Ammonia Based Bore Cleaners?

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pdh

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After using ammonia based bore cleaners(I use Sweets)...is it nessecary to run a neutralizing agent...such as alochol.... through the bore?
I heard that if you do not run a neutalizing agent through the bore after using bore cleaners with ammonia in them..the ammonia will ecth the barrel.

After running sweets in the barrel,I dry the barrel with a couple dry patches and run hoppes #9 through it.Dry again and then use breakfree oil to coat bore.

I do not let the sweets soak either...anymore than what it says on the directions...15 mniutes.

Thanks for the help
Paul
 
Its best to make sure that any ammonia is out of the barrel to keep it from pitting which leads to stress corrosion cracking. Ammonia and ammonium salts are soluble in alcohol but also in petroleum distillates to some degree. Using Hoppes #9 after the copper solvent should take care of it.
 
With ammonia based bore cleaners, you want to get the residue out. These are for use with severe copper fouling not usually encountered in handguns. I have fire lapped my worst copper foulers and noted improvement. Removal at the end of the cleaning cycle for ammonia based solvents can be handled with your usual powder solvent; just patch, brush, and patch. JB paste is excellent, but seems better for other debris than copper fouling, in my experience.
 
I had fits with heavy copper racing stripes until I discovered JB's bore paste. Three treatments with JB's and copper fouling is substantially reduced. I keep some Sweets around for special occasions but I haven't had to use it for awhile. Lately I have gotten a bit lazy and just fill the barrel with Butch's bore shine and let it sit for a day or two and the copper usually dissolves on its own with minimal scrubbing.

ZM
 
Ammonia disolves copper, it will also cause stress corrosion cracking of brass. So remove residue of ammonia.
 
Thanks for all the info.But man......I'm scratching my head over this.

Looking over the bottle of the Sweet's 7.62 Slovent...it says it is harmless to steel.The solvent is non-acid with 5% ammonia.Get a whiff of it and it will knock you off your feet.

Hows come on the direction on use....it says on the last step of directions, once cleaning is finished,protect barrel with a rust preventative.
It does not say anything about making sure you get all ammomia of barrel.

A fellow I know that shoots benchrest(he is a smith to) told me it is ok to soak the barrel with sweets overnight if the copper fouling is real bad.I crinaged at the thought when he told me that and I definatley do not do it.

I always have copper in the barrels in my rifles after shooting and the milder solvents do not seem to get the job done and I hate to use Sweets to much.Maybe I am not patient enough with the milder solvents,but the Sweets really works good for me.

I am probably making a mountain out of a mole hill over this.I just don't want to screw up the barrels.

Thanks so much guys for the info and help..really appreciate it.
Paul :) :) :)
 
Well, one of the reasons why they say to protect the bore is because ammonia does a pretty good job of removing all traces of oil. Leaves the bore bare.

But, Precision Rifle a number of years ago (1990s) had several articles on the bore damage that ammoniate solvents could cause, or at least help accellerate.

It's apparently impossible to remove all traces of ammonia from the micro fissures in barrel steel.
 
Shooters Choice Bore Solvent

I avoid any problems associated with any cleaners with ammonia. I use Shooters Choice which does not contain any ammonia. It cleans thru a process called "Passivation". Essentially, penetrating oils go underneath the fouling to clean the barrel.
 
When necessary I use Tetra copper remover in my bores. However, when finished, I reclean the the bore with MPro-7 to remove any leftover ammonia. I then recoat with either Break-Free CLP or Militec-1 which ever is within reach.
 
dry out bore prior to firing - oil in bore!

Just make sure that you dry out the bore prior to firing. Any lubricant can leave a fairly heavy film that can and will elevate chamber pressures. I always totally dry the bore prior to firing. Break-Free or FP10 will keep the bore in good condition. However, other oils may not have any rust prevention and you are wasting your time by lubing the bore. :)
 
Looking over the bottle of the Sweet's 7.62 Slovent...it says it is harmless to steel.The solvent is non-acid with 5% ammonia.Get a whiff of it and it will knock you off your feet.
Click to expand...

Ammonia is a high pH (base or caustic) compound. It works wonders on neutralizing the acids from corrosive ammo shooters like me.

Ammonia is the absolute death knell for admiralty metals (brass, copper etc..) and exposure to same should be avoided. This is why it is such a good copper remover.

As far as steels, ammonia is relatively harmless. Industrial applications with ammonia utilize normal carbon steel pipe and tanks for storage and transport.

Ammonia will readily evaporate away, and is highly absorbable in water. There is more danger posed by the water in the cleaning solution to barrels than the ammonia. Clean it, dry it and oil it.
 
Ian...

Thanks for the boost. I had used Butch's on the two barrel types (above) last Tuesday and got to reading threads on this - and started sweating since I just dry patched them and didn't oil. I don't shoot every day, but do swap carry types some often.

I think your info will tend to alert others who "nurture" more intensively than I. We'll probably get a couple more responses.

Thanks again.

-Andy
 
I don't think little copper "racing stripes" hurt accuracy. Elmer Keith even said it helped smooth out the bore. Old fashioned metal fouling involved LUMPS of jacket material in the bore. That could prove to have an effect on accuracy among other things.
 
S&W - No ammonia

Just bought a performance center S&W 629 44 in stainless - manual says do not use ammonia based cleaners . . . . if I had it in front of me I'd give you a direct quote but I think it mentioned that it can damage the barrel .
 
Cheez...

We have so many " Yes it hurts" and "No it doesn't" that I am at a loss. Kinda like coffee, margarine, wine, booze, and women... today they are in - tomorrow OUT.

Think I'll clean things like I always did - Hoppes and oil. If the copper gets me - so be it. It's not like I shoot off 10k rounds a year or something. Cleaning every 20 +/- rounds? Play hell in combat, wouldn't it? But then, match stuff is much different.

To tell the truth, that ammonia scared me when I opened that bottle the first time - wasn't expected. Don't remember reading here or TFL about copper cleaners being ammonia-ized. Next time some miraculous concoction comes out that crucifies the eyballs - let's get a "Bench" report, huh? I mean $3600 for a cataract removal and - open a bottle of copper cleaner... wham, eyeball fatigue. ;)

Later.
-Andy
 
Nothing spurs a good debate here like the topic of "Best way to do......fill in the blank". One of the reasons I love this place.

The key is moderation. If you have copper fouling its OK to use, don't use it for every day cleaning. I won't dispute a manufacturers recommendations on its use in a specific gun, they have thier own reasons I imagine.

I use it for two things, copper removal and nuetralizing the acids from corrosive ammo. In both cases I keep the exposure to the barrel at a minimum for just the time needed to do its specific job. I have noted no ill effects from its use over many years and many rifles and pistols (Nasal irritation aside!).
 
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