Revisiting exterior cleaning processes and products ...

[Snakum]

When I got back into shooting a couple of years ago I read everything I could find on cleaning/lube products and found a few tests of various products from WD-40 to Kroll, etc. After gathering the info I started doing this after range sessions to clean everything except the bore:

1. Pull apart into major components; remove action from stock, pull bolt.
2. Aerosol spray brake cleaner into everything (except bore, of course). Into bolt, trigger mech, exterior, etc. Washes out/off carbon, powder, and dirt.
3. Spray CRC/silicon lube over everything and shake, swab and wipe everything out after rinsing well with the lube.
4. Apply CLP to everything, wipe excess off.
5. Clean bore (a whole 'nother thread ).

I don't use WD-40, but I do use silicone-based sprays as I have read numerous places it won't gum up or varnish surfaces like WD-40 and does provide some protection and lube. And I can't drip CLP into or onto every surface, so I like the aerosol delivery. I use the newest CLP formulation because it was among the best for corrosion protection in every accelerated test I could find in books or online and it always worked well for me in Uncle Sams Hunt Club. Cleaning this way is fast and easy, and has seemed to work well on everything from Glocks to AKMs to bolt guns. But in two years much can change and newer/better products are out all the time. I ran a search and got some good info but wanted to ask specifically this:


1.) Is there any new info/data on brake or carb cleaner that suggests it shouldn't be used?

2.) Anything new on silicone sprays for the intermediate step? Are there new aerosol sprays for displacing water, lubricating, protecting that work better without costing twice as much?

 

[briansmithwins]

If you leave off steps 2 & 3 that's pretty much what I do too.

I don't feel the need to solvent clean my weapons every time they are fired, like brake clean does.

I also figure that if I'm leaving a thin film of oil on the rifle, why spray it down with silicone spray? Applying the oil is probably going to remove most of the silicon anyway.

If the exterior is really muddy, I'll use the same soapy water solution* I use for cleaning corrosive ammo to clean the mud off. Rifle then gets an extra detail application of oil** with a small paint brush. I don't have any rust problems, either. BSW

When I knew it was going to be a wet match day.


Yes, we had to shoot thru the lowest port. Joy.


*Simple Green Aircraft cleaner (safe for aluminum) mixed with water.

**Aeroshell Fluid 18. It's a light gun oil with lots of EP and anti-corrosive additive that's 1/3rd the price of CLP.

 

[Snakum]

God I hated the canted firing station thru the port at my last comp! I knew how it is done but hadn't practiced. Very humbling (as was unsupported).

I was always told to follow the brake or carb cleaner with silicone so it covers inside trigger housings, screw threads, etc. where everything has been stripped off by the brake cleaner. But it seems that a good aerosol gun oil will do the same thing, and as you say, eliminate a step. Thanks.