Hoppes 9 versus ammonia

[Cato]

Don't laugh, I remember reading once about cowboys using urine to clean their "fight'n irons." That got me thinking, is Hoppes 9 mostly amonia? It smells a lot like amonia. Are Hoppes users getting one put over them? Would a 99 cent bottle of amonia clean just as well as a $9.99 bottle of Hoppes 9?

[vantage]

I've moved off Hoppes lately in favor of Breakfree CLP. World of difference too. Breakfree's cleaner works in a fraction of the time with a fraction of the effort.

[tophatjones]

Hi,

DON'T use ammonia! Depending on the concentration of the solution you get, it can be highly toxic. It definitely is corrosive. Hoppes 9 has less than 10% ammonia by weight. It also has kerosene, ethyl alcohol, xylene, amyl acetate, and citronella. I think most people use the ammonia to neutralize salts from corrosive primers. However, the solution they use generally have a low concentration of ammonia. Good luck, keep shooting, and stay careful.

[zeekster]

isn't ammonia good for removing copper fouling?

[tophatjones]

isn't ammonia good for removing copper fouling?

Yes, but use a lower concentration of ammonia.

[rivviepop]

Gab yourself some of the Hoppes Elite gun cleaner - usually a small white bottle with gold label, but if you buy it in the big bottle like me it's black with a white & orange label. It does *not* smell like ammonia or nasty in general, and it blows the doors off of Hoppes #9.

My testament - usually I use Lead Cloth and Hoppes #9 Bench Rest to scrub away at the cylinder face of a revolver to get the burn rings off (a notoriously hard task, depending how much you shoot and your particular ammo). Hoppes Elite cuts that work by 60%, you just spray it all over your firearm (disclaimer: talking stainless here), let it soak for 10-15 mins, and scrub a bit with a brush and you're done. The stuff is magic in a bottle - pricey, but magic.

[redneckshootist]

I use a 2to1 solution of ammonia and water to clean after shooting surplus ammo. I only use it to neutralize the salts. Then I use Hoppes #9 to get rid of the ammonia solution.

[smle-man]

I have read that too high a concentration of ammonia can weaken the steel in a rifle barrel. If you need aggressive copper fouling remover use Sweets 7.62 solvent. Don't leave it in the barrel for more than a couple of minutes or it will attack the steel. It will get fouling out though.

[vinny_land]

When i first had my mosin, the bore was filled with cosmo. Once i had removed the cosmo, it was dark as hell. I used Hoppes until someone recommended Sweets 7.62. Although that stuff smells, it left my bore nice and shiny. I still use the Hoppes #9 to remove any Sweets left in the barrel.

[M1A Rifleman]

Using ammonia may remove any blueing and will remove nickle. As stated it is corrosive and will rust steel as it removes all oil. Sweets Bore cleaners and other strong copper removers have higher amounts of ammonia that Hoppes #9. Using these will work faster, however, unless the steel is oiled after rust will form. Breakfree does not remove copper.

[50 Shooter]

Sorry but you guys are using far to many myths, ammonia will NOT rust a barrel! The reason a barrel rusts is lack of oil on it, ammonia will remove oil and copper. If you leave the barrel dry there's a chance it will rust and it's not from ammonia.

I'm pretty sure the ammonia will weaken barrel steel was put to rest years ago. If you don't want to use ammonia products try wipe out or Boretech's "eliminator" copper solvent.

[M1A Rifleman]

Sorry but you guys are using far to many myths, ammonia will NOT rust a barrel! The reason a barrel rusts is lack of oil on it, ammonia will remove oil and copper. If you leave the barrel dry there's a chance it will rust and it's not from ammonia..

There is no chance - it will rust. It also will loosen chrome plating in a chrome barrel as it seeps into small cracks and starts to rust under the lining.

[50 Shooter]

So I guess Lilja doesn't know what they're talking about?

http://www.riflebarrels.com/faq_lilja_rifle_barrels.htm#Ammonia

Here's another test done by a guy that was interested in the same issues.

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

Anyway, do want you want as it's your guns.

[Fjold]

Household ammonia is about 5-10% concentration by weight. It will not harm your barrel.

The reason why barrels rust is that ammonia is hydroscopic, it attracts and holds water which allows the barrels to rust.

[M1A Rifleman]

I think maybe clairification is needed. If oil is added to areas were the ammonia or cleaner with heavy amounts of ammonia (such as Sweets) has been placed, there should be no problem. However, when cleaning M1 type rifles with gas systems and and other parts where the ammonia can flow into or under, I can testify there will be rust as its just not possible to get oil on everthing. As stated before, ammonia is not good for chrome lining.