Cleaning Question

[Glen]

I am not sure why I should pay more for a spray made for cleaning guns like Gun Scrubber or Powder Blast when I could go much cheaper and use a carburator cleaner aerosol.

 

[nipprdog]

Don't use carburetor cleaner!!!

If you want to save $, use a non-chlorinated brake cleaner.

 

[Glen]

Well, I haven't used it, but I am curious as to why you recommend against it. Would it hurt the bluing or somehow cause a problem?

 

[rcmodel]

Brake cleaner is fairly harmless to most firearms parts.

Carb cleaner is liable to eat the plastic trigger guard for breakfast.
We won't even talk about stock finish, but it won't be pretty.

In any case, it is best to take the grips or stock off and only use brake cleaner on the internal action parts.

And do it outdoors so you don't breath the fumes!

rc

 

[h-word]

I remember hearing about heated carb cleaner turning into chlorine gas which is a very terrible thing to breathe...

 

[john1911]

Why do people spend several hundred dollars on a gun then complain about spending $8-$10 on cleaning supplies that will last a year or more?

 

[oneounceload]

$2 brake cleaner is what I use on my barrels and choke tubes - it is able to immediately get the crud out of those fine threads - remember to relube everything, as brake cleaner removes all oils, etc.

$8-$10 worth of supplies lats me maybe a month - so $25 a year or $120 a year - makes MY decision easy. Just like any other hobby, when a company takes a generic product and applies it to a specific hobby or sport, the price skyrockets.

If you don't like brake cleaner, make up some Ed's Red

 

[Drail]

Carb cleaner is made to dissolve lacquer and varnish from evaporated fuel in your carburetor. Neither of which will be found in a firearm. The cheapest solvent you will probably find is diesel fuel or kerosene. The military has used these as a field expedient for many years and they work well. They do stink like hell. I agree with refusing to pay for high priced products when most of your money is going to some marketing geeks. Ed's Red is easy to mix and very inexpensive in the long run. I have used Breakfree CLP ever since it was introduced to the military and it does everything needed. It will not dissolve copper fouling, if you shoot a lot of jacketed rounds buy a small bottle of copper solvent. Sweet's is very good. If you have lead fouling buy a Lewis Lead Remover tool or use copper scouring pads wraped around a worn out bore brush. Aerosal spray cans waste most of the product. You should only need a few drops to clean a handgun. Save the carb cleaner for your carb.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Been using brake cleaner for years.......Yep, I use Ed's Red for a solvent, but rinse it off with cheapo brake cleaner.

 

[Glen]

Well, I sure like all the responses. Glad to get all this feedback.

Thanks!