Removing Cosmoline

[meanmrmustard]

Great tips - thank you all. I see now my 91/30, m44 need more thorough cleaning. I haven't -- but what happens if you shot them and all the cosmoline wasn't cleaned off?

First time I did removal from bore (with mineral spirits ) I couldn't get the damned thing shiny. Mind you, this was about a decade ago.

I decided to shoot it anyway. Not very safe.

The round pushed the cosmoline out, bore was shiny.

Don't try that though.

 

[bluetopper]

The best thing I have used to get cosmoline off is gasoline. It dissolves it away quickly.

Of course, use common sense and heed all necessary precautions using it.

 

[280shooter]

I have used mineral spirits for years.I use a 5 gal. bucket, put the rifle in it, and keep running the spirts over the whole gun, if u let the gun in the spirits, the cos. will go to the bottom, and I reuse the spirits over and over,

 

[straightShot]

Scrape as much off as you can and then follow the recommendations for cleaning the wood. Remember to take the bolt apart and get the gunk out of the innards or you might have some light primer strikes at the range and end up scratching your head wondering why you have so many misfires. Brake parts cleaner works well on metal, but it will remove varnish from a stock, so keep it away from wood. You can use it on your bolt and can get it on sale at auto parts stores.

Have fun and be safe.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I used odorless mineral spirits(paint thinner) and submerge the entire gun,minus wood in an old bluing tank (6"x6"x40''). A plastic tray for wallpaper works well for guns 3' and shorter. An old parts brush from the auto parts store and an old tooth brush make it easy to remove the cosmo.

 

[Outlaw Man]

I actually uses Citri-Strip paint stripper from Walmart. I was having trouble with the cosmoline and decided to just strip everything and refinish it. It seemed easier. This stuff is actually citrus based and much gentler, but I still didn't leave it on for as long as the directions called for. I wipers it off and, voilà, it stripped off the cosmoline without stripping the stain.

I didn't time it or repeat it, though, so YMMV. You might end up with a bare stock.

 

[ThomasT]

Parasite in post 27 got it right. I used gas to clean the 98 mauser I bought from J&G sales. I used a shallow pan and an old paint brush and a deeper pan to clean the bolt. And gas does the cleaning very quickly. Just wear gloves and stay away from open flames. Eye protection would be nice too.

I have posted that before and got flamed by all the know it alls that say gas will harm you. I have been cleaning parts in gas since I was 8 years old and worked on my bikes. I am 56 and still just fine health wise.