2. Firearm performance in adverse conditions: Firearms do not perform reliably when sand, dust, snow, or water are blown into the mechanism by wind, moving vehicles (helicopters!) or by muzzle blast. Local conditions and exposure to contaminants must dictate the extent of cleaning and the number of times that cleaning will need to be carried out during the day. It just takes more work to keep a firearm operating under extremely bad conditions.
3. Cleaning and lubrication in adverse conditions: U.S. Forces have followed a long tradition of leaving firearms dry of lubricant during desert operations under the belief that less sand adheres to a dry surface more than to a lubricated one. This tradition has been proven incorrect. The need for good lubrication even in the desert has been well established during desert training and peace keeping operation, during the Gulf conflict, and by trials in a variety of climatic conditions.
The U.S. Army Infantry School recently concluded a series of tests that concluded that the best single product for maintaining most firearms is Cleaner, Lubricant, and Preservative (CLP). CLP has been developed to cover a wide range of climatic conditions and has been developed to act as a cleaner, a lubricant and a preservative. Using other oils may cause reduced reliability.
The following should be cleaned and left dry for firing: Bore and chamber
Face of the bolt
Ammunition.
(Preserve rifle, including these surfaces, with CLP for storage. Wipe dry before firing. NEVER lubricate or clean ammunition with CLP or any other oily material.)
The following should be cleaned and left dry (desert) or lightly lubricated (other):
Exterior surfaces and sights
The contact and bearing surfaces of these parts should be generously lubricated:
Trigger mechanism
Pivot and takedown pins
Cam pin guide rail within the body
Guide rods and springs
All rubbing or contact surfaces of the following parts: carrier, cam pin, receiver, charging handle, operating springs, AR-10 or M15/M16 buffer, and AR-180 guide rods.
Breech bolt body and locking lugs
Moving/sliding surfaces of the bipod, if installed.
Most operators tend to put too little lubricant on the firearm. Most inspectors tend to criticize firearms that are properly lubricated. A properly lubricated firearm will have lubrication flowing away from the intended surfaces. Any surface that holds all the lubricant applied to it is probably not lubricated well enough.
Emergency lubrication: In an area where immediate lubrication is important and absolutely no better material is available, a bit of oil drawn from an engine is better than operating the firearm dry. A vehicle dip stick can serve as an awkward applicator.
4. Clean often: Under extreme conditions of sand and dust, every opportunity should be taken to clean and re-lubricate the firearm during lulls in firing. In particular the gas affected parts, should be cleaned after firing around 330 rounds and lubricated.
If possible, the solvent portion of the CLP should be allowed to evaporate before using the firearm, leaving behind a well lubricated surface. Ignore the “white glove” standard of cleanliness; proper application of CLP will leave a sort of grainy/oily looking surface that includes particles of PTFE (Teflon®) on the surface. CLP must be well shaken to thoroughly mix it before use, otherwise little lubrication will be left behind when the solvent evaporates.
In conditions of extreme cold, a lighter lubricant such as “PLS” should be used. PLS is a light oil similar to “3 in 1” oil.
- so there is not a lot of palces for dirt to enter my weapons -- I put a foamy earplug in the muzzle and am good to go.
