carburetor cleaner use on guns?

All the time inside my shotgun barrels - gets the crud out, especially when I chuck a brush in the drill

use carb and brake cleaner,both work,cut crud.good for blasting cleaner into cracks ect. not good for stock finishes. jwr

I use carb cleaner, or brake cleaner. Whatever is on sale. Have for decades.

Non-chlorinated brake cleaner here. Don't get any on wood stocks or grips as it may dis-color.

Carb cleaner--no.
Brake cleaner--yes.

Carb cleaner will dissolve or harden plastic, rubber and possibly the finish on wood. Brake cleaner will not. (That said, I would still keep the brake cleaner away from wooden parts and finishes.)

Carb cleaner comes in two kinds: flammable and toxic. I avoid it.

The toxic kind is methylene chloride. The flammable kind is a blend of acetone, toluene, xylene, MEK, and other organic solvents.

brake parts cleaner, it isn't just for drums and disks

I used it in the Army to clean M16s. I use it now to clean my AR15.

All the time. I have been using brake cleaner more though just because I got a bunch for cheap. About $1 a can of CRC brake cleaner, electrical contact cleaner, and other stuff.

I try to keep it off wood, and most plastic, however it doesn't hurt all plastic.

carb cleanner, gun scrubber it is all the same, the carb cleanner is much cheaper, and that is what i use, after about 3000rds in a gun i spray the whole gun, give it a good hosing, follow normal cleanning procedures, change springs that need to be changed and relube and i am good to go.

I have used it on ar's, ak's, sks's, 1911's, xd's, glocks, and many more. no issues.

Just a +1 to 9mmepiphany's post about this stuff being an excellent degreaser so just in case it's slipped anyone's mind for the moment remember to lube or run an oily rag over the metal after unless they are stainless parts.

Break cleaner and diesel, works like a charm.

Keep it off plastic parts. Works great, but removes all oil.

+1 and throw in an air compressor

Oh yes.

Of course, you have to be careful about sensitive parts like wood stocks and whatnot, but for the most part, it's just fine.

When I crud a gun (like shooting a .22 auto pistol) I remove the stocks, blast it with brake cleaner from WallyWorld, and blast off the excess in my garage. I use a 'gun cleaning toothbrush' like the ones you get with your M16 or buy from Brownells to get more stubborn crud loose.
Then it gets the regular cleaning. After that, I use some light spray lube, blow off the excess, and wipe it clean. Then a bit of lube on the parts that need it, and I'm in business.

No, I might not do that with all guns, but for what I own, they get treated like good tools, and this procedure works for me.

You guys are talking "carcinogenic"....I hope you wear Dr's examination gloves like I do, not the cheap plastic serving gloves they sell at Wallyworld..

You guys are talking "carcinogenic"....I hope you wear Dr's examination gloves like I do, not the cheap plastic serving gloves they sell at Wallyworld..

Click to expand...

i have to wear gloves when i use that, it burns and it can't be healthy.

You guys are talking "carcinogenic"....I hope you wear Dr's examination gloves like I do, not the cheap plastic serving gloves they sell at Wallyworld..

Click to expand...

meh, I've used brake/carb cleaner for years without wearing gloves - even use it co clean my hands from time to time after particularly nasty automotive work...

FWIW I use gun scrubber, it might be more expensive than the brake and carb cleaner I have in the garage - but it's likely going to be safer for the wood and plastic while still doing a good job and it's not that often that I need to spray out a gun so a single can will last me months...

Yes, especially for AKs and SKSs. I would use it on removed bolt carrier groups for ARs, I would probably not use it in classic bolt-rifles.

There is more than one kind of carb cleaner, and some of them can eat anodize right off aluminum, and or stain it. Most of the carb cleaners will eat plastics and nylons.

There is more than one kind of brake cleaner too. Probably the most common is carbontetracloride 'dry cleaning fluid'.

Each one does something the others won't. Carbon tet, cuts oils and grease really well.

Most carb cleaners eat varnish, so which one depends on what it is you are cleaning, doesn't it?

Some of these will damage blueing, and will ruin wood, as well....

Breathing these chems isn't a good thing.. But you won't need me to tell you 'take it outdoors, as any women will kick you out upon first whiff! And then she will go soak her finger nails in acetone...

Both are great for removing cosmoline.

They both cause cancer in California. Every one living in the the other 49 will be OK.