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Chamber Cleaning

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orkboy300 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote orkboy300 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Chamber Cleaning
    Posted: June/18/2008 at 13:08
I have a SA M1A and a Kel-tec SU-16CA, both of which could stand a chamber cleaning and I'm not quite sure how to go about doing it.  Does anyone have any recommended methods/tools?
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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/18/2008 at 15:56
http://www.m14tfl.com/upload/
 
Hello!
The link above is to one of, if not THE M-14 websites online.
You may post your query there or just do a search and find your answer that way. 
 
Which model of SA M1A do you have?  
 
Welcome to Optics Talk!
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BeltFed View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/18/2008 at 17:50
The way I've cleaned the chambers of my M1As is based on the military manuals. First pick up a M14 chamber cleaning brush; you can find these at most mil. surplus dealers. It looks like a big bore brush tapered at one end with a black plastic ratchet at the other. get a couple. After pulling a solvent soaked patch through the barrel (getting solvent in the chamber) stick the chamber brush in the chamber and ease the bolt forward and let it rest on the back of the chamber brush (plastic end). Next screw in a section of GI cleaning rod into one of the threaded holes of the ratchet of the chamber brush. Using the cleaning rod section carefully rotate the ratchet of the chamber brush rotating the chamber brush in the chamber. Continue until clean.
After cleaning the bore take a clean patch and wrap it around a chamber brush and repeat the above to dry and clean the chamber.
Make sure the chamber brush is for a M14 and not a M1 as a 30-06 chamber brush may damage the throat.
When removing the brush keep the cleaning rod at a right angle to the bore and pull it straight back to prevent damage to the ratchet or brush.
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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orkboy300 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote orkboy300 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/25/2008 at 13:15
@cheaptrick:  I have a standard M1A that's not so standard anymore.  I've replaced the barrel w/ a Krieger heavy pattern stainless, the stock with a Mcmillan M3A, and it's got a Leupold VX-II 6-18X40 sitting on an ARMS mount.  The leupold is a temporary solution, but it's been working well so far.  This has been my 'project' rifle for quite some time, and now that's it's about where I want it I'll have to start a new rifle.  One of these days I'll post some pictures.
 
@beltfed:  I picked up a GI chamber brush like you described and it works great.  I had no idea the chamber had gotten that dirty.
 
I still need to find a way to clean the Kel-Tec though.  This is more critical since it's been having issues.  Everytime I fire the cartridge gets stuck in the chamber, and since it's a gas gun it still cycles, slamming the next round into the back of the stuck case.  This pushes the bullet almost all the way back into it's case and ruins the round.  This happens with any factory ammo except the steel cased wolf, but I'd like to be able to shoot better ammo than that stuff.  I had the bolt looked at by a gunsmith and he says there's nothing wrong with the extractor, so I figure it's because the chamber's gotten dirty.  I've seen some chamber brushes on flexible rods for AR-15's, but the reviews say that you can't turn the brush because the rods are too flexible.  Any suggestions?
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BeltFed View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/25/2008 at 14:57
Is your rifle a AR-15 style rifle, is it 223cal., and can you get to the chamber from the rear like a bolt gun or AR-15?  If yes, use a GI M-16 chamber brush and cleaning rod set.
Put the brush on a cleaning rod section. put this on the rod section with the T-handle, with the T-handle folded parallel with the rod and the flats engaged. Next run a section of rod through the hole in the T-handle so you can turn the assembly when it is in the chamber. Then clean the chamber like the M1A.
 
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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orkboy300 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote orkboy300 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/25/2008 at 17:56
I should have been more specific.  The Kel-Tec is a .223 gas-operated semi-auto rifle.  You can open the thing up and get good access to the bolt and chamber from the back, but no straightline access, so a curved rod or going at it from the front end are my only options.  I'm starting to think I should take a cleaning rod, run it down the barrel, then hold a .38 caliber bore brush in the action (.38 being the base diameter of a .223), thread it on the rod, pull it back onto the chamber and clean it like I did with my M1A.  When I'm done I'll unscrew the brush from the rod before pulling the rod out of the barrel.  Not the most elegant solution, but worth a try.
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BeltFed View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/25/2008 at 18:07
Sounds like that might work. Just don't get the brush up in the throat, and use a one piece rod so you don't damage the rifling.
Good Luck!
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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Dale Clifford View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/26/2008 at 10:01
Use nylon 45 pistol brushes for 308 and 38 pistol for 223. If you can find one like a SA or Kimber that has a long handle (for pistols anyway) it will be made of plastic or wound wire that can be curved for your needs.
what loads are you using.??
If cleaning the chamber does not work. apply a small amount of case resizing lube to about every 5th round and see if it still cycles.
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