stainless steel that won’t bend when scrapping the lugs of your AR 15 rifle as most brushes do.
Designed for AR 15 style rifles, this cleaning kit is as efficient and effective as expected. It is made of stainless steel which is not only sturdy and durable but also ensures that the wrench doesn’t leave any marks on the threading while offering a thorough carbon buildup removal.
When it comes to your AR 15 style rifle, safety and performance should be your top priorities. That is why you need a robust, effective and proven cleaning kit to ensure that you can continue to dependably use your rifle for sporting, hunting and even home protection.
These Best AR 15 Bolt Cleaning Tools, like the Real Avid AR 15 cleaning kit offer the best and effective carbon buildup removal to make sure that your rifle won’t let you down.
Moreover, these kits are portable and compact making them ideal for use while in the field. You definitely need to have one of these if you are an AR 15 style rifle owner.