Regular readers/viewers of this blog will not be surprised by the information contained herein. I produced this primarily for the Youtube audience.
It’s a basic summary of why I believe the AR-15 to be an incredibly reliable weapon, with a few tips on how to avoid problems – but those tips apply to all self-loading weapons.
This has been my experience as well, though mine is far less extensive than yours.
I was curious, what lubrication do you recommend for an AR-15 (I’m using a Colt 6920)? I had used full-lubed (all internal surfaces) grease-on-Eezox for a long time (circa 4,000 rounds), but I am now trying Eezox only, and only on the contact areas.
I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
Hey dude, if you have 4k through your 6920, you have a solid basis for opinion/experience.
I use various oils – FP-10, CLP, Mobil 1, whatever comes off the dipstick of whatever vehicle I have nearby if I don’t have anything else, etc.
I transitioned away from using Eezox a few years back. Unless things have changed, it has a chlorinated solvent in it which will attack certain metals (titanium for example, and others plus some plastics/rubbers). Additionally, while I found it lubed and cleaned really well, some of my pistols that had old Eezox on it were or at least felt gummed up. I’ve switched to Slip2000 EWL and have been happier with the results.
As always, solid video.
Nice video as always man. Glad to hear the AR-15 aint no delicate flower. I always thought they were tough, but to hear the results of your testing is reassuring.
Thanks, Dan. I’ll be making another knife video soon – be interested to see what you think of it.
i like your blog and have recommended it to others…
i would like to request a running parts list for the gun you run yourself run or the parts you think are simply the best, or best value. sort of a “dream gun” parts list that is continually updated.
thanks for what you do and keep it up
best,
jason
summerville sc
Jason,
Thanks. I appreciate you recommending the blog to your friends.
The answer to this is not so easy. As much as I would like to have only one AR-15, I am saddled with many. It is a tough burden to bear. However, all of them are top quality and I would take each and every one to the ends of the earth, if necessary. As much as it would be nice to make a continuously updated “dream gun” parts list, a “dream gun” from ten years back might not win internet style awards, but would still be functional and lethal. Besides, what my “dream gun” is might differ radically from someone else’s.
Andrew
another very informative video, thanks Andrew. I loved your statement: there are plenty of companies out there that want you to believe a DI AR is inferior to their products. I spent a lot of time researching my first AR build and ended up going the DI route. At first I really wanted to drink the piston AR cool aid, however price and common sense won me over. I ended up with a Daniel Defense upper, a local lower (Quentin Defense) and a brand new aimpoint for less than a piston AR. I keep it lubed up with slip 2000 and the only malfunctions I have had is from wolf/steel ammo that is underpowered.
Sounds like you did some research and make good decisions. Nice setup.
That still you showed of a jam due to bad ammo – that could have been taken of my own AR 2 weeks ago. Failure to extract + stovepipe – not using that brand again. I’ve only got about 1-2k rounds through AR’s, but my only problems have been down to bad mags and cheap ammo (usually the primer). And I’m not exactly the best about cleaning or lube (lube, what’s that?).
I know there are some AR-haters out there, but I just don’t run in to them – every time I’m at the range I see more and more of the things, and even the range warden (I shoot at a state park), who is mostly a black-powder guy, has his heart set on an AR as his next gun. It’s like the old saying “silent majority”.
Any thoughts on cleaning the gas tube itself?
As always, an excellent video, can’t believe you give this stuff away.
I wonder if part of the problem with the AR platform isn’t the design. It’s the “I can buy parts from 12 vendors on the Internet for the lowest price possible, and build a reliable AR for $550. It’s these guys who don’t spend enough to buy from good vendors or really did not have the skill or common sense to build good rifles in the first place that gives it a bad name.
There is also the double standard. A cheap, low quality AK that someone buys with canted front site and just is a serious piece of junk is treated for what it is. A piece of junk, low cost AK. If it’s the same with an AR, everyone starts using bad logic to label all ARs as bad when it is truly just a junky AR that the guy bought from a horrible vendor or built poorly himself using mismatched components.
Anyway, you should do an AK vs AR video as anything that helps fight disinformation is good.