Break Cleaner vs. Retail bore cleaner

[n0xname]

What is the pros and cons?

[jonzer77]

If you buy brake cleaner at walmart you save a bunch of money, can't tell you a con because there aren't any.

[Southpaw45]

I like brake cleaner. I just avoid getting it on any polymer, plastic, wood or anything painted like some sights or S and F markings. Brake cleaner will not clean bores! It will only remove oil and some crud. It wont remove lead of copper fouling. For anything Glock type, I like this synthetic safe degreaser. >>>> http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm...prodID=BA33246

[GSwain]

I have heard that brake cleaner is harder on bores due to the amonia in it. IMHO, a weaker, less agressive solvent is better than a more agressive solvent, as it is harder to do any harm with it. I use brake cleaner on my cars, and Hoppe's on my guns.

[n0xname]

Yea...id prob just use on my ar and stay away from the grips....then go in and use solvent and oil...heck of a lot cheaper..

[Packy14]

Why not just use Mpro 7... its nontoxic, which can't be said of breakcleaner, and it will not harm your gun or grips

[Mickey D]

I use CRC brand Brake Kleen to flush out crud and powder residue from semiautos. I remove the grip panels first. Never had any adverse effects on the rest of the gun.
Remember to oil the gun well after, as the brake clean will remove all oils.
As for Polymer frames, I haven't tried using a brake cleaner. I only have one...HK USPc .45

[RTE]

Check out how caustic the brake cleaner is to you
and you will find something else to use.

[Mickey D]

Check out how caustic the brake cleaner is to you
and you will find something else to use.

[1_Grendel]

Ok break cleaner is great to remove oil but what about Carb cleaner it is designed to remove carbon; what is the byproduct of a gun going bang?
This is something I was turned onto while in the Army. I have not heard of adverse effects of using it besides that it may remove too much carbon from the barrel (seasoned barrel) and that after the use of Carb cleaner the gun should be well oiled. Thoughts???

[smoothy8500]

Carb or brake cleaner just has too many fumes for my liking. Beside, I still need something that effectively removes copper fouling.

[Reductio]

I only use brake cleaner occasionally on action parts. I don't put any down the bore, I stick to patch-out for that.

[1_Grendel]

i found this a while ago I don’t know the author but it is a good read

http://www.frfrogspad.com/cleaners.htm

*edit: i know of the guy/Jeff

[appagohm]

Another one of these forums, Here's the bottom line, if the solvent is not made for a gun i will never use it. There is a reason why companies spend money on research and develop gun cleaners and oils. I had a friend melt his polymer frame gun using the wrong solvent. Well it was deformed and the gun was trashed. If gun cleaner and oil is too expensive then you've got a problem. I usually wait until one goes on sale and stock pile a good cleaner/oil. I spent about 200 dollars and the stuff lasts me five years or more depending on my how often i go shooting, I usually go two to three times a week.

[Moto4Fun]

You would have to shoot A LOT to worry about the cost of cleaning products. I am sure someone has done the research to find a chemically similar product to gun cleaning solvents that might be cheaper, but I wouldn't go spraying random cleaners on the different surface finishes available today.