Getting your car’s oil changed comes with some pretty clear guidelines. The standard across the board is typically three months or 3,000 miles — with some variance based on the age, make, and model of your vehicle. When it comes to basic gun maintenance (i.e. AR 15 cleaning and lubrication), there isn’t such a clear marker. Modern materials and manufacturing processes mean most firearms don’t need to be cleaned as often as older guns. So how often is enough? Well, the reason there’s no easy answer is that it depends on several factors, including: use, environmental factors, time and general wear and tear. Learn more about cleaning your AR now.
How Often To Clean An Ar 15
Among all the factors that go into determining how often you need to clean a firearm, the most important thing to consider is how much use it sees. If you have different guns for different purposes, say, hunting versus concealed carry, a gun that sees less use won’t need to be cleaned as frequently. The guns you use more often, especially the firearm you concealed carry, will need to be cleaned more frequently because it’s more likely to collect dirt and debris that can cause a misfire or jam. A good rule of thumb is to clean your firearm after around 250 rounds, though you’ll want to keep an eye on debris build-up. The more build-up, the more risk of wear and corrosion. If you notice build-up happening, you may want to clean your firearm more frequently. You may also want to adjust the amount of lubricant you use, as too much can speed up how quickly your gun will accumulate gunk.
Environment Factors
Not only does use refer to how often and how many rounds you’re firing, but it also encapsulates where you’re shooting. Taking a gun to the range will generate plenty of dirtying particles just by the nature of shooting. This goes doubly for any blowback operated firearm, like the AR-15, because the blowback process sends even more debris into all the little nooks and crannies within a firearm. That being said, if you’re shooting outside — hunting or maybe just enjoying a little plinking — you’ll need to consider environmental factors as well. Not only will you have the debris from firing, but you may end up with dirt, pollen, and other little particles collecting in your firearm. Shooting outdoors also presents a risk because of moisture. If you’re out hunting on a rainy day, you’ll want to give your gun a thorough cleaning even if you don’t fire a single shot. This way, you can be sure there isn’t moisture stuck inside that can cause damage.
Time Matters for AR Cleaning
If a firearm doesn’t see a lot of use, it’s pretty easy to fall into thinking it doesn’t need to be cleaned. After all, you definitely took it apart and gave it a thorough once-over before storing it in your gun safe, right? No big deal, it’s probably good to go for a while. In addition, if it only sees light use (plinking or occasional, light range time), most modern firearms can handle going a few months between cleanings. That being said, even if a firearm has been in storage for a while, it will still need to be cleaned on occasion. Basic environmental factors like humidity and salt content in the air can collect on a gun over time, so it will need to be given basic maintenance every so often even if it isn’t being used at all. Fortunately, this is maintenance that will go pretty quickly; usually, all that’s needed is a visual inspection, wipe down, and re-oiling.
Questions of Longevity & Wear
It may seem like a hassle to clean your firearms, especially if they haven’t been fired in months. However, it’s a vital part of gun ownership, especially if you want to work toward heirloom status. The guns that have been around for decades weren’t just made with magically durable materials; they were well cared for by their owners over the years. When it comes to AR-15s specifically, cleaning is also a great time to check for wear and to replace components that may need it. That way, you can enjoy the same great experience every time. Another great way to help improve your AR experience is through the best AR-15 accessories. Check out RailScales online for durable, lightweight AR-15 rail grip and handstop options today!
RailScales makes components out of G10, Aluminum, and a patented High-Temp Polymer, and the G10 can require occasional maintenance attention as well. The material is porous in nature, and through time and use, will dry out to a lighter grey color. Fortunately, cleaning and refreshing your G10 RailScales is as easy as applying some gun oil with a soft-bristled brush. Maintaining the accessory components of the AR-15 can be just as important as upkeep and cleaning the functional pieces, so make sure to apply some oil to your G10 RailScales while it's already at hand for cleaning the rifle itself.
AR 15 Cleaning For The Best AR 15 Accessories
Realistically most modern gun owners are not putting their rifles through a stressful enough firing schedule to warrant cleaning the rifle after every range visit. Shooting dirty ammo is one thing, but continuous cleaning to maintain the rifle's ability to perform in some made-up scenario is silly. The dirtiest rifles have performed with just a little lube added. Firing twenty thousand rounds in range visit would warrant a cleaning for sure. But most range visits these days, regardless of what the forums state, are under one hundred rounds. The best advice is to clean when you think it needs it, but don't feel like the rifle won't work if it's been awhile since it was cleaned.
