Using lighter fluid to clean bore???

[RDCL]

A co-worker freind of mine & I were talking about gun cleaning at work the other day. My freind stated that he uses lighter fluid instead of Hoppes for cleaning out his guns.

I kept stating that he should be using a dedicated cleaner/solvent like Hoppes....but he dis-agrees and says his method is cheaper & better.

I've never heard of this practice of swabbing out with lighter fluid......what say you guys?


Russ

 

[.45Guy]

I've been known to use kerosene when it was all I had. It works fairly well for cosmolene removal as well.

 

[MikeJackmin]

Might wreck the finish on the wood, but it probably cleans the bore pretty well. Just be sure to oil it afterwards.

 

[Gatofeo]

Lighter fluid is not nearly as good as Hoppes No. 9.
It may remove powder fouling, but it will do nothing to remove lead and copper fouling.
I know because I use both.
I clean with Hoppes No. 9. When the bore is completely clean, I lightly oil with 3-In-1 or other light oil if I'm going to store the gun for any length of time.
At the range I use lighter fluid on a patch to degrease the chamber and bore before firing. It's very good for this as it leaves no substances behind. It also comes in a handy applicator, with spout, that allows you to neatly put a few drops on a patch.

But lighter fluid as a total cleaner? No. I use it solely as a degreaser before shooting.
It's also useful for degreasing small parts or sights before using touch-up bluing.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Might wreck the finish on the wood

No, naphtha won't hurt the finish on much of anything. I use it a lot at the shop for cleaning plaques, removing stickers and the like. It does do a nice job of degreasing, but I doubt it would clean the bore very well.

A cheaper way to buy it is by the quart at a home center (VM&P Naphtha). That's solvent grade though, don't use it in your Zippo.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Being mostly naphtha, lighter fluid should make a fine degreaser. Powder or bullet material fouling, not so much.

 

[Average Joe]

Why not use a product for what its intended for. Example : Lighter fluid for lighters, gun cleaner for guns, brake cleaner for breaks etc......

 

[CajunBass]

Why not use a product for what its intended for. Example : Lighter fluid for lighters, gun cleaner for guns, brake cleaner for breaks etc......

Wow. There are some real radicals on this forum.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Why not use a product for what its intended for. Example : Lighter fluid for lighters, gun cleaner for guns, brake cleaner for breaks etc......

Reminds me of posts on a chainsaw forum asking about substitutes for bar and chain oil.

Why not just use bar and chain oil? Its not expensive.

 

[JohnBT]

I know of a recommended use for lighter fluid.

www.shootersjournal.com/misc/JewellTriggerAdj.htm

Instructions for Jewell triggers...

"Cleaning: Flush after each barrel cleaning with lighter fluid. The use of lubricants is not recommended."

The lighter fluid provides all the lube the trigger needs.

JT

 

[Wesson Smith]

The link to the Jewell trigger is interesting. When I clean my revolvers,
I just cock the hammer and squirt a little Zippo down into the trigger
assembly. It was a tip from an a guy I know who has been hunting
and shooting for years and years. Does the trick, for me.

 

[Yo Mama]

This is fricking crazy! Always good to know what works in a bind!

 

[bdickens]

...he dis-agrees and says his method is cheaper & better.

Jeez! How expensive is a bottle of bore solvent anyway? Five bucks?
I'm with using things for their intended purposes.