Gun Scrubber for use on BP?

[Packman]

Folks,

Sorry I ask so many questions. I'm going to keep doing it. I'm new to blackpowder and I'm rather curious, so bear with me.

I use a solvent called GunScrubber for cleaning all my normal firearms. I love the stuff. It does a great job. I was reading the side of the can today, and it says among its suggested applications that it can be used with muzzleloaders. Personally, I equate "muzzleloader" with blackpowder.

However, I know most people say not to use anything petroleum based on BP guns. (I don't know for sure that this stuff is petroleum based.) Has anyone tried it? It works wonders on normal firing crud, particularly on my shotgun.

I also have some Hoppes BP solvent. I tried a side-by-side comparison with a couple grains of FFG today, and the Hoppes made the grains disintegrate, while the GunScrubber didn't do too much. Does that mean that I'm going to be wasting my time using it, or does that mean that it's going to turn into the dreaded "goo" I hear so much about in regards to modern solvents mixed with BP?

Thanks,

Packman

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

I don't use it much but it will work. I have 2 or 3 cans of it I picked up at Wal-Mart's a couple of years ago. I normally just use a cleaning rod, bore brush, cleaning solvent, toothbrush, patches, pipe cleaners, and some gun oil. Break my piece down and scrub it good, paying particular attention to every detail. The only water that's going to get on one of my guns is if I am out in the rain or if I accidently pee on it, and I don't give a rat's rectum how Kit Carson done it. I keep my guns clean and in tip top shape. My guns shoot first time every time. I will stake my life on any of my guns if need be and I have more than once and I'm still here and still kicking..Gun Scrubber will help you if you do all the rest of it to and don't alway's be looking for some kind of shortcut, because if you clean your piece right then there ain't any shortcut..Best I can tell you....

 

[dawico]

Sorry, but isn't soap and water the easy cleaning method for BP? I don't have much experience with BP, but the little I have shot cleaned up very easy with ordinary dishsoap and warm water. I know that wasn't the OP's question, but are chemical cleaners a little overkill when the easy solution is right there by the sink? Just be sure to dry your firearm completely and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

I guess water will work if that's what one want's to use. None of my business. I know I'd use damn kerosene or burnt motor oil before I'd clean my piece with water although I know many people (probably most of them) do..Anyway, that Gun Scrubber is a pretty good product..I have a passing familiarity with it..

 

[mykeal]

Gunscrubber will work for cleaning black powder, but it's an expensive thing to use when plain old water will do just as good a job.

The issue with petroleum based products and black powder is not the reaction between the powder and the petroleum itself, but rather the exposure of the petroleum to black powder combustion gas. That is, when you fire the gun. Black powder burns at a relatively low temperature compared to smokeless powder, which results in incomplete combustion of the low distillate petroleum compounds in some cleaners and solvents. This incomplete combustion produces that famous petroleum product we classify as tar.

You can use all the petroleum based cleaners and solvents you want when cleaning or preserving a black powder gun, but be sure to thoroughly remove it from the areas of the gun that are exposed to combustion gasses before firing it. Alcohol will do the job nicely and is inexpensive.

Just a word about high distillates: the more refined the petroleum product is the less likely it is to produce the tar when exposed to black powder combustion. In particular the mineral oil based cleaners and solvents are usable in black powder guns even though they are 'petroleum based'. Examples of this are Ballistol and Butch's Bore Shine.

 

[Oyeboten]

I just use Hot Soapy Water...and a bristle Bore Brush...takes like two minutes to clean a Cap & Ball Revolver.

Works wonderfully, dry with Heat from a Space Heater in Winter, ambient Air is hot enough to dry the parts in Summer.

I use thin home-made Lube Wafer between Powder and Ball, and these allow everything to clean up very easy and no fouling clings to anything.

BP Metallic Cartridge Revolver, same story...

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have used the soap and water method for a while, with a drying in the oven on low temps after, then a good soaking in bore butter.

No rust so far but I'm starting to reconsider the whole idea. Might try the Gun Scrubber, I've used it on other things in the past.

 

[Packman]

I'm taking my 58 Remington to the range tomorrow. I'm going to use Gunscrubber to clean it and see what happens.

I can understand the logic behind the soap and water. But, it just sounds like a decent amount of work, what with drying in the oven and all that. When I go to the range, I usually wind up with about 2-5 guns to clean after the trip. So, having a process established speeds things up and makes the task that much less work. Using gunscrubber means I dont' have to change my habit any.

I know, if I want speed and simplicity, a cap and ball pistol isn't it. I know they're a different animal, but that's not my point. I'm going to try it and see how it goes. I'll post again on here after I'm done and let y'all know how it went.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Gun Scrubber folks is part 2 of a three part process, Bore Scrubber, Gun Scrubber, followed by Barricade. Gun scrubber is not the cleaner. It is in fact Hexane and rubbing alcohol. It's designed to remove the Bore Scrubber and the crud it loosened, degrease and therefore remove the solvents, and then evaporate. So if you are getting any sort of results..., it's from the rubbing alcohol mostly, and any residual lube left in the barrel is being taken care of by the hexane. Bore Scrubber is kerosene with a several other components added, and is designed to remove copper fouling from a barrel as well as clean. Neither product is designed to neutralize or remove the acidic residue from black powder, and the residue from BP is much greater than that from smokeless cartridges as well. It is this residue that combines with moisture from the air that forms corrosive compounds that eat up BP barrels.

The system is meant for folks who shoot a lot, and shoot often, and don't have the time to always break down a smokeless firearm between shooting. It is most definately not what you want to do if you shoot your BP stuff once a month or less.

Gun Scrubber or generic "brake cleaner" are great especially on revolvers, for eliminating that tiny bit of moisture from nipples and threaded nipple ports, and works well in complicated "patent" breeched rifles or shotguns to again, remove the last bit of pesky moisture, but that's all it will really do for you (imho)..., but so is alcohol and a q-tip.

IF you don't want to use what has been used for several centuries [water] then try 90% or higher rubbing alcohol, and when finsihed drying, don't forget your rust preventative.

For those in a hurry, you can also get very good results by getting a portable compressor for you car/bike, the type that plugs into your car's power tap. Mine came with an electric adaptor for in home use, and a needle for inflating footballs or soccer balls. Use the needle, and after scrubbing with the alcohol, air dry the tight spaces. Follow with a very good rust preventative.

BTW very hot water, or oven drying, accelerates the formation of iron oxides..., you rust the metal quicker.


LD

 

[BlackNet]

I use it at the range when I am finished shooting before packing up.

 

[Packman]

Ok, as promised, I took my new toy to the range yesterday. I brought it home to clean, and here's what I found:

Gun scrubber does an acceptable job. However, I found that my best results came from Hoppes BP solvent, followed by Gun Scrubber. The Hoppes did a better job of getting the residue out, but it's messy in it's own right. The GS did a nice job of cleaning up the Hoppes.

It was real nice to use on the cylinder, since the back end near the nipple threads is a tricky spot to clean. It was also nice to have on the nipples themselves, because you can just kinda blast the nipples clean. Can't much do that with the Hoppes.

I think for now, I'm going to continue using the combo of Hoppes followed by Gunscrubber. I'm just not crazy about the idea of water on my gun, if nothing else because it's way more likely to make a mess in my kitchen, whereas with my present method, all my mess is contained to the porch where it can't hurt anything.

 

[mykeal]

??????
Water isn't allowed on the porch?

The only time I ever had anyone get upset with water on my porch was when one of the guys tried to pour some in his bourbon.

 

[Pyro]

Soap and water is what I use with my BP revolver.
The hotter the water the better, I just brake the gun down to it's sub-parts and toss it in for a soak while I scrub the barrel (which is also in the water). I was wow'd by how much fouling just "fell off" the cylinder as it was soaking. I use BP solvent for the barrel to get into the rifling but thats about it. Scrub all parts clean then let dry. Give it a spray with some gun lube and bam it's clean.
Anybody know if WD-40 would make a good lube for a BP revolver? I've been told mixed feelings towards it, that some have used it for years without an issue and others have icky stories to tell from using it.

 

[ontarget]

Soap,water, scrub, oven dry@150degrees hose down with WD-40 while still hot. Now before you shoot it again, clean all wd out of barrel and cylinder chambers. Good to go.
Works for me NO RUST EVER!!!!!!!

 

[Fingers McGee]

Balistol, Birchwood Casey BP solvent, and water. Balistol loosens fouling and cap residue, BC BP solvent dissolves the stuff the Balistol doesnt, water washes everything away. Then final coating with Balistol keeps everything rust free & lubed.

IMNSHO, Gun Scrubber is an unnecessary expense when cleaning C&Bs. Works great on that newfangled smokeless stuff though.

 

[arcticap]

XXX