Best AR15 Bolt Carrier Maintenance Steps for Cleaning & Lubricating

A firearm in an AR15 format has many commonalities with all other types of firearms. The fundamental needs are there but the difference will lie in identifying some of the more specialized gun parts that need to be cleaned and lubricated.

Maintaining a firearm is critical for performance, safety, and longevity. Regular gun cleaning not only ensures that your weapon operates correctly but also enhances its lifespan. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best gun cleaning products available, helping you make informed choices to keep your firearms in top condition.

The Importance of Gun Maintenance

Gun owners often understand that their firearms need periodic maintenance. Neglecting this aspect can lead to improper function which is something that some users prefer to learn after the fact.

Bolt Carrier Group

Gasses and fouling accumulating in and around this set of parts more than any other.

• Recommendation: CLP oil or Grease. There are two schools of thought on this, but these are the main lube points to ensure smooth, reliable operation:

  • Bolt locking lugs

  • Bolt cam pin

  • Ejector plunger

  • Surface around the bolt

During the disassembly and reassembly of this or any rifle, pay close attention to what you are doing by following the manufacturer's recommended steps, making mental notes on how to put it back together. This also means not losing any small parts. It would be wise to organize said parts on your clean workspace in some kind of organized fashion. In other words, don't let anything roll off the table and out of sight. Just saying.

In addition to chemicals, you will also need a clean lint-free cotton rag or cloth, cotton swabs and a bronze and/or nylon gun brush. That is in addition to caliber specific rod attachment brushes in .223 cal. 5.56mm or .308, for example. And don't forget the very specific chamber style brush.

When you field strip, remember to understand and identify these basic components / sections:

• Lower receiver

• Upper receiver

• Charging handle, and,

• Bolt carrier group (as mentioned above) which includes the bolt, bolt carrier and the firing pin (do not lube this part).

This should be obvious but begin by cleaning each of gun parts as your step one.

Then, lubricate each of these parts. Despite some opinions out there, avoid over-lubricating gunmetal. There is nothing worse than a wet firearm with oil dripping down your hands. Work lubricant into parts and wipe off excess. Wet guns will slow you down and possibly interfere with your live fire. Plus, oil by nature is a dust magnet which is why grease is more efficient and recommended by those in the know on critical high wear surfaces like the bolt.

Remember, oil is not oil and grease is not grease. The best gun lube out there is not the same as household or automotive options that are not engineered for these purposes.

After action

You should always at least do a dry wipe down of an AR15 after range time. Gun lube from Tetra Gun care is longer lasting than most products out there but you should be cleaning and lubing again after several 100s to 1,000+ rounds, depending. Needless to say, if you use garbage oil or grease, you will have to be cleaning at a much greater frequency just to keep up. That's a fact. The goal here is to always maintain your rifle in fire-ready condition.

Whether you are hunting, shooting competitively or preparing for home defense, take care of your rifles and they will take care of you. The rest comes down to how well you are prepared, and that often comes down to your training method and repetition.

#ar15 #m16 #arboltcarrier #boltcarrier #upperreceiver #lowerreceiver #lockandload #2a #firearmtraining #firearmstraining #tactical #pewpew #shooting #rifle #ar15rifle #edc #guns