M1A Cleaning

[bigus_D]

I recently purchased a brand new Springfield M1A. Before taking it to the range I know I need to clean off the cosmoline and lube it up, but I'm not really familiar with how best to do this.

I understand the gas pistol system is to be run dry... is it packed with cosmoline from the factory?

Any tips on how best to take care of this gun? I normally just use CLP on my AR15, but I'm getting the impression that grease might be better on the M1A...

Any you-tube videos worth watching? I keep finding the same one trying to sell me a universal M1A cleaning tool kit... not interested.

Thanks in advance

 

[kedie]

M-14/M1As need to be greased. I just use a tube of Valvoline axle grease I picked up at Auto Zone. It works great and the tube will last forever. I don't remember my M1A having any cosmoline on it from the factory. I just did a quick clean/grease job and took it to the range.

 

[Expat]

Welcome to the M1A world. Yes they like grease
Go here and read the M14 related stickies. You will be surprised how little you actually know. You may as well join the forum there as well.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I used Tetra, but that's just me. It's like anything else, as long as it is fresh and you look after it you should be fine.

Fred has some good info. You can get the U.S. Army manual on the M14 from Fred.

Fred's Books and Manuals

 

[irishfan]

I use Mobil 1 grease for all metal on metal areas on the M1A. Sadlak makes some really handy tools for cleanig the M1A as well.

 

[bigus_D]

Thanks for the tips, guys.

I successfully broke down, cleaned, lubed, and reassembled my M1A last night.

The M14 forum did have a couple of great youtube links, but a ton of their stickies had the images removed... apparently there was some discontent over there. (that forum is tough to read with all the terrible formatting, btw)

I had some remington gun grease on hand, so that was what I used. I think the gun was already greased from the factory. I'm pretty sure that it wasn't cosmoline from what I read... I wouldn't know the difference I guess.

I was surprised to find the gas piston was wet and dirty. I thought they were designed to run dry. I reassembled with it dry.

Anyhow, now that I've done it once, I think it should be easy to keep it up. Looking forward to getting to the range ASAP!