Cleaning the Thumper

[ColoradoKid]

Just wanted some opinions on proper care of the 450 and what all is involved. As you all know, I am an AR novice so any and all advice is appreciated.

My assumption is that you clean it just like any other semi auto rifle, but with a 45 cal brush and jag with patches, but how often should it be cleaned and how in the heck do you clean the gas tube? Seems a little more complex than my bolt actions lol.

CoKid

[Wicked Hunter]

I use break cleaner down the gass tube. It's not necesary every time you clean it, but it also wont hurt it.

[9x19MdM]

There's also a brush that's made for it.

[MarkCO]

Most of us "Gun" folk are either mechanically inclined or OCD...that leads to a LOT of extra cleaning.

For my ARs...once every 1000 rounds, Gunslick Foam goes down the bore and the gas tube. It sits for 1/2 hour. The BCG gets disassembled and put in the Ultra-Sonic for 20 minutes. Then the gas tube and inside the upper gets a shot of brake parts cleaner and a shot of compressed air. The bore gets 2 dry patches and then re-lube and shoot 1000 more rounds. Actual time per 1K rounds, maybe 10 minutes of actual time working.

[commander faschisto]

Yep, don't overdo it, especially if you have a chromed chamber and bore. What is described above is probably about right, especially since 450b shooters are unlikely to be putting thousands of rounds down the tube in a short period of time, like a lot of 556/223 get used.

That gas tube brush looks interesting...I may have to try one of those.

[wildcatter]

YouTube is your friend, search cleaning the AR15..

..t

[Texas Sheepdawg]

Cheaper than Dirt sells the real long pipe cleaners for the gas tube. I have started using the 45 caliber boresnake and just run through there after a shoot then once a month take the AR down to inspect and clean as needed. But I like the idea of putting a BCG in an ultra sonic. I might reconsider getting one now.

[BillytheKid]

I second the brake cleaner. Just put the little red straw into the gas tube, seal around the mouth of the gas tube with my thumb and finger, and press the aerosol can button. Woosh!

[wildcatter]

Am I the only weirdo here... I've never cleaned the gas tube or had to, however, I am picky about my powder choices. Guess maybe someday I will have to buuttt..

..t

[BillytheKid]

Well, now that I think about it, I suppose the gas tube could be considered "self cleaning". Every round fired blows it out. However, this would seem to make the chamber "self dirty-ing"...