Hot water and soap OK for gun cleaning?

[DefiantDad]

I was watching this video (about alternative gun oils such as Mobil 1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYAMTQAOoM

and was thinking, if I run out of Hoppes and CLP, can I use other household cleaners and "Home Depot / Walmart" lubes?

What about just hot water and soap to clean? Then maybe olive oil? (Not ideal but in a pinch)?

Comments/advice?

 

[jeepnik]

If it will cut the crud sure. I put my BP handguns in the dishwasher. The dry cycle makes sure they are good and dry, then just lube them up.

As to olive oil, yea, you can use a vegitable based oil to slow corrosion, but it's going to get gummy real fast, and attract all sorts of dust bunnies. But as you said, in a pinch (like TEOTWAWKI).

 

[DefiantDad]

Hi - what is BP?

 

[foghornl]

BP generally refers to "Black Powder"...muzzle-loading arms and some older metallic cartrdige ammo

 

[DefiantDad]

Oh right. Thanks.

 

[C0untZer0]

Waiting for someone to say they use Simple Green and then the other someone to say they ruined the finish on their alloy gun with Simple Green...

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Hot soapy water is a great gun cleaner. Be sure to dry completely and lube as it removes ALL oils and grease.

 

[DefiantDad]

Shooting factory ammo, and mostly FMJ, we are usually just removing the carbon residue right? I don't see much copper "dust" come out of the bore when I am cleaning.

 

[Trent]

Defiant; Run a patch of Sweets down the barrel of any of your FMJ shooters. If it comes out BLUE/GREEN, you have copper in there. Repeat until it's .. not.

 

[Deus Machina]

I shoot corrosive ammo through my Mosin Nagant, and that's a part of the process.

Personally, I use janitorial ammonia. The stuff I got has a surfactant (aka: soap) and the ammonia removes copper.

I do prefer Hoppes #9 or Mobil 1 10w30 to lube Ivan, though.

 

[The-Reaver]

I concur. I use Soap and Hot water on my Black Powder stuff.

I like to boil a pot to pour onto the firearm after the cleaning is done. This speeds up the evaporation process.

 

[DefiantDad]

Will (any) water encourage rust? Or only if it is left on and not dried quickly?

 

[jimmyraythomason]

It's best to remove any excess water that doesn't evaporate with compressed air then spray liberally with WD-40 removing that excess with compressed air. No rust will form. I've used this method since the very early '70s. It is very effective.

 

[frankmako]

many mango seasons ago back in the early 70 i used hot water and soap to clean my m16. shake and sun dry and throw lsa on it. good to go.

 

[Deus Machina]

Will (any) water encourage rust? Or only if it is left on and not dried quickly?

It needs to be on long enough to actually oxidize. The time it takes you to clean a gun isn't long enough for that, just dry it and oil.

 

[StrutStopper]

Soap and hot water on my BP gun works for me.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

It works and so does Simple Green!

 

[Texan Scott]

Simple Green is PEOPLE! IT'S PEOP... oh, wait... never mind.

Try powdered laundry detergent... see if you get a 'phospate finish'

Liquid dish detergent is great degreaser... too good. if you strip it, be sure to grease it up again real good... WD-40 works, actually, just wipe it down afterward.

 

[1KPerDay]

Simple Green is PEOPLE! IT'S PEOP...

lol

 

[This Guy]

Sure just like any other metallic wood or composites. Just be sure to dry and lightly oil to keep rust away and I wouldn't use anything that could take any kinds of finishes off. Also be sure to use bore solvent. I've been cleaning my barrel with just oil, patches, and the little bore brushes that come in kits (no bore solvent, was out) for probably the past 200 bullets. Just used bore solvent and was amazed at the junk when I swabbed the barrel and I shot a noticibly tighter group so I would definitely be sure to use the solvent at least every once in a while.

 

[splithoof]

I have my "furniture" help me clean polymer pistol frames with a soap/water mix from a spray bottle, then blast it out with compressed air. After that it sits in the sun for a time to make sure it is really dried out. Simple Green? It works on heavy "soylent" build-ups.

 

[DefiantDad]

Hoppes solvent active ingredient is basically, ammonia right? For cleaning the bore and dissolving carbon build up.

 

[RickMD]

I'd be cautious about using WD-40 on any quality firearm. It will displace moisture but over time will build up a gummy residue especially in the lock work. Several years ago I paid a nice sum to have a gunsmith disassemble and clean the crap out of a nice Colt Python that I sprayed with WD-40. WD-40 is not meant to be used on firearms. It's best used for drying out electrical components or removing tar.

 

[DefiantDad]

WD40 is basically fish oil, right?

EDIT: OK guess not. http://www.wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I'd be cautious about using WD-40 on any quality firearm. It will displace moisture but over time will build up a gummy residue especially in the lock work. Several years ago I paid a nice sum to have a gunsmith disassemble and clean the crap out of a nice Colt Python that I sprayed with WD-40. WD-40 is not meant to be used on firearms. It's best used for drying out electrical components or removing tar.

Forget this,it's been proven false SOOOO many times if properly used. Too many folks tend to blame a product(even gunsmiths) when poor cleaning habits are the real culprit. Do not over use and you wont have any problems with WD-40. It's effectiveness at freventing rust is stellar.