WWYD: Modern Carbine Cleaning/Maintenance Kit

[Super77]

I can't be certain that the rapid assembly rod I looked at was the exact same brand, but the one I've seen seemed much too flimsy to rely on for barrel obstruction removal. Really neat idea, but not nearly sturdy enough.

That's good to know. I ordered one but still waiting for it to arrive. Maybe the FCD CSR rod might is the way to go. The USGI rod is perfectly serviceable and cheap enough to be considered borderline disposable, but I don't love the idea of the parkerized surface in my nice barrels. The 8/32 threading is also annoying.

[Lost River]

Overseas in my pack, I carried a complete BCG in a Ziplock sandwich baggy. Actually I doubled up on the baggies. The BCG was covered in oil. This was stored in an outer pocket. Plus I carried a two piece rod. If I had a major issue with my M4, the intent was to simply replace the entire BCG, rather than fiddle with trying to diagnose. Fortunately, I never had to but I considered it a reasonable practice.