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Hydrogen Peroxide bore cleaning

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rfcbuf

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I wonder if there are any dangers in using Hydrogen Peroxide and baking soda mix as a bore cleaner followed by plain water rinse. Could it cause any damage to steel bores. Anyone have any experience with this cleaning method for black powder fouling?
 
I use a straight HP and rubbing alcohol mix every cleaning, haven't seen any damage or problems, the HP cuts the fouling like nothing I've used, but never used a HP and baking soda mix...
 
I've already got a black rust problem when drying BP fouling after shooting sessions and thorough cleaning with Windex and water. Wondered if Hydrogen Peroxide and baking soda scrubs would be inviting more rust problems.
 
Was shooting tday and I found a article on cleaning muzzys. You clean it with Windex and too my surprise it did work quite well. :thumbsup:
 
I prefer Murphy's oil soap instead of baking soda.. A bottle lasts a lot longer is easier to mix and doesn't leave a residue that requires rinsing....Add in some alcohol for a drying agent and you have the perfect solution.

Also, baking soda is a mild abrasive.
 
The one and only time I've tried H2O2 for cleaning a rifle barrel gave me RUST, fast and furious. So make that the first and only time I use it, ever.


Somehow this thread is appearing on both Shooting Accessories AND Flintlocks concurrently. Go figure.
 
Might have to try one of these lol Windex is ok though especially just to wipe a big part of the fouling out before the bucket...
 
Many, including myself notice that Hydrogen Peroxide is nothing more than pure water with an extra oxygen atom attached to it.

As oxygen combines with the iron in steel, it will create iron oxide, commonly known as rust.

The "hydrogen peroxide" bought in a store is a very weak form of the stuff, many have noticed that it doesn't seem to rust their bores but as a pint of it can cost over $2.00 and I can buy a gallon of distilled water for 99¢ I don't see why anyone would want to spend the extra money.

IMO, the distilled water will clean black powder fouling just as well.
 
Zonie said:
IMO, the distilled water will clean black powder fouling just as well.
Zonie, send me the 99¢ and use tap water, you won't be able to tell the difference, and we'll both be happy. :haha:

Spence
 
I've tested water and Hydrogen peroxide side by side....The difference is negligible....
But, I've never had a problem with rusting. and I don't usually let my gun get filthy before I clean it.

The question I want answered is; Do the extra oxygen molecules get used up by the salts in the fouling before the steel has a chance to use them, and does a blued or passivized barrel use the oxygen at all?
 
It probably wouldn't make it but some hydrogen, oxygen and some unburned sulfur from the black powder has all the stuff needed to make H2SO4, commonly called sulfuric acid.

I know it's more complicated but H2O (water) only needs a sulfur atom that's laying around doing nothing and 2 oxygen atoms looking for some friends. :grin:
 
rfcbuf said:
I wonder if there are any dangers in using Hydrogen Peroxide and baking soda mix as a bore cleaner followed by plain water rinse. Could it cause any damage to steel bores. Anyone have any experience with this cleaning method for black powder fouling?
WHY?

Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer - could promote rusting.

Baking soda is a base - could promote rusting.

Let me ask again - WHY?

Just use water...
 
I've been using water with a drop or two of dish soap to clean my rifles for 40+ years and it has always worked well and the barrels on my guns that are that old are still in good condition. I see no reason to add something else to something that works.
 
I've said this a thousand times.....

Cleaning is an Action, not a product.

If the gun is clean when you are done, it doesn't matter what you use...
 
I have heard people using many chemical compounds to get a good cleaning. My favorite is Dihydrogen monoxide. It is easy to get as most gas stations carry it.
Be careful with it as it causes rust to bare metals, will desolve many household products. Should you get it in your lungs it causes death and too much ingested causes toxic drunk like symptoms and death.
 
tenngun said:
Be careful with it as it causes rust to bare metals, will desolve many household products. Should you get it in your lungs it causes death and too much ingested causes toxic drunk like symptoms and death.

It's not all that dangerous....I've taken a bath in it with no ill affects.
 

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