favorite, most effective gun cleaner/ polisher

[macanudo14]

Hi I'm looking for a very effective gun cleaner. I have a shotgun that I obtained from a family member that doesn't look like it's been cleaned in about 10 years, there is burnt powder and crud all over it. I tried applying solvent with a q-tip letting it soak and then wiping it off and that worked for some of it but there is still a lot on it. So I'm looking for recommendations here. Also I got a stainless S&W revolver from the same person and it looks like he cleaned it with an SOS pad at one point so I'd like a good polish to make it look a little more shiny and a little less scratchy. Any recommendations will be appreciated thanks!!

 

[bannockburn]

Well I have never had a gun that was that dirty and left uncleaned so all I have ever used is Hoppes No. 9 for all of my gun cleaning jobs.

As for the S&W revolver, Mothers Mag Polish works great on polishing up stainless steel and making it as shiney looking as if it were nickel plated. It takes several applications but it's worth it as you will be amazed at how bright the stainless surface can be made.

 

[haybaler]

For the shotgun try BrakeKleen. I use it to clean all kinds of metal parts. I don't know what it will do to a wood finish so be careful with the stock. My old 1911 and Ruger P90 got really gunked up from shooting Wolf ammo so I removed the grip panels so I had nothing but metal parts and hosed them down with BrakeKleen inside and out. Cleaned them up very nicely.

 

[C0untZer0]

BrakeKleen is a very powerful cleaner but it has chlorinated esters in it which can cause corrosion in steel. If you're going to use engine degreaser, carb cleaner or brake cleaner then look for a label that says "Chlorine Free" on the product.

A lot of pentrating oils also have chlorinated esters in them - like Liquid Wrench for instance.

You might try mixing up some Ed's Red for this and liberally applying it - letting it soak and repeating.

1 part Dexron II, IIe or III ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.

1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1

1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits, Fed. Spec. TT-T-2981F, CAS
#64741-49-9, or may substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or
equivalent, (aka "Varsol")

1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.

I'm just saying Ed's Red because you can use a lot of it without racking up a big bill for a tiny bottle of solvent.