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How to Clean AR Bolt: A Comprehensive Guide
Whether you’re a seasoned firearms enthusiast or a new shooter, maintaining your AR-15 bolt is crucial for ensuring reliable performance. The bolt is one of the most critical components of your firearm, and keeping it clean can significantly extend its lifespan and improve its accuracy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of cleaning your AR bolt step by step, ensuring that you can do it effectively and efficiently.
Understanding the AR Bolt
The AR bolt is a complex piece of machinery that serves multiple functions. It is responsible for extracting the spent cartridge case, chambering a new round, and locking the breech. To clean it properly, you need to understand its different parts and how they work together.
| Part | Description |
|---|---|
| Bolt Body | The main body of the bolt, which houses the firing pin, extractor, and cam pin. |
| Firing Pin | Activates the primer in the cartridge, causing the firearm to fire. |
| Extractor | Removes the spent cartridge case from the chamber. |
| Cam Pin | Secures the bolt in the open position during ejection. |
Now that you have a basic understanding of the AR bolt’s components, let’s move on to the cleaning process.
Tools and Materials Needed
Before you begin cleaning your AR bolt, gather the following tools and materials:
- Gun cleaning kit
- AR-15 bolt
- Gun oil or lubricant
- Compressed air
- Soft cloth or paper towels
- Container for cleaning solution
Ensure that you have a clean, well-lit area to work in, and that you follow all safety precautions when handling firearms.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Process
Follow these steps to clean your AR bolt effectively:
- Disassemble the Bolt: Remove the bolt from the firearm and disassemble it by pulling the bolt carrier group (BCG) out of the upper receiver. Set the bolt body, firing pin, and cam pin aside.
- Clean the Bolt Body: Use a cleaning brush to remove any visible debris from the bolt body. Dip the brush into a container of cleaning solution and scrub the bolt body thoroughly. Wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
- Clean the Firing Pin: Use a cleaning brush to remove any debris from the firing pin. Wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
- Clean the Extractor: Use a cleaning brush to remove any debris from the extractor. Wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
- Clean the Cam Pin: Use a cleaning brush to remove any debris from the cam pin. Wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
- Rinse the Parts: Rinse all the parts in a container of water to remove any remaining cleaning solution. Dry them with a soft cloth.
- Lubricate the Parts: Apply a small amount of gun oil or lubricant to the bolt body, firing pin, extractor, and cam pin. Wipe off any excess oil with a soft cloth.
- Test the Bolt: Reinstall the bolt into the firearm and test it to ensure that it operates smoothly.
By following these steps, you can effectively clean your AR bolt and maintain its performance.
Preventing Future Contamination
Keeping your AR bolt clean is essential, but preventing future contamination is equally important. Here are some tips to help you maintain your bolt’s cleanliness:
- Regular Cleaning: Clean your bolt after every few range sessions to prevent the
