Keeping the chamber free of carbon build-up is an important part of preventative maintenance (PM). Inserting and spinning the chamber brush can not be accomplished using a standard cleaning rod with spinning handle, such as those designed for cleaning a rifle or pistol bore.

The chamber brush due to design, requires a solid one-piece rod without a spinning handle, to overcome the friction encountered while inserting and turning the chamber brush.




Common problems I’ve seen when attempting to clean the chamber are:

- Using a chamber brush designed for 7.62mm rather than 5.56mm.

If the chamber brush is excessively difficult to insert and spin, do not force it. Remove the brush and verify its dimensions against the drawing below (Fig. 1). New AR owners have accidentally purchased larger 7.62mm chamber brushes designed for the AR10, which are similar in design to the smaller caliber 5.56mm AR15 chamber brush.



Fig. 1



- Attempting to use a cleaning rod with spinning handle.

The chamber brush by design is a tight fit in the chamber. Attached to a rod with spinning handle, there is simply too much brush friction to over come. Purchase a short one piece cleaning rod without a spinning handle, or utilize the GI cleaning kit handle which is designed to convert into a t-handle for cleaning of the chamber (Fig. 2)



Fig. 2




- Use adequate lubrication when cleaning the chamber.

A dry chamber brush or a chamber brush with minimal CLP applied, can be difficult to insert and spin. Use adequate lubrication applied directly to the brush bristles or squirted into the chamber itself. This will ease spinning of the brush, and of course help break-up carbon deposits.

- Use a spinning corkscrew motion when inserting the chamber brush.

Do not directly insert the chamber brush, then attempt to spin it. Instead, use a spinning corkscrew motion, simultaneously spinning and inserting the brush in one clockwise motion, as if driving in a screw. Once in the chamber, continue spinning for a few revolutions, then back the brush out of the chamber while continuing to spin it in a clockwise direction. Spinning the chamber brush in a back and forth motion or counter clockwise direction will only loosen the brush.




To convert the GI Cleaning Kit handle into a t-handle for chamber cleaning:

- Rotate the top of the handle around the cleaning rod ball joint towards the cleaning rod.
- Snap the swaged end of the handle down over the flattened portion of the cleaning rod.
- Slide a segment of cleaning rod down through the hole in the opposite end of the handle, forming a t-handle.