Handgun soup?

[Andrew Rothman]

I was talking to a guy at the range (don't all stories start that way?) and I asked what he had in his holster.

It was the exact same gun as I have - a Ruger KP95DC. But while my grip is a shiny, pure black, his was a matte charcoal gray. What the heck?

"I boiled it," he said.

He went on to say that it's the only way to get black powder rifles clean, and now he detail-stripped and boiled all of his guns to thoroughly clean them.

He insisted that it didn't hurt the polymer. Me, I start to wonder if when it looks different, it might act differently, like, say, blowing up?

Anyone else seen this? Is it advisable for any guns, let alone plastic ones?

 

[possenti]

I once read that Eddie Van Halen boiled his guitar strings to help get his "signature sound", but this one's new to me...

 

[Standing Wolf]

"I boiled it," he said.

If he had half a brain, he'd fry it.

 

[P95Carry]

I'm no expert at all on polymeric compounds but .... have a feeling that regular high temperature treatment such as I am imagining .. will NOT help the structure ... color change must be indicative of something .. even if just dye coming out.

The material is IIRC long chain molecules ... and I wonder if this would begin to weaken bonds etc.

Not for me .... nope!

(My P95DC is still nice and black .... under the Hogues!)

 

[MagKnightX]

I believe that the polymer is hydrolytically? hydrostatically? something like that... hydro-something attacked and weakened immensely by water in excess of 120 degrees F.

 

[lycanthrope]

IPSC/USPSA shooters regularly modify the polymer frames of the STI/SVI guns with a Dremel and soldering irons/woodburners. When the polymer is exposed to heat it will change color. My STI Edge has shown no problems after modifying the grip thousands of rounds ago.

I doubt it will be a problem, but you never know how it will do over time. I also can't say if the Ruger's polymer is the same compound as other guns. I'd be more concerned about warpage and the mags not dropping free than breakage.

 

[Mr. Mysterious]

Sometimes a shortcut is not the best way. While he may be cleaning his gun faster, he may be setting himself up for failure.

 

[Preacherman]

Just as long as he doesn't boil it too long. It must be al dente, not al wet noodle!

 

[Ratus]

I believe the frame is made from glass reinforced GE Xenoy resin which I think has a melting point around 284°F or so.

Boiling it in 212°F water might cause the to frame crack and fail sooner then if it wasn't boiled.

But, I think it just changed the surface texture.

Matt Payne said:
He insisted that it didn't hurt the polymer. Me, I start to wonder if when it looks different, it might act differently, like, say, blowing up?

But, why do you think it may "blow up"?

AFAIK the cartridge is still surrounded with about a pound of steel.

 

[sturmruger]

I heated up a Fobus holster to modify the retention slightly. It did change the look of the kydex. It changed it from a matte finish to more of a gloss. I heated up by placing it next to a red hot burner on the kitchen stove. Works great now.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

If the frame were to crack, the slide might just shoot off the back.

I guess that's technically "blowing apart," which is close enough for me!

 

[scowan007]

I heated up a Fobus holster to modify the retention slightly. It did change the look of the kydex. It changed it from a matte finish to more of a gloss. I heated up by placing it next to a red hot burner on the kitchen stove. Works great now.

When did Fobus start making Kydex stuff? I thought all their stuff was plain ol' plastic.

 

[sm]

I was thrown off guard by thread title.

I thought perhaps something useful for RG, Loricin, Ravens...etc., had been discoverd, like making soup spoons or ladles.

Like "boot soup" boil the boot , throw the boot away and sip the "soup"...

I figure the metallurgy wouldn't hold up on a Loricin spoon...especially with the "chuncky variety" of soups.

 

[Kodiak AK]

possenti I once read that Eddie Van Halen boiled his guitar strings to help get his "signature sound", but this one's new to me...
Bass players do that all the time . It cleans the oil and gunk from your fingers off the strings so they last longer .

 

[BarnsBeware]

Dang, Kodiak beat me to it. Boiling guitar strings help lengthen the lifespan too.

On a semi-related note, I boiled a glock sock to get it over the bottom of my friend's CZ-52. Much more comfy to hold...

Never do it to clean my guns though... too iffy, though I'm sure it doesn't affect metal nearly as much as the polymer.

 

[Justin]

So long as you're using modern smokeless powder, there is absolutely no reason to use boiling water to clean a gun.

The only reason to use boilling water to clean a gun is if you're shooting corrosive ammo. For instance, much of the surplus 7.62x25 pistol ammo that is on the market is corrosive. Failure to clean all of the corrosive gunk out of the weapon can cause problems. The most effective way to clean that gunk out is with water, followed by a good scrubdown with your favorite gun cleaner.

I have no idea if black powder is also corrosive, but I have heard that some black powder shooters clean their guns with hot water as well.

 

[lycanthrope]

Oh yeah, black powder is corrosive. My Flintlock gets dunked in a bathtub of hot water after every shooting session. Absolutely no harm done.

 

[41mag]

Anyone here live in a state where it's warm right now?Maybe they could set a couple of black stocked pistols or an ar out in the direct noon sun for a while.Then take a temp reading.I'd bet its pretty high.Not 3rd wk of july high but it might be interesting.