gun cleaning question

[WDN41]

Any body have an opinion about cleaning the innards of your handgun with brake clean solvent? I does a great job if you're changing brake pads on your car, and it's cheap. Metal or "plastic" frame?

[Hakoomay]

I certainly would not use Brake Cleaners on any firearm, unless you're looking to refinish it...

[hermosabeach]

I use it all the time- its a cheap version of powder blaster

Great carbon remover

I DO NOT use it on polymer nor wood.... it eats the finish on wood

polymer- who knows- polymer does not have a carbon build up issue... so no need to remove carbon with brake cleaner

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Any body have an opinion about cleaning the innards of your handgun with brake clean solvent? I does a great job if you're changing brake pads on your car, and it's cheap. Metal or "plastic" frame?

Sure brake cleaner is cheap, but really how expensive is a decent, proven-quality cleaner made specifically for firearms? How many firearms do you have to clean?! It's not like you blow through an entire spray can of gun cleaner each time you clean your firearm. I bet it's safe to say if you can afford the firearm you can almost certainly afford a gun-specific cleaner.

[hermosabeach]

https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/content/datasheets/Gun%20Scrubber%20Aerosol.pdf

3. Composition/information on ingredients
Mixtures
Chemical name Common name and synonyms CAS number %
methanol 67-56-1 40 - 50
naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated 64742-49-0
light
10 - 20
toluene 108-88-3 10 - 20
acetone 67-64-1 5 - 10
heptane, branched, cyclic and 426260-76-6
linear
5 - 10
n-heptane 142-82-5 1 - 3
solvent naphtha (petroleum), light 64742-89-8
aliph.
1 - 3
Specific chemical identity and/or percentage of composition has been withheld as a trade secret.

http://docs.crcindustries.com/msds/1003700E.pdf

CRC Brake cleaner
3. Composition/information on ingredients
Mixtures
Chemical name Common name and synonyms CAS number %
methanol 67-56-1 40 - 50
naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated 64742-49-0
light
10 - 20
toluene 108-88-3 10 - 20
acetone 67-64-1 5 - 10
heptane, branched, cyclic and 426260-76-6
linear
5 - 10
n-heptane 142-82-5 1 - 3
solvent naphtha (petroleum), light 64742-89-8
aliph.
1 - 3
Specific chemical identity and/or percentage of composition has been withheld as a trade secret.

[OCEquestrian]

I just buy Gun Scrubber on Ebay by the case.

[FeuerFrei]

I need more of a reason to open up the insides of a revolver or semi auto than to just clean it.

If and when I NEED to get in there I'll clean it with lighter fluid and an old tooth brush. De-grease with 91% alcohol and re-lube with oil/grease. Ancient recipe.

[003]

Use it on a regular basis, works great, never had an issue. Reading the label on both, they appear identical.

[Calif Hunter]

I do not like the stuff. I am sure it is just me and my ineptitude, but I have had rust issues as it strips pretty much everything off the parts. That is less of a problem with a bunch of disassembled parts that can be lubed again than an assembled action, for example. As my guns are not cheap, I prefer not to skimp on cleaners. I like Hornady One Shot Cleaner/Dry Lube for actions and for guns like my Ruger MKII. It is also an excellent dry lube and rust preventive. For AR parts, I soak in mineral spirits and brush clean. For barrels, I use a good bore cleaner and then Wipe Out. To get lead out of handgun bores, I clean with bore cleaner, brush well, and then run soaking wet patches of Kroil through the bore and let it sit to penetrate. After that, a brush seems to get the lead out in flakes.

That is my opinion....

[wpage]

Old hoppe #9 lasts a long time on my bench.

Why experiment with brake cleaner.

[divingin]

Sure brake cleaner is cheap, but really how expensive is a decent, proven-quality cleaner made specifically for firearms? How many firearms do you have to clean?! It's not like you blow through an entire spray can of gun cleaner each time you clean your firearm. I bet it's safe to say if you can afford the firearm you can almost certainly afford a gun-specific cleaner.

Ever read the MSDS for Crosman Pell Gun Oil? As a backstory, it's the manufacturer's recommended lube for their airguns. it's sold in a 1/2 oz tube, usually for $8-12. Reading the MSDS, it's 30 wt motor oil.

I use Berryman's B-12 for pistols quite a bit. I don't know if I'd use it on a polymer gun (I don't currently own one), but spraying a bit on a patch and wiping a hidden part will tell you if it attacks the plastic. I'm guessing it won't if the plastic stands up to other mainstream powder/carbon cleaning solvents.

[beerman]

I’ve used brake or carb cleaner for decades. Just be sure to remove wood grips 1st. I spray it over a trash can, then wipe it down with G-96. Bore gets brushed with hoppes9.

[Jeepergeo]

Any body have an opinion about cleaning the innards of your handgun with brake clean solvent? I does a great job if you're changing brake pads on your car, and it's cheap. Metal or "plastic" frame?

Sure, go ahead at use it on all your firearms. It's cheap and you have the collective approval of the folks here in the Interweb.

[mycrstuff]

Watch out for anything with wood grips or stocks. The brake cleaner will strip the finish. On metal parts it is great. It doesn't dry as fast as gunscrubber so you may need to wipe it dry to avoid spots.

[omega]

I used it on a Parkerized finish Mossberg shotgun and it damaged the finish

had to send the magazine tube to get refinished

I would not recommend any harsh cleaning products like that