You're a dirty, dirty boy.

No, not you. My AR.

I’ll have an article coming soon about my first foray into the dARk side of ARs, but here an weekend observation for you. I had the AR (Mossberg MMR hunter model) out the weekend before last for extensive ammo testing. I shot just short of 200 rounds of various batches of test ammo.

Dang these ARs are freaking filthy! Gawd, what a mess these rifles make! Even when pumping 200+ rounds a day out of a bolt rifle, they aren’t even half as dirty as an AR at the end of it. A quickie barrel clean and a once over of the action and they’re good to go the next day. 10 minutes per rifle, max.

I’ve learned that it’s a little different with the AR platform.

Each and every piece of brass fired from the AR is coated in a filthy soot. If you’re not a reloader, this obviously won’t matter to you, but I am and it does. I think I’ll need to switch my process and clean the brass BEFORE deprime/resize or my dies will be gummed up with AR gunk.

And even after only 200 rounds, the rifle’s action looks like it went out on a weekend bender, got drunk, and spent 2 days sleeping it off inside the smokestack of a steam locomotive. Granted, the ARs aren’t especially difficult to clean, but clean you must! What a mess after only 200 rounds.

I read online someone describe the AR as a rifle whose action is powered by its own puke. That description is both colorful and now I can see that it is 100% correct

Surprisingly, to me at least is that the AR sees to like it dirty. Function is unimpeded and neither is accuracy even up to the 200 round mark. I got my best groups of the day after over 100 rounds. In thinking about it, this shouldn’t be too surprising because as a military design the AR wouldn’t have made it this far if it didn’t function when dirty.

Testing went very well, BTW. The Mossberg MMR has a firm set of preferences when it comes to ammo, so it’s taken me a while to dive in, but accuracy has actually exceeded my expectations for such a low cost rifle. But it did take a while to dial things in. I won’t steal the thunder of the coming article, but I will say that initial testing with factory ammo was very disappointing, so some stick-withitness was definitely required.

So the bottom line is my quickie cleaning kit that goes with me on trips has now been replaced with the industrial duty AR cleaning kit. I’d include a parts washer if I had room.

Just a couple of thoughts from some AR experiments.

Grouse

Looking forward to the article Grouse. Are you using a sonic cleaner?
DT

“I read online someone describe the AR as a rifle whose action is powered by its own puke. That description is both colorful and now I can see that it is 100% correct ”

I love it!!!

Yeah, I found the same thing about it getting filthy quick. That’s one of the reasons some guys go get a piston instead of a Direct Impingement. Then it pukes in another place

I don’t reload so no advice here regarding brass. For cleaning I am testing out a product, Frog Lube. Theoretically the more you use it the easier the parts are to clean.

So far that seems to be true on my handguns. On the AR it’s probably true. I don’t have enough rounds and cleaning cycles it to really say. So far I have no reason to doubt the mfr claims.

One note – it’s spendy. At least it’s spendy up front. I got the paste and the liquid. At the rate I’m using the paste it’s going to last a really, really long time. Overall this may be a case of expensive up front but not really any different over the long haul.

I need to get out more!

deertracker wrote:

Looking forward to the article Grouse. Are you using a sonic cleaner?
DT

No, but I did think about it and I may try that next time. I don’t have any gun-parts specific sonic cleaner solution, so I’ll have to do some research into what others are using.

I’ve been just breaking down the action and giving it a good soak in action scrubber in a parts bin (can’t remember which brand of scrubber I have this time, I tend to buy whatever’s on sale) and then clean the barrel while the action gently marinates in solvent.

BTW, I found out that an AR-specific chamber brush is a necessity in this AR game because this area gets gummed up to a much greater degree than on bolt rifles.

Then I use a brass brush and other cleaning tools to clean up the action. It doesn’t take long.

Another discovery is that gun oil consumption has gone way up since the AR joined the family. I’ve always been a fan of VERY sparing use of gun oil, but with the AR the whole action needs a gentle coating once it’s de-gunked. I’m certainly no expert, but from what I’ve read ARs tend to like to run more on the well lubed side.

But setting aside the new and more aggressive cleaning routines, the fun factor of an AR cannot be denied. The are a surpreme

And also, I personally know two coyotes who would now be residing as the primary ingredient in a fur coat had I had access to a fast second (or third, but who’s counting) shot as I do with the AR now. More isn’t always better, but as much as it pains me to admit it, sometimes more really is what I need.

Grouse

Grouse

A favorite video of mine, you have to watch it all.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BSizVpfqFtw

Joe

patk wrote:

“I read online someone describe the AR as a rifle whose action is powered by its own puke. That description is both colorful and now I can see that it is 100% correct ”

I love it!!!

Yeah, I found the same thing about it getting filthy quick. That’s one of the reasons some guys go get a piston instead of a Direct Impingement. Then it pukes in another place.

Yes, there is a solution for every AR problem it seems. And many solutions for AR problems that don’t actually exist, but that’s another story.

But in my budget category, only direct impingement models were on the menu. I was also trying to keep the weight down because I do actually intend to hunt (and have hunted) with this rifle, it’s not just a range toy. Weight is a challenge in AR land, when your basis for comparison is the ultra light hunting rifles the rule the landscape today, even a “light” AR model seems very heavy.

I should point out that I don’t see any functional problems with my AR running much dirtier than the bolt guns that I have much more experience with. It’s just the more involved cleaning process was one of my many “didn’t see that coming” moments with my foray into AR Land.

I have to say that I admire the simplicity of the AR design. It really is quite an interesting design and I think history will eventually see the AR as the continuation of a long series of successful military designs like the Mauser, the Springfield, the 1911, and so on, that were sporterized with success that took them far beyond their military careers.

We really should have an IDO Summer Shoot.

Grouse

As for your AR, I suggest you look at the RandBrand CLP’s. The formulation is speficly designed for the abuse of high volume shooting. Also, I ASSUME your using Varget or a powder of very similar properties. Varget has a long time reputation of being a dirty powder and making a mess out of most stainless bolts…let alone a auto-feed.

Yes. I was testing 50-something grain pills, so Varget was one of the test powders, but so was 8208 XBR, Benchmark, and 760.

What I value about Varget (and the other similar-gen powders) is the temperature stability. I don’t like the worrisome pressure spike possibilities of the older gen powders should the ammo get pre-heated by the sun while out varmint shooting. I’m sure you’ve been there, Randy. 100 degree day and not much shade out on the prairie.

The condition of the cases is all relatively the same. None were cleaner than any of the others, so on that end the powder didn’t appear to matter enough to be noticed.

The rifle’s preference was clear. 26.9 Varget with a 50 Grain Z-Max or V-Max and I discovered Magpul will let you seat all the way out to full spec mag length, so I do. This combo produced by the best groups including a sub-1 inch 5 shot group and several groups that measured just a fraction over an inch. 8208 was a close second. From what I’ve read and been told, for a factory AR in the sub-$1000 price range, this is better than average.

Will look into the Rand CLP.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

And even after only 200 rounds, the rifle’s action looks like it went out on a weekend bender, got drunk, and spent 2 days sleeping it off inside the smokestack of a steam locomotive.

Hahaha this is great!

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Yes, there is a solution for every AR problem it seems. And many solutions for AR problems that don’t actually exist, but that’s another story.

But in my budget category, only direct impingement models were on the menu. I was also trying to keep the weight down because I do actually intend to hunt (and have hunted) with this rifle, it’s not just a range toy. Weight is a challenge in AR land, when your basis for comparison is the ultra light hunting rifles the rule the landscape today, even a “light” AR model seems very heavy.

x2 on your points. Solutions to problems that don’t exist abound. I went DI as well since weight was one of my driving factors.

Keeping the weight off seems to be more of a mindset to not add more of those solutions without problems.

I remember when you posted up when doing research. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the new toy

patk wrote:

Keeping the weight off seems to be more of a mindset to not add more of those solutions without problems.

Are you making fun of my Tacticool rail-mounted heated cup holder?

Grouse

Grouse, you’re cracking me up.

Thanks again for another laugh, I like that accessory.

I was impressed with the fact that it could be run that hard and hot, yet get 850 plus rounds out of it nonstop before failure, I thought for sure the gas block tube or seal would be first to fail…..wrong – referring to the youtube video.

The black guns look like they can be run hard and dirty and yet for the most part very dependable.

Should be a blast Grouse

JH