Newbie, just startin out.

[Toolman]

Hopefully the weather will co-operate this weekend & I will finally get to take the new XM15 to the range. I've checked the bolt cam pin to be sure it's seated & the bore's clear/clean, got ammo, but that's about all the Bushmaster manual said...what else should I do? The manual also said to use a black rag when wiping it down. The dealer said a .22 cal cleaning kit was what I needed to clean it after shooting, but there's got to be more to it. Do you use Nitro Powder Solvent, CLP, Miltec? What cleaning kit & tools are needed. What do you guys recommend? Thanks in advance!

[JE3146]

I use Hoppes for starts, then finish up with Break Free CLP.

Your rifle is new so dont clean the bore of the rifle till you put about 200 rounds through it. This will allow the chrome lining to become polished and "broken in." Feel free to clean the action all you want, just make sure not to touch the bore quite yet. This isn't to say you shouldn't do an initial cleaning of it though. Clean it once, oil it up a little, then take her shootin. :) Make sure not to apply too much oil.

I'd also reccomend picking up a chamber brush for a .223
Basic cleaning kit for a .22 rifle will work, though I'd reccomend a 1 piece rod.

Break Free CLP, some Hoppes, some .22 patches. Pretty basic stuff. Just don't overclean it. That can ruin your rifle more than not cleaning it enough.

[Epinephrine]

Rods on any type, one piece or many, are shit. They still have a tendency to rub teh bore even when you use a rod guide. Get a kit from Otis. They are expensive (std issue M16 cleaning kit is $50) but its a small price to pay to find out you fucked your barrel or receiver with inproper cleaning and have to replace it.

Otis is now used by the military instead of teh $9 multipeice rod kits used up until a few years ago.

I also recommend Militec over CLP or any otehr cleaner. Not only does it clean really good, but it permanently bonds to your gun after you apply it and produces a dry lube after heating it up (firing it) and dosent evaporate after 200 rounds like CLP. Every sequential cleaning is easier to do since the dirt and crap cant get into the metals pores. Its also expensive (about $6 per oz) but the troops swear by the stuff.