Using Lacquer Thinner to Clean Rifle Bores

[Milanodan]

Anyone using plain ol' lacquer thinner (not regular paint thinner) as their normal rifle bore cleaner? I've been using it for years with no known problems.




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[Horsemany]

Mineral spirits works well also. Nothing really works better than homemade Ed's Red IMO. 4 equal parts. Mineral Spirits, K1 Kerosene, Auto Transmission Fluid and Acetone. Ed's Red cleans quickly, leaves behind enough oil to prevent rust, and is cheap.

 

[skidooman603]

Welcome Milanodan! Yes the Ed's Red is worth the hassle to mix and inexpensive

 

[Milanodan]

Ed's Red is interesting. I used to use the old Hoppes No. 9 when it had nitrobenzene in it, but quit when they switched to ammonia.

I have all the ingredients on hand, so I'll give it a try. I used to use various gun oils on my model airplane engines when I put them away, and every one would slowly oxidize and turn gummy over the years. Went to Italy for 6 years and found the fliers use good ol' kerosene--never turns gummy and prevents rust.

 

[chuwee81]

i am using ed's red as well, so does my pastor. Good stuff.

 

[dfariswheel]

Lacquer thinner is a great degreaser but it has little effect on carbon fouling and no effect at all on copper fouling.

So, if you want to clean the lube out of the bore its great, but its not a bore solvent.

 

[briansmithwins]

Lacquer thinner has some interesting chemicals in it. Too interesting for me to use it regularly.

I use soapy water to clean after shooting corrosive ammo and surplus USGI RBC for non-corrosive ammo. BSW

 

[Sav .250]

Lacquer thinner? Now I`m wondering who uses Oven cleaner.

 

[Horsemany]

Lacquer thinner is a great degreaser but it has little effect on carbon fouling and no effect at all on copper fouling.

So, if you want to clean the lube out of the bore its great, but its not a bore solvent.

Gonna have to disagree here. Lacquer thinner has a big effect on carbon fouling. In fact it dissolves carbon fouling almost instantly. Faster than some dedicated bore solvents. Same goes for mineral spirits. The big down side to them IMO isn't that they don't clean, but they leave the surface devoid of oil and open to rust if not carefully oiled.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

it would do well on plastic fouling (shotty bbls) and carbon/oil residue but not to well on copper/lead fouling, but that's just my .02 from useing it as a painter. other cleaners be better on rifle bores to 'creep' under the metal fouling.

 

[Milanodan]

Interesting. Which ingredient in Ed's Red is supposed to clean the copper? I wonder if the ammonia in the newer Hoppes cleans it.

I never leave a barrel dry after using the thinner. Always swab it with ATF. I like the synthetic ATF--more resistant to oxidation.

 

[gazzmann]

Ammonia is very corrosive to copper and brass.