Flushing Out Guns With Brake Cleaner?

[Mayor McRifle]

I often use Outers Nitro Solvent gun cleaner in an aerosol can to flush out grease, oil, and loose carbon from my guns during cleaning. I also sometimes use Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber to get carbon build-up out of hard-to-reach internal areas of my guns. The Outers Nitro Solvent lasts a long time, but it's getting harder to find. The Gun Scrubber does a good job, but it goes fast and it's getting pretty expensive.

Does anyone here use regular automotive brake cleaner for flushing out their guns? If so, does it work well? And does it do any damage to wood, synthetics, and painted parts?

[Citadelgrad87]

It's really hard on HK plastic, and unvarnished wood.

[Dirk Tungsten]

I've done it and it works ok. It flushes out lots of crap, including any rust preventatives, so make sure you lube all those nooks and crannies after using it.

[Mayor McRifle]

It's really hard on HK plastic, and unvarnished wood.

Okay, good to know. Thanks.

I've done it and it works ok. It flushes out lots of crap, including any rust preventatives, so make sure you lube all those nooks and crannies after using it.

But no adverse effects on any parts of the gun?

[TimRB]

But no adverse effects on any parts of the gun?

I use it to clean out the breech area of my AR, and also the trigger. It doesn't seem to do any harm to any plastics on that rifle, but as you have been warned, proceed with caution, because it nearly dissolved the grips on my Ruger MKII.

Tim

[mif_slim]

I used it for a bone dry AR15 i was testing. It ran bone dry for about 200rds before getting a stuck case due to tula ammo. But sadly i stopped testing that gun as a newborn was on the way. Never had the chance to finish that testing.

[Maltese Falcon]

Use it all the time, careful with plastic / rubber areas.

Glocks seem to handle it well though.

.

[wpage]

It leaves a dry surface. Be certain to follow with lube.

[f308gt4]

I use it all the time on all kinds of pistols and rifles. Never had an issue.

Non-Chlorinated from Walmart is something like $2.99 a can.

[nine mil thrill]

gun scrubber dissloved the white iridium dots on my slide. had to send it back in. never again.

[RobG]

Been using it for years. Just be careful with certain plastics and finishes. It will remove everything so make sure to use some type of rust preventative afterwards.

[bug_eyedmonster]

After some serious shooting with 1911s, I remove the grips, strip guns down, hose the frame and slide off with water, and then carefully spray brake cleaner, scrub, brake cleaner, and then spray with water displacing oil, wipe, and then lube. I tend to use my compressor to blow out between each stage, especially the water. I get the water displacing oil from my friend's machine shop.


Jerry

[Joezamboni]

I use brake clean a lot at work. Some plastics and rubber components are hit and miss in regards to damage to the finish occurring. I'd be weary of using it on any finish that I cared about that isn't bare metal. I never use it on a surface that a customer may see.

Certain brake clean products are much stronger than others. One brand will actually mess with/slightly "melt" the finish on my Snap On hard handle screw drivers.

[downskial]

Mayor. Plastic safe GunScrubber was my favorite. Blast away.
But $$$$$$ man !
Dechlorinated brake cleaner from wallymart will give you the same. I tape the straw on the can tip so it doesn't go flying. Blasts everything away. Cheap. Cheap.
I follow up with a super thin layer of Ballistol to give my guns thier color back, usually spray a rag and rub them down good. Then wipe dry.

Dechlorinated brake cleaner

Yes, if you are going to go the brake cleaner route, Non-chlorinated is a must

[meno377]

I often use Outers Nitro Solvent gun cleaner in an aerosol can to flush out grease, oil, and loose carbon from my guns during cleaning. I also sometimes use Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber to get carbon build-up out of hard-to-reach internal areas of my guns. The Outers Nitro Solvent lasts a long time, but it's getting harder to find. The Gun Scrubber does a good job, but it goes fast and it's getting pretty expensive.

Does anyone here use regular automotive brake cleaner for flushing out their guns? If so, does it work well? And does it do any damage to wood, synthetics, and painted parts?

It's really hard on HK plastic, and unvarnished wood.

If you neutralize with shaving cream and hot water immediately following, there shouldn't be any damage. And as others have already said, you need to oil it down immediately after it dries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSfFXj_3Js4