Ruger ar-556 my first ar
- Thread starter p5200
- Start date
pisgah
Buckeye
Why would you not need to? After reading the manual, of course...
Captain America
Hunter
I cannot speak for the AR-556 but my Mini-14 and my wife's 10/22 were swimming in a thick(ish) sticky cosmoline type lube/preservative that would absolutely have affected the function of both rifles had I not stripped, cleaned, and lubed them before a trip to the range. Watch some videos, read your manual, and then you can clean, lube and familiarize yourself with your new Ruger.
Yes, you most definitely need to clean it. As stated, Ruger ships the AR-556 packed in some sort of goopy oily preservative stuff that is NOT a lubricant. Clean all that stuff off and use a proper gun lube as directed in the manual.
pisgah
Buckeye
Dranrab said:
Common sense and standard gun handling procedures do, and the manual tells you how to do it -- something a newbie with his first AR needs to know before he starts sending posts about "How do I get this thing apart/ back together?" posts.
pisgah said:
This is just an opinion, but I think guns should be shipped ready to shoot. What other brand new item requires a tear down before it can be reliably used. Beyond that, if they do need to be torn down prior to use, the manufacturer should make that clear in the manual.
pisgah
Buckeye
[/quote]
This is just an opinion, but I think guns should be shipped ready to shoot. What other brand new item requires a tear down before it can be reliably used. Beyond that, if they do need to be torn down prior to use, the manufacturer should make that clear in the manual.[/quote]
PLENTY of new products require prep before first use. New cars, for instance, have various protective materials removed, fluids topped off, adjustments made, subsystems programmed before they leave the dealership. Even a new washer and dryer will be unpacked and undergo some final assembly before final delivery. Same with furniture, lawnmowers, bicycles and many, many other items. I am of the opinion that a responsible gun owner will acquire some familiarity with the maintenance and operating requirements of any new gun before firing it, especially if it is of a type new to him, and a simple fieldstrip and cleaning, while perhaps not necessary in the sense that the gun won't work without it, is definitely necessary to the safety and ultimate satisfaction of the new owner. There are hundreds if not thousands of posts to this and similar forums each year that would have been completely unnecessary if the new owner had merely spent 15 minutes going through this procedure.
This is just an opinion, but I think guns should be shipped ready to shoot. What other brand new item requires a tear down before it can be reliably used. Beyond that, if they do need to be torn down prior to use, the manufacturer should make that clear in the manual.[/quote]
PLENTY of new products require prep before first use. New cars, for instance, have various protective materials removed, fluids topped off, adjustments made, subsystems programmed before they leave the dealership. Even a new washer and dryer will be unpacked and undergo some final assembly before final delivery. Same with furniture, lawnmowers, bicycles and many, many other items. I am of the opinion that a responsible gun owner will acquire some familiarity with the maintenance and operating requirements of any new gun before firing it, especially if it is of a type new to him, and a simple fieldstrip and cleaning, while perhaps not necessary in the sense that the gun won't work without it, is definitely necessary to the safety and ultimate satisfaction of the new owner. There are hundreds if not thousands of posts to this and similar forums each year that would have been completely unnecessary if the new owner had merely spent 15 minutes going through this procedure.
This is just an opinion, but I think guns should be shipped ready to shoot. What other brand new item requires a tear down before it can be reliably used. Beyond that, if they do need to be torn down prior to use, the manufacturer should make that clear in the manual.[/quote]
PLENTY of new products require prep before first use. New cars, for instance, have various protective materials removed, fluids topped off, adjustments made, subsystems programmed before they leave the dealership. Even a new washer and dryer will be unpacked and undergo some final assembly before final delivery. Same with furniture, lawnmowers, bicycles and many, many other items. I am of the opinion that a responsible gun owner will acquire some familiarity with the maintenance and operating requirements of any new gun before firing it, especially if it is of a type new to him, and a simple fieldstrip and cleaning, while perhaps not necessary in the sense that the gun won't work without it, is definitely necessary to the safety and ultimate satisfaction of the new owner. There are hundreds if not thousands of posts to this and similar forums each year that would have been completely unnecessary if the new owner had merely spent 15 minutes going through this procedure.[/quote]
If it's that simple and that obvious I wonder why manufacturers don't recommend it in the owners manual. Further, unpacking, minor assembly and minor adjustments are quite a bit different from a tear down, cleaning and reassembly. Is there any reason you can think of that a gun wouldn't be shipped ready for service? Thankfully ARs are really simple to tear way down and reassemble.
cavediver27
Bearcat
Being it's your first AR it would seem prudent to me for you to strip it down, study how it operates, clean, lube and reassemble. You would be much better prepared for a positive range experience.
As for me, I've purchased many firearms over the years and each and every one has been field stripped and cleaned before I've ever fired a round out of them.
As for me, I've purchased many firearms over the years and each and every one has been field stripped and cleaned before I've ever fired a round out of them.
GunnyGene
Hawkeye
Most good small gun shops will take care of this initial cleaning, inspection & lube when they receive a shipment, especially if it's going on display under the counter or on a rifle rack, just because it's good for business. They know that a customer will be far more likely to purchase a clean and properly lubed firearm than one that just came out of the grease pit.
Most of the on-line high volume distributors don't bother with this, because they don't have to look you in the eye to make a sale. This is another reason that I don't buy on-line.
It's still a good idea to field strip before you shoot it the first time, simply to learn how, even if you don't need to clean and lube.
Most of the on-line high volume distributors don't bother with this, because they don't have to look you in the eye to make a sale. This is another reason that I don't buy on-line.
It's still a good idea to field strip before you shoot it the first time, simply to learn how, even if you don't need to clean and lube.
cavediver27
Bearcat
p5200 said:
You asked a question in hope of getting some replies and that's what you got. None of them referred to you as "stupid" and all the replies were polite and answered you question.
Single-Sixer no problem here, I've just found that over the years it's not hard to ruffle feathers on some forums not meaning to. I will do all the searching online I can to find answers to my AR questions since it's the first one for me, I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions :mrgreen: Thanks again! 
coach
Hunter
I know my son in law just got an AR from Palmetto State that was all gooped up with cosmaline type stuff. I've never received a pistol or rifle in that state, but I generally clean and lube a gun the first time before I take it out.
Ruger Nut
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2004
- Messages
- 132
Yes, definitely strip it and clean it!
I have always used a 90% M1 5W30 + 10% Mercon V mixture to lube my firearms. I use Hoppe's #9 solvent to scrub them and the parts.
I received some GRIZZLY GREASE CLP today and tried it. It's AWESOME! I have also been known to use 3 IN 1 oil at times.
https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-Grease-Non-Toxic-CLP-OZ/dp/B013A8FVNE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467947107&sr=8-1&keywords=grizzly+grease+clp
http://grizzlyguncare.com/grizzly-grease-non-toxic-clp-4-fl-oz/
I have always used a 90% M1 5W30 + 10% Mercon V mixture to lube my firearms. I use Hoppe's #9 solvent to scrub them and the parts.
I received some GRIZZLY GREASE CLP today and tried it. It's AWESOME! I have also been known to use 3 IN 1 oil at times.
https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-Grease-Non-Toxic-CLP-OZ/dp/B013A8FVNE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467947107&sr=8-1&keywords=grizzly+grease+clp
http://grizzlyguncare.com/grizzly-grease-non-toxic-clp-4-fl-oz/
Ruger Nut
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2004
- Messages
- 132
That, I can't answer. So far I have shot about 95% Wolf steel ammo in mine. This goes the same with my Sport 1.Cocodrie said:
One tip I sure will give is, if you're going to shoot steel ammo it would be wise to change the extractor spring with one similar to the one I will post at the end of my reply. I did this on my Sport 1 a few years ago when I first got it. And, I did it to my Ruger. Trust me, it DOES make a difference.
This is the kit for 1 application;
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Extractor-Spring-Uprade-Kit-p/bcm-exspring-1.htm
This is the kit for multiple BCG's, which is what I currently bought. I updated my old Sport 1 spring, added one to my Ruger, and now have a spare;
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-Extractor-Spring-Uprade-Kit-p/bcm-exspring-3.htm
