BP cleaner discolor 1851 navy brass?

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ArtU

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Hi folks, I did do at least an hour of searching before posting so excuse me if this has been posted before.

I had gotten some TC Arms Number #13 non-toxic BP bore cleaner for my Ub 1873 45 long colt revolver when I shot it with Pyrodex, or BP. It cleaned the messy pyrodex pellet goo off real nice.

Yesterday I picked up a Cabelas (Pietta)Confederate 1851 Navy, yes with the brass frame. It looks nice but yes I know not as strong.

Today I shoot it with 20grains FFFG at 10 yards, and not bad shooting; just 1-1/2" high and 1-1/2" to the left. So I get home and use the #13 cleaner to clean the power off.

Powder came off nice but noticed where the cleaner had spilled out the backside over the brass, the brass was now orange :eek:

Not having any brass or metal polish (besides media) in the house, I tried the Weiman glass range top cleaner. This is to clean those black glass stove tops that have the burners built inside. It worked and cleaned/polished the brass back to normal.

Anyone else see this happen with #13 or other BP cleaners on the brass?

Its a shame it happened as this #13 clean the power off so well and is just like watery milk.

Art U
 
Could some of the stain used to dye the grips have run and caused the brass to turn orange?
Or maybe there was BP powder residue mixed in with the TC #13 and that was what turned the brass orange?
A lot of muzzle loading guns have brass furniture and I've never heard of TC #13 cleaner causing any to turn orange. And TC #13 has been around for many years.
 
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Possible explanation: The TC No. 13 contained some bp fouling residue, which will color brass. That is, the No. 13 that got on the brass had already come in contact with bp fouling - or, there was some on the frame/grips that your fingers transferred to the brass and the No. 13 dissolved it.

I've never had a problem with clean No. 13 coloring brass, but I have seen contaminated No. 13 leave spots on brass. Easy to clean off as you have found.
 
Hi guys, yes the #13 would have had BP fouling in it, as in that it got on the brass from being in the barrel first. Parts of it had not yet got to the handle and turned the cap loading area orange as well.

OK, so the #13 is ok, I will make sure the milk flows towards the muzzle and not the hand grip while cleaning ;)
 
You are gonna go nuts trying to keep that brass all shiny. BP fouling on its own will also tarnish the brass. The others figured it out for you: the fouling contaminated bore cleaner is the cause of the tarnishing, not the bore cleaner itself. I'd just shoot it, clean it and let it go until either you get sick of the patina or just before you sell or trade it, polish it up again. My brass frame Colt looks horrible but some day I'll shine it up but not for a while yet.
 
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