The MRDS platform that we’ve developed, the heart of which is a roller-delayed blowback system, is smooth-shooting, extremely reliable, suppresses well, and has relatively long-lived components because of its simplicity when compared to a traditional gas impingement system, such as that used by AR-15 rifles and similar platforms.
With that said, as is the case for any firearms platform, regular maintenance is one of the keys to reliability and accuracy, not to mention that routine cleanings help prevent corrosion as well as part failure.
So, with no further ado, let’s cover some maintenance considerations for your MRDS platform, regardless of which actual firearm is in your collection.
Recommended Maintenance Schedules
One of the most basic questions is “How often should I clean my ZF-5?” which naturally also translates to “how often should I clean my MRDS platform?” since they are both built around a roller-delayed blowback action.
Fortunately, this question is easy enough to answer, since there is more in common between all of these roller-delayed platforms than there is in differences between them.
However, we need to zoom out and make a disclaimer: how frequently you clean your MRDS platform, as well as how thoroughly, will depend heavily on if the platform is suppressed or not.
Suppressors increase bore pressures and blast a lot of fouling back into the action. As a result, if your MRDS platform is suppressed, we recommend a thorough cleaning after every 500 rounds. If your platform is not suppressed, we still recommend cleaning after every 1000 rounds.
A note here. Roller-delayed firearms like the MRDS platform fire consistently when suppressed, and are renowned for their reliability both suppressed and unsuppressed. The main drawback is that they get dirtier more quickly when suppressed.
For this reason, we recommend keeping a cleaning kit on hand. These come with our premium packages, and have everything you need to properly and thoroughly clean your ZF-5 or MRDS platform. If your purchase did not come with a cleaning kit you can still purchase them through our website via the previous link.
Now let’s talk about lubrication, which is the counterpart to cleaning, and which is one of the primary preventative measures you can take to eliminate premature failure of the gun’s components.
As some have stated, our MRDS platform is one that “likes to be run ‘wet’” which means that it prefers to be well-lubricated.
By the way, if the question is one of what gun oil to use, Dr. Jim’s Gun Oil is a great option for lubricating a modern roller-delayed system.
Recommended Part Replacement Schedule
If you shoot your MRDS platform a lot, there’s one part that you’re going to find is likely to wear out prematurely, and that’s the extractor spring.
In case you’re not familiar on a granular level with the operation of firearm parts, the extractor spring is basically the tensioner that keeps the extractor firmly engaged with the cartridge ring. Even with a perfectly functioning extractor, a fatigued extractor spring will almost certainly result in a failure to extract.
Because of the criticality of this firearm part, we recommend replacing it after approximately every 2000 rounds. However, if you notice issues with extraction, you might want to replace yours more frequently. The good news is that these are fairly affordable parts and relatively easy to replace.
However, we should also note that if your gun is having issues with extraction, before you check the spring, you should check the area around the bolt face and the chamber, as if there is a lot of fouling in these areas, it can complicate extraction and ejection even if the extractor, ejector and springs are all in perfect working order.
The recoil spring is another component that will eventually need to be replaced, but nowhere near as frequently as the extractor spring. We’ve tested all of our recoil springs up to 10,000 rounds, so past that point, start expecting to replace yours. However, we actually recommend replacing your recoil spring between 3000 and 5000 rounds. If you notice the bolt sluggish returning to battery or failing to do so, that may be an indication that it’s time to replace the recoil spring.
The good news is that we’ve tested all of the other components of the MRDS platform because they have been tested and could potentially last for the lifetime of the firearm. As a result we cannot recommend a specific replacement schedule for any of them.
However, since they are mechanical parts that can fail, we do recommend that you keep spares of the following parts on hand so that you can make replacements, should any of them fail:
- Firing pins
- Takedown pins
Having spares of these on hand can make it easier on you should you ever have to replace them.
One more note. At the 10,000 round mark, we offer a full-service inspection and maintenance program that inspects the receiver and other major components as well as the barrel, specifically the rifling, to check for signs of shoot out.
Many shooters never get to the 10,000 round mark, but if you do, consider getting in contact with us to learn more about the services we offer.
Explore the MRDS Platform Here
All in all, the MRDS platform is a remarkably reliable platform with long-lasting components. If you’re considering adding one to your safe, you can learn more here on our website, or get in touch with us if you have any questions about maintenance, cleaning, parts compatibility, suggested schedules, or anything else of that nature.