M14 Forum

apf383

What do I need to keep my M1a clean, and running at peak performance? I'm new to the platform and need ideas on maintenance items? Thanks.

davecampperry

Look around the site, the info is here. Not trying to be difficult, but this question gets asked a lot, and answering it takes up space and time. PM me if you cant find what you want to know and we'll find it together. dave

Rojkoh

1) Get a one piece coated or brass cleaning rod (Dewey I think). You can find these at Brownells.com. Also get a .30 call bore brush (brass, NOT SS).

2) Get the Sadlak gas "drills" to clean the gas port and inside the gas piston.

3) I normally polish the outside of the gas piston with either Forster polishing cloth or crocus cloth for a good "polish" and the same goes for the inside of the gas assembly. Do NOT do this for HOURs... just get a nice surface.

4) If you don't have one, go get a SADLAK NM operating rod spring guide and polish it before you put it in the rifle. Just polish the area where the spring is on the rod so it won't bind.

Personally, I never took the rifle down until I'd put at least 600 rounds through the rifle. If it's bedded and not rattle battle... taking it apart is not only bad for "as issued" rifles, but worse for glass bedded rifles.

More to come, all my tricks for to press this year.

RAMMAC

Please ignore this kind of disinformation, luckily this isn't dangerous but it is confusing and wrong.

apf383, try this link for detailed info
Cleaning/Maintenance Tools?

apf383

Thanks for the help guys. Great link Rammac, I printed the procedure until I get familiar, thanks again. Not as easy as an AR, is it?

RAMMAC

I think it's a matter of perception, the M14 is easier for me but I grew up in that era. The AR bothers me in that I can't clean the gas tube and that always bothers me, it's like an itch that you can't reach. I also don't like the detail of having to check the gas rings on the bolt, another little detail that I don't want to deal with.

Truthfully, if you were stuck doing a minimum cleaning on both rifles, without removing the stock or splitting the upper and lower, I think that it would be easier to maintain the sensitive points of operation with the M1A. Subsequently, I think that the M1A would run longer in the worst case scenario.

Dave P

Well, no matter what our FAVORITE POSTER has done in the past, I have to agree with these points:

"1) Get a one piece coated or brass cleaning rod (Dewey I think). You can find these at Brownells.com. Also get a .30 call bore brush (brass, NOT SS).

2) Get the... "drills" to clean the... inside the gas piston."

Also get a rod guide for that dewey.

Palladin

You also may want to invest in a cleaning port to keep the bolt open while cleaning.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/958...-m1a-m1-garand