+- 6.5 Grendel Forum (https://65grendel.com)
+-- Forum: 6.5 GRENDEL DISCUSSION FORUMS (https://65grendel.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: 6.5 Grendel Troubleshooting (https://65grendel.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=15)
+--- Thread: Gas Tube Blues (/showthread.php?tid=20652)
Pages:
1
2
Gas Tube Blues - CJW - 02-18-2020
Vile Horde,
Why do we not ever have to clean or replace our gas tubes on AR15?s
It seems that they would get clogged up with burnt powder after just a couple of hundred rounds.
Same for the gas key on the BCG?????
Thanks,
Chuck
Gas Tube Blues - MasterChief - 02-18-2020
Um.......I clean mine....
Gas Tube Blues - A5BLASTER - 02-18-2020
Because the gas pressure is blowing it out.
Gas Tube Blues - FLshooter - 02-18-2020
A5BLASTER Wrote:Because the gas pressure is blowing it out.^^^^^^^^^^
Survey sez....
No. 1 answer!
Gas Tube Blues - LRRPF52 - 02-18-2020
The powder is burnt before it gets near the gas port.
There is some very minor residue from burnt particulate matter, but it's mostly just hot gas flowing through the gas port and tube, into the bolt carrier expansion chamber, which also vents out the ejection port through the relief vents on the carrier.
If powder was still burning at that stage, you would see fire shooting out of the ejection port vents.
Even looking at night firing, you won't see that.
Gas Tube Blues - Lemonaid - 02-18-2020
If I understand the unstated part of the OP's post it is if the bolt and the bolt carrier get so dirty why doesn't the gas tube fill up with all that carbon?
Also if you have a muzzle device it will also fill up with carbon over time.
My guess is that at high temp/pressure the carbon gas mixture is less prone to sticking to surfaces than when it cools and condenses.
Sort of like a car's exhaust and it's tail pipe.
Good question!
Gas Tube Blues - CJW - 02-19-2020
Exactly my thoughts Lemonaid.....The BCG just gets filthy.......you would think the gas tube would as well
Gas Tube Blues - montana - 02-19-2020
The pressure is too high for any residue to accumulate in the gas tube.
Gas Tube Blues - brian y - 02-19-2020
montana Wrote:The pressure is too high for any residue to accumulate in the gas tube.Not true Montana, I used to think that was true until I read a thread on another site asking the same question, I read through it and most folks said what you said but a few disagreed and after reading it I thought what the heck and I bought a gas tube cleaning kit I think it was about $10 so no big deal if I did not need it. I was surprised at how dirty the gas tube was and how hard it was to get the cleaner in but once you did it pulled out gunk.
Gas Tube Blues - LRRPF52 - 02-19-2020
Depending on the type of powder you use, carbon fouling can be very minimal, to cruddy.
Gas Tube Blues - montana - 02-19-2020
brian y Wrote:Not true Montana, I used to think that was true until I read a thread on another site asking the same question, I read through it and most folks said what you said but a few disagreed and after reading it I thought what the heck and I bought a gas tube cleaning kit I think it was about $10 so no big deal if I did not need it. I was surprised at how dirty the gas tube was and how hard it was to get the cleaner in but once you did it pulled out gunk.
I have never cleaned a gas tube in my many, many, years shooting AR rifles. Back in Vietnam, "the WW2 surplus ball powder being used to load the 5.56 ammunition" was neutralized with what was basically chalk. It did create problems. If there is a modern powder being used in the 5.56 today, "that plugs up the gas tube" I have never run into it. If you feel better cleaning your gas tube, then knock yourself out.
Gas Tube Blues - CJW - 02-19-2020
No cleaning for me.....it is all I can do to reload enough shells to shoot every Thursday.
I was just curious.
Gas Tube Blues - brian y - 02-20-2020
montana Wrote:I have never cleaned a gas tube in my many, many, years shooting AR rifles. Back in Vietnam, "the WW2 surplus ball powder being used to load the 5.56 ammunition" was neutralized with what was basically chalk. It did create problems. If there is a modern powder being used in the 5.56 today, "that plugs up the gas tube" I have never run into it. If you feel better cleaning your gas tube, then knock yourself out.
I did not say it made me feel better cleaning a gas tube montana I was just pointing out your statement"The pressure is too high for any residue to accumulate in the gas tube" like a lot of internet talk was not true at least in my testing and usage of a gas tube cleaner as I found a lot of residue in the gas tube, As LRRFP52 stated " Depending on the type of powder you use, carbon fouling can be very minimal, to cruddy" the real question is did it make any difference to the performance and also what powder/ammo do I use, I use all factory ammo so what does that say about the powder the factories use? is their a lot of difference to what they use to what reloaders buy and use? I do not know as I do not reload but I would be interested to hear from those that know . As to performance I can honestly say I did not notice any big difference in the performance before or after cleaning the gas tube on my 6.5 Grendel but others might who knows.
Gas Tube Blues - sundowner - 02-20-2020
I clean mine every other month , there are special tools you can get to do it .
Gas Tube Blues - Kswhitetails - 02-20-2020
I've cleaned mine somewhere around 600-1k rounds. Usually it takes me that often to get the bug to clean the rifle that far. I also de-carb the bolt and bcg, and take my MD off to soak it in vinegar and atf... Other than that, I don't. I've never been aware of any difference in performance, even in longer cleaning windows... so, to answer your Q OP - ???
Gas Tube Blues - montana - 02-20-2020
brian y Wrote:I did not say it made me feel better cleaning a gas tube montana I was just pointing out your statement"The pressure is too high for any residue to accumulate in the gas tube" like a lot of internet talk was not true at least in my testing and usage of a gas tube cleaner as I found a lot of residue in the gas tube, As LRRFP52 stated " Depending on the type of powder you use, carbon fouling can be very minimal, to cruddy" the real question is did it make any difference to the performance and also what powder/ammo do I use, I use all factory ammo so what does that say about the powder the factories use? is their a lot of difference to what they use to what reloaders buy and use? I do not know as I do not reload but I would be interested to hear from those that know . As to performance I can honestly say I did not notice any big difference in the performance before or after cleaning the gas tube on my 6.5 Grendel but others might who knows.
I didn't mean it to be snarky, but as an observation. In my opinion, you could do more harm than good by trying to clean the gas tube, especially when it doesn't need to be cleaned. I have shot thousands and thousands of rounds of cheap Russian steel, reloads and plain cheap ammo in my many decades of shooting. I have never had to clean any of my gas tubes. So yes, the pressure will keep the gas tube clean. Some AR owners religiously make sure the bolt gas rings are offset since the military manual instructs to do so. The manual is wrong and it is irrelevant where the gas rings are. Many places instruct AR owners to use lubricants sparingly on the bolt and carrier, with just a drop or two of oil here and there. I on the other hand make sure my bolt is always wet with oil. Some AR owners religiously scrape the carbon out of the bolt carrier after every shooting session. I'll do it once a year, if I think about it. If you think it is necessary to clean your gas tube and it makes you feel better, then by all means clean it. In my experience, cleaning the gas tube is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
brian y Wrote:I thought what the heck and I bought a gas tube cleaning kit I think it was about $10 so no big deal if I did not need it.
brian y Wrote:As to performance I can honestly say I did not notice any big difference in the performance before or after cleaning the gas tube on my 6.5 Grendel but others might who knows.
There are many things for sale that are completely unnecessary. If your rifle didn't have a problem to begin with and there was no difference in performance, then what did you accomplish with your $10 purchase? I have made a lot of unnecessary purchases through out the years, with a box full of useless items. I got into the AR piston craze, which was a useless endeavour. Live and learn!
Gas Tube Blues - brian y - 02-20-2020
montana, I don't think you were being snarky I was just pointing out your general statement was not true and I apologize if my reply upset you, You ask what did I accomplish with my $10 purchase if my rifle had no problem to begin with and if I found no difference with the performance after cleaning the gas tube, A clean gas tube lol, but I did find out for my self that gas tubes do get dirty even though the internet experts said it did not, Now I am no expert and I did not see any performance increase but that could just be me and maybe I have an excellent barrel on that rifle lol.
Does this mean I am cleaning all my gas tubes on a regular basis again I am no expert so the answer not really.
Gas Tube Blues - montana - 02-20-2020
brian y Wrote:montana, I don't think you were being snarky I was just pointing out your general statement was not true and I apologize if my reply upset you, You ask what did I accomplish with my $10 purchase if my rifle had no problem to begin with and if I found no difference with the performance after cleaning the gas tube, A clean gas tube lol, but I did find out for my self that gas tubes do get dirty even though the internet experts said it did not, Now I am no expert and I did not see any performance increase but that could just be me and maybe I have an excellent barrel on that rifle lol.
Does this mean I am cleaning all my gas tubes on a regular basis again I am no expert so the answer not really.
I wasn't upset lol, except perhaps with my inability to communicate. My post is once again lost in translation, my mistake not yours. There will always be some residue in a gas tube, but not enough to cause any problems. You were correct when you stated there was residue in the gas tube. My point was, the pressure and heat will clean itself out and gas tube maintenance is unnecessary. I should have emphasized the fact there will always be some carbon,"crud" left in and around the gas tube, but not enough to be concerned with. Reminds me of the snake oil being sold to clean out sludge in car engines. When I see such things as gas tube cleaning kits, I have to cringe a little bit. Sometimes we can over think things and get sidetracked from actual needed maintenance. If people feel better with cleaning their gas tubes, "then like I said" knock yourself out. I really don't care. I was just giving my opinion. Take it or leave it, nothing more.
Gas Tube Blues - Kswhitetails - 02-21-2020
I tend to agree with Montana here, though I can see both sides. I don't know if I've ever had a malf due to gas tube obstruction. The pressures we're talking about would unceremoniously remove any obstruction in it's path. Think of a gun barrel. The only true problem would be a large solid particle, which honestly would be hard to imagine ever getting in. I think this is mostly a solution looking for a problem.
Gas Tube Blues - Mesa1978 - 02-22-2020
Not so much about cleaning the tube for me, but using the tube to get carbon remover into the Syrac gas block to avoid lockup.