This article was co-authored by Roger Judd. Roger Judd is a Firearms Instructor based in Mesa, Arizona. Roger and his team at Concealed AZ have been teaching NRA, Arizona Concealed Carry, group and individual firearms training classes as well as promotional, corporate, TV & media machine gun events since 2008. As an NRA Instructor, Roger specializes in teaching people how to safely use rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
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The AK-47 assault rifle is a popular firearm with a rich history. Like any other firearm the AK-47 requires regular maintenance. Follow these steps to safely and efficiently field-strip an AK-47.
Steps
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Make sure the firearm is unloaded, and the magazine is removed. Pull back the charging handle to eject any loaded rounds.[1]
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Remove the cleaning rod located at the front of the rifle below the barrel.[2]Advertisement
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Remove the bolt cover by pressing the button on the back of the bolt cover forward. This may take a little jiggling, but mostly just use a constant pressure pulling the cover up and back (toward the comb and up).[3]
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Remove the bolt spring. Press the same button toward the front of the gun, sliding it out of its channel. Remove by pulling it backward.[4]
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Pull out the bolt and charging handle.[5]
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Use the cleaning kit tool to unlock the gas tube (the lever on the side of your rear sight). The lever should be pointing at a right angle to the barrel.[6]
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Remove the gas tube.
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At this point, you may clean your firearm with various solvents or oils. In my experience, Hoppe's gun oil is one of the best.
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Perform these steps in reverse order to re-assemble your firearm. If you get stuck, find an online forum to assist you.[7]
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
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The gas tube doesn't need to be cleaned as frequently as the chamber, bolt, or barrel.Thanks
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This takes practice. There are several websites designed to assist you if you have trouble.Thanks
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The bolt cover can be difficult to replace. Simply place it in the correct position and apply firm downward force at the back of it until it clicks into place, with the button sticking out of its back where it did originally.Thanks
Warnings
Things You'll Need
- Original cleaning tool kit, or pliers
- Solvents and oils
- Patches, and cleaning rods (if you plan on also cleaning your firearm)
Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about firearms safety, check out our in-depth interview with Roger Judd.
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aDU6N4HvFg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHIG2oG00mQ
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aDU6N4HvFg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHIG2oG00mQ
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZigSux30iL8
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZigSux30iL8
- ↑ Roger Judd. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
- ↑ Roger Judd. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
- ↑ Roger Judd. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
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