Cleaning and lubricating an AR15 can become a very personal thing. Ask 10 shooters how they clean and lube their rifle and you’ll get 10 different answers.
In the end, if your AR15 is free from debris, is lubed, and functions correctly, you’re good to go.
The Marine Corps was my first experience with an AR platform and has become my foundation for cleaning and maintenance.
Once that foundation was built, I learned tips and tricks for keeping my rifle clean and functional while out in the field. The name of the game was KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).
a radio operator with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, participates in a live-fire range at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Seth Rosenberg)
We were not issued a huge pre-made kit for cleaning and maintaining our rifles. We had a small purpose-built kit that was stored either in the stock of the rifle or in an outside pocket of our ruck.
Outside of the military, I’ve continued to hone my skills by attending shooting courses taught by former tier 1 military guys. The mindset remained the same across all of them.
First, Get The Tools, Solvents, and Oil You’ll Need
A few basic tools and knowledge of your weapon system were all you needed. One of my favorite instructors to train under was Kyle Defoor and when it comes to weapons maintenance he keeps things extremely minimal and simple.
Check out the following video as Kyle Defoor runs through cleaning and lubricating his AR15 on the range.
We’re going to cover what in my opinion is the best AR15 cleaning kit available and how to quickly and effectively clean an AR15 with those tools.
Buying a Pre-Made AR15 Cleaning Kit
There are many pre-made AR15 cleaning kits available and it can be somewhat overwhelming if you don’t know what you really need. They run the gamut from full-blown armorer kits to a simple rod and brush set commonly seen issued to the military.
The downside to buying a pre-made rifle cleaning kit is that they are universal, so they’re going to include a bunch of extra brushes, patches, and other tools that you might not ever end up using.
Wheeler Engineering has taken the guesswork out of searching for the best AR15 cleaning kit. The Wheeler Compact Tactical Rifle Kit comes with everything you need and nothing you don’t.
This compact kit reminds me of the simple purpose-built kit I used in the Marine Corps. This is the perfect kit to throw in your range bag and use for quick cleaning and maintenance while on the range or out in the field.
Sure, you could build your own AR15 cleaning kit, but by the time you purchase all the individual pieces and a case to keep them all in, you’re going to be above the price point that the pre-made tactical rifle kit comes in at.
If you’re just starting and need a kit to cover your needs, then look no further than the Wheeler Compact Tactical Rifle Kit. As your skills evolve and you acquire other rifles, you can augment this kit with caliber-specific tools and cleaning supplies.
In addition to the cleaning kit, you’ll need some cleaning solvents and lubricant.
Need to quickly oil your AR-15 when out on the range or at a training course? Here is a video from the Warrior Poet Society on how to quickly oil an AR-15 in under 3 minutes.
For a more detailed look at cleaning solvents and lubricants, check out our blog on the best gun oil.
Finally, you’ll need some type of cleaning mat to keep the oils and solvents off your table. We like the TekMat brand AR-15 gun cleaning mat as it provides a detailed breakdown of the AR-15 and what each of the parts are.
Now that you have your AR15 cleaning kit squared away, it’s time to disassemble and clean your rifle.
Prep Your AR15 Tools and Field Strip Your AR15
After spending a few hours sending lead downrange, you may need to break down your rifle and give it a quick clean and lube. This can be done on the table you’re shooting from or from the tailgate of your truck; as long as it’s a stable surface you’re good to go.
It’s also worth mentioning that your rifle does not need to pass a white glove test like we had to in the military. As long as it’s free from any debris & carbon buildup and lubed correctly, your AR15 will run just fine.
Step 1: Separate the Upper Receiver from the Lower Receiver
You should be able to pop the two takedown pins loose to separate the upper receiver from the lower receiver. I upgraded my stock takedown pins with Yankee Hill Machine EZ Pull takedown pins. Makes all the difference in the world, especially with gloves on.
Step 2: Remove the Charging Handle and Bolt Carrier Group
Once the upper receiver is separated just turn it upside down and pull the charging handle with the bolt carrier group all the way out.
Step 3: Break down the Bolt Carrier Group
Breaking down the bolt carrier group amounts to removing the firing pin and bolt itself. First, remove the retaining pin to allow the firing pin to fall out. Second, remove the bolt cam pin to allow the bolt itself to be removed from the bolt carrier. The firing pin only requires a quick wipe-down with a rag of any excessive carbon.
Step 4: Disassemble the Bolt
The key part to pay attention to here is the extractor. You can use your firing pin to remove the small pin. Put some slight pressure on the extractor to allow the pin to be pushed out easier. Once the pin is out, you can lift off the extractor. As Kyle shows in the above video, use a pick to scrape carbon buildup from the extractor and then reattach it to the bolt.
Fully disassembled bolt carrier group
Before putting the bolt back in, apply a light coating of lube to the outside of it. When you’re putting the bolt back into the bolt carrier, there are two different holes on the bolt; one has a slight dimple and the other is a perfect circle.
The non-dimpled side is the one you want. You’ll know if it’s the wrong way if the cam pin does not drop back in. If that’s the case. just rotate the bolt 180 degrees to the correct orientation.
Once the bolt carrier group is back together go ahead and give it a generous coating of lube.
Step 5: Clean the Chamber and Barrel
A chamber brush and bore snake is all you really need here. Use a chamber brush to get into the chamber and rotate it a handful of times. Finish off with two pulls of the boresnake through the barrel. As Kyle says, the inside of your barrel should look like a James Bond movie.
Step 6: Clean The Lower Reciever
All you need for cleaning the lower receiver is a rag and a toothbrush. Wipe out the mag well to prevent any magazine seating issues. Ride the trigger forward and wipe out any debris from the trigger housing group.
Step 7: Reassemble Your Rifle and Perform a Function Check
Just a quick function check is all that’s needed. Verify that you cannot pull the trigger with the safety on. Flip the selector switch to fire and pull the trigger back. With the trigger help back, rack the charging handle and verify that the trigger resets.
It’s that simple. Follow those seven steps and you’ll be back to shooting in no time.
Final Thoughts on Cleaning an AR15
Bonus Tip: I never even thought of this until I trained with Kyle. His courses are full of quick practical tips such as this. For lubing your rifle in the field without breaking it down. With the bolt forward, you can see two holes vertically aligned. Take whatever lube you’ve got and put a few drops in each of those holes. Done! The next few rounds fired from your rifle will fully lubricate the bolt. I’ve seen Kyle use oil off the dip stick of his Harley Davidson for this!
Take your time as you’re going through the above process and inspect the parts for excessive wear to determine if they need to be replaced.
If you’re new to shooting and cleaning an AR15, we encourage you to do your homework and reach out to seasoned shooters who have proven experience.
If you have any questions regarding cleaning an AR15 or the tools that we use, hit us up in the comments.
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