Solvents and cleaning M&Ps

[rbernie]

My primary range 9mm M&P has about 8K rounds thru it, mostly handloaded 124gr cast lead/Unique loads. I am also not really hung up on cleaning the pistol, and at most it gets a quick wipedown every 1000 rounds or so - just to remove the majority of the waxy bullet lube residue goo from key areas. The pistol is now ready for a decent cleaning; the trigger spring is unrecognizable as cylindrical in shape and in general it's one yukky mess inside.

What has everyone's experiences been WRT the M&P and the use of brake cleaner or other solvents?

 

[Disaster]

You should only use polymer safe cleaners to clean plastic pistols like the M&P. Birchwood Casey specifically sells a GunScrubber that is "synthetic safe."

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0037557227899a.shtml

 

[Zhivago]

Birchwood Casey specifically sells a GunScrubber that is "synthetic safe."

I have trouble getting into all the tight spots on the frame of my M&P9. Can this stuff just be sprayed on all the internals then blown off with compressed air or do you have to wipe it off? If you have to wipe it off, it doesnt seem all that much better than solvent.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Gun Scrubber and similar volatile chemicals evaporate rapidly by themselves and leave no residue of their own; there is no need to blow it off afterwards. I agree that you should stick with the "synthetic safe" versions, just to be on the safe side.

 

[Storm]

Birchwood Casey polymer safe GunScrubber is good stuff. I also use Break-Free Powder Blast. It's a little more use friendly.

 

[researchdoc]

Sounds Like A Job For

Poly-Dunkit...
As gummed up as you say.. this will do the trick... for sure...
It is polymer safe as it is made specifically for that.
I love it. Works great on my polys. I don't do anything but throw it in the bucket and let it do the work.. I don't even brush anything afterwards.
I blow it out, wipe it down, and I am good to go....
Try it....
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/dunkkittec.shtml

 

[HeavyDuty]

The pistol is now ready for a decent cleaning; the trigger spring is unrecognizable as cylindrical in shape and in general it's one yukky mess inside.

Careful - that "yukky mess inside" is probably actually the spring dampener! IIRC that spring has a polymer (?) insert.

 

[FieroCDSP]

That spring does have a foam insert that acts as a damper. From what I understand, it's a necessary item to keep the trigger-spring from breaking due to some kind of harmonic-induced stress.

Remove the spring carefully, pull the foam out, and clean it with some warm, soapy water. Squeeze it out, let it dry, then stuff it back in with a small screwdriver.

 

[j1979]

is simple green safe to use as a cleaner on polymer guns? Ive also read good things about MPro 7. I have no experience with either, anyone have insight on these products?

 

[givo08]

Gunscrubber is not meant to clean out carbon and lead build up. It breaks down oils and lubricants and other solvents. I would use something like Hoppe's #9 to break down and clean out all the crud in there and then gunscrubber (synthetic safe) to take out all the hoppe's #9 and the old lubricant. Then relube.

 

[Storm]

Gunscrubber is not meant to clean out carbon and lead build up.

That's a good point. My practice is to apply the Hoppes, let it sit for a bit to loosen things up, and then brush, followed by GunScrubber. Gun Scrubber (or Powder Blast) will get some of the carbon just from the force of the blast, but you really need to do the brushing with a solvent first.