99.9% alcohol for cleaning

[Boswell]

I shoot in a dusty area and then later I regularly find grit and grime in my Glock's firing pin channel. I have tried q-tips and compressed air, but that don't get the grime out. Would 99.9% alcohol to loosen the grime and then wipe with a q-tip do the job?

[vlady]

I use a sonic cleaner on my slides to get that stuff out. Cheap and very useful. I don't know if alcohol will break it down sufficiently

[tanakasan]

I like 99% for cleaning.

That on a Q-tip is perfect for the firing pin channel and drop safety plunger recess. Cuts through the grime well. Seems to be safe on the polymer but I don't soak it, just a wet wipe down. For the slide, i use an "acid brush"--those small 3/8-1/2" wide black bristles in a shiny, round tin handle. One full length, one bristles cut down to about 1/4" long.

Robert

[CGT80]

You could also try carb cleaner or brake cleaner, but I wouldn't get it on the polymer frame. Have you tried a bore cleaner/gun cleaner? Do you have acetone or lacquer thinner around to try?

Alcohol is a good cleaner, but in my mind isn't all that strong. Sometimes you need to scrape parts to get residue off. Yesterday, I cleaned an AR rifle and used an old dull pick to scrape some parts. Once the gunk was scraped, the cleaner got the rest.

[MosinVirus]

Are you liberally lubing your glock?

[CGT80]

I think there is debate on whether or not the firing pin channel should be lubed. I don't use lube on the firing pins in my AR rifles or XD pistol. Lube attracts dirt and it turns to a nasty mess, in my opinion.

[MosinVirus]

Glock shouldnt be lubed liberally anyway, and the striker channel should be kept lube free I think.

If the OP us shooting in a dusty environment, and the gun is "swimming" in lube, the lube will attract dust, and then get everywhere.

In any case, Gun Scrubber is a pretty capable cleaner, but I prefer Hoppe's Elite Bore Gel for cleaner, and Mpro oil for lubricant, or Ballistol for everything.

And I usually use brushes on hard build up, but if I was using a pistol like Glock in a dusty environment, I would probably run it pretty dry.

[Jimi Jah]

I have used 96% alcohol de cana from Mexico as a cleaner/solvent. It may stain some finishes. It's also good to drink, if you can swallow 192 proof.

Slip 2000 720 cleaner/degreaser is my prefered cleaner here.

[SVT-40]

I shoot in a dusty area and then later I regularly find grit and grime in my Glock's firing pin channel. I have tried q-tips and compressed air, but that don't get the grime out. Would 99.9% alcohol to loosen the grime and then wipe with a q-tip do the job?

When cleaning your Glock just make sure you hold the slide with the muzzle pointed down. That way any fluids and junk will not flow into the firing pin channel....