Home AR-15 How many rounds without cleaning or lubrication before a DI AR15 fails?

How many rounds without cleaning or lubrication before a DI AR15 fails?

1859
44

PLEASE SUPPORT MAC ON PATREON (we are viewer supported):

We always hear that the AR15/M16 “poops where it eats” but what does that truly mean to the ability of the AR15 to run without any service, cleaning, etc.? How many rounds will an AR15 fire before it has a serious failure? How many rounds can you fire between cleanings? We’re going to find out!

PayPal donations:

MAC T-Shirt & Patch Store (supports the channel):

Join MAC on Twitch for live gaming:

LAX Ammo discount: (I get no kickbacks): “MAC” for 3% off everything in store.

Please join the Gun Owners of America. This link gives you 1 year for only $15 (I get no kick-backs):

OpticsPlanet discount code (I get no kick-backs): “MAC5” for 5% off most everything in their store!

Tru-Spec Store Discount: militaryarms20 for 20% off all items in their store (I get no kickbacks).

Challenge Target discount code (I get no kick-backs): “MAC556” at checkout

Full30:

Note to readers: Please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, social media, internet forums. etc.

44 COMMENTS

  1. Why was the mid length gas system chosen to do the test? Not laying criticism because DI guns rock for most purposes. Rifle length and mid length tend to run cleaner than carbine length gas systems and it would seem the problem child when it comes to dirtyness would be the carbine length gas system.

    I love my BCM MK12 Mod 0 and other flavors of rifle length setups and i find em to be just as reliable as the AK platform. Not that carbine length is unreliable but if there is a DI problem child it seems like that would be the one.

  2. Good idea. But would it be possible to measure more things like barrel weare . Maybe with measuring the throat deaph with a tool like the Hornady Comperator tool between every 1000 shoots. And maybe measure the V0 with the labradar with 10 rounds of every 1000 shoots with ammunition from se same lot?

  3. So glad you wrapped it in tape because we know there's NO WAY it could be removed to clean the rifle off camera and replaced. Okay, sarcasm over. Since we basically have to accept (without proof) that you didn't remove the tape and surreptitiously clean the gun off camera, then how about you just forget the tape and we'll take your word that you didn't clean the rifle? I have to break it to you, but we're well aware you can still clean the rifle and retape it. So on the next go-round forget the tape. Either way, we just have to take your word that you aren't cleaning it. Cheesy gimmicks don't add more credibility.

  4. If you watch at 2x speed you'll notice his shooting always starts off slow and picks up speed with each mag. I just though that was an interesting detail

    Edit: this may just be a playback thing

  5. I really only want to see what happens when properly maintained. Say every 1000 rds, give it a basic cleaning. I expect that my Honda should last me 250,000 mi without major parts breaking, but not changing the oil to see it fail for the sake of abusing it, really tells me nothing.

  6. Tell us again what two strips of tape is going to prevent you from doing? Because I can't think of anything two strips of masking tape would stop me from. It's okay, Tim, we trust you. You don't have to waste tape. LOL

  7. Hey Tim, while you're doing this, do you think that before your next 1k rounds, put a scope on it and do some group testing, say five 5-shot groups to get an average grouping with match ammo. Then every 5k rounds redo that test to see how well the barrel stays accurate?

Leave a Reply