How do you clean an AK?

[EM87]

PART ONE

When I bought my rifle a few days ago it was absolutely flawless. The inside of the barrel was really shiny and the piston had no discoloration at all. Everything was spotless. The guy I bought it from said he'd put 300-500 rounds through it before it became a safe queen for a few years then was sold to me.

I shot it yesterday (100 rounds of Wolf FMJ) then took it home and cleaned the crap out of it. No matter how I scrubbed it (or with what), the piston would not get clean.

When I got it, it looked like this:

http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz31/mattmchgn/P1030054.jpg

Now it looks like this:

http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz31/mattmchgn/P1060004.jpg

What gives?


PART TWO

How should one clean an AK to perfection? Any links or tips would be appreciated.

[johnson8861]

I didn't know people cleaned AK's.

[Joshhtn]

There is no need to get it cleaned to "perfection"... It's an AK.

[EM87]

There is no need to get it cleaned to "perfection"... It's an AK.

But why would you not? The cleaner it is the longer it will last.

[Joshhtn]

But why would you not? The cleaner it is the longer it will last.


Small amounts of deposits left on your piston is not going to kill the life of the gun... As long as you get it "somewhat clean", that gun will last longer than you live.

[TedG954]

Dirty, that rifle will out last you. :rofl:

[SidX]

Whenever I want my AK to be perfect I always call it a whore and throw it down the driveway.






J/K


Occasionally I give my piston a wipe or two with a lead away cloth. Cleans it right up. Perfection.

[Jack Greenwell]

scrubbing metal so extensively will wear it out faster than leaving a little carbon on it.

[method]

People stress over cleaning their guns waaaaayy too much. Getting that burnt on soot cleaned off will do nothing...nothing..have absolutely no affect on how that rifle shoots and functions, nor will it affect the rifle's durability one iota.

My AK has been cleaned once in 12 years, and that was only because I had the receiver stripped, and it seemed as good a time as any.

AK's are made to run dirty. That's half their appeal.

[fgutie35]

If you really want that piston head shiny, then use an exacto-knife and scrape the carbon deposits (they should come off very easily. For the sides, I use solvent and a scotch brite abrassive sponge. The most important thing in an AK, is not how clean the piston is, but how clean and free of deposits the blowback hole is.

[moncoacp]

Take it to a commie, Russian dry cleaner.

[sjones]

You mean you have to clean an AK?:supergrin:

[Lyptix]

Take out your boot laces, dip them in motor oil and run them thru the barrel a couple of times.....some even may think that is overkill on cleaning an ak....

[Glockdude1]

If you want a any gun to "stay clean" don't shoot it.

:cool: