[Riley]

It may also be the case that M-16 wielding soldiers got lazy and did not clean their rifles on a daily basis as required for the dusty atmosphere of Iraq or any combat environment

People also tend to over-lubricate them, which of course, attracts dust and grit. The action should be dry when done cleaning!

[Destro]

A condom over the barrel of the M-16 would be a perfect dust shield.

[FlyVet]

People also tend to over-lubricate them, which of course, attracts dust and grit. The action should be dry when done cleaning!

Well, that's a point well taken. When I got done with my semi-annual qualification, the official AF clean/lube was Break-Free CLP. That stuff always seemed awful oily and gummy to me. Never used it on my own firearms. I'm thinking a Teflon or PTFE-based dry lube would be a better idea for the M-16. Something that's not a stinking dirt magnet.