Cleaning Solvent

[navaho]

Talking to some old guys at the local gun shop the other day and got a formula to clean B/P rifle. It is 1/3 Murfey Soap, 1/3 alcohol and 1/3 Hydrogen Peroxide. Mixture goes in a colored bottle because the Hydrogen Peroxide will degrade. Has anyone used this?

 

[playfarmers]

I have read that Hydrogen Peroxide may be hard on the barrel. I use Ballistol and water for clean up, and finish off with stait Ballistol, for rust protection.Since I started using Stumpy's moose juice and snot, clean up has been a snap.

 

[spitpatch]

I have used that three part mixture for years. On both front loaders and black powder cart rifles. It works great. And never had a problem. Also soak my brass in it when shooting cart rifle, cleans it up real nice.

 

[prowler]

Yup, Spitpatch has it right. :bow: I've used it for years, works great. Really cuts fouling well. I use it for all my ML and BP guns, including the BP cartridge guns.

 

[Grenadier1758]

If you use hydrogen peroxide, use the weakest solution you can find. Otherwise use water. Black powder fouing is water soluble and the other stuff just makes it seem as if it cleans better. In any event no matter what you use to clear your gun be sure to use a good lubricant for rust protectection after cleaning.

 

[jdstrang]

I used the triple brew for several years before I discovered Ballistol ( http://www.ballistol.com/ ). Ballistol, in a dilute solution of 1 to 5 with water and kept in one of those pop-up-top water plastics, makes a great all-purpose black powder/wood cleaner. I plug the nipple with a leather patch under the hammer, pour a couple inches in the barrel, slosh it, let it set for a few minutes then brush it, dump it and wipe.

Used straight on patches, Ballistol is my final run-through on the bore and wipedown on all externals - metal, wood and leather.

The problem with the Murphy's, etc., combo is that peroxide is an oxidant, and will, if not followed by oil, rust your barrel. And the combo also cuts through oil finishes on stocks. :cursing:

So, if you don't mind losing your stock finish and rusting your bore, well, it's great. but Ballistol does neither, and obviates the necessity of finishing with a petroleum product.

Ballistol's main drawback is a, uh, "distinktive" odor that some liken to baby vomit. Having fathered and parented three kids, it doesn't bother me. In fact, a couple women I know dab a bit behind their ears, which makes them all the more attractive to those of us who love the stuff! :haha:

 

[buckknife]

A good cheap cleaner besides water is napa 765-1525 cutting and grinding oil.Napa can order a gallon for you at around 27 dollars.I mix 1 part oil to 10 parts warm water when mixing.Its all i use anymore for patch lube.Then i use the same mix for cleaning.
I cleaned my gun a week ago after shooting and dry patched.I did not put any lube at all done the bore to protect it.Just dry patched after cleaning with the moose milk.Not any rust what so ever,none.How long i can go with no barrel protectent i dont no but a week is no problem and its nice just to pick the gun up and not have to run any patches down the bore before loading.
With my well water,which ph tested around 6.5 by it self,then mixed with the oil which test around 7 tp 7.5 after mixing i have a patch lube and cleaner that is not over acidic or basic.
Ive tested a couple different liquid homemade brews and most are very basic which will cause a barrel to rust up fast if not tended to proper.
All i have is a cheap pool test thingy so it aint real accurate but gets in the ball park.
The map lube will clean very well but if it were me i would fill the barrel full of water and dump it a couple of times before dry patching it.

 

[bob308]

hot soap and water. then wd40 then some oil. why do we keep trying to reinvent the wheel?

 

[Little Wattsy]

An old crusty shared with me, as I got started, Formula 409. Cheap. Easy. Simple! And it works increadilly well.

 

[boar]

Called MAP. I use it some. Be sure you oil good after as it takes it to the bare. I just use it in the barrels that are not hooked. Only takes a little bit and don't leave it in the barrel long, as it works quick. I plug the nipple or TH and slosh up and down and drain. Patch dry and oil. Dilly

 

[buckknife]

err maybe 21 cents for 11 ounces of patch lube and cleaner and having a barrel that requires nothing in the bore what so ever to protect it from rust.
Yes water works well,why because it is a netural ph pretty much.When soap is added it becomes basic.Which wont hurt nothing as long as it is rinsed out with water.
Next time you clean with hot soap and water dont use the wd 40 or oil to protect the bore,just dry patch it and the next day you can run a dry patch down your bore and pull out a lot of that nice brownish red stuff.
Now how is it i can clean my gun with the wso mix and dry patch it and use no oil or nothing to protect the bore and it is squeeky clean?
The wso leaves a thin film of oil and it is pretty close to a netural ph.It is also a great patch lube :thumbsup:

 

[worker11811]

Dr. Bronner's castile soap: http://drbronner.com/drb_soapsandingredients.html

It's made from vegetable oil and sodium hydroxide. (lye)

A "healthy squirt" of liquid soap into a bucket of hot water will clean almost anything in your house that isn't hurt by water. Take a bath with it. Wash the floors. Wash up the dishes. And, what's left over will clean your gun squeaky-clean! They even make a eucalyptus version that will double as a flea bath for your dog!

Find it in the health food section of your grocery store.
The company has gone "tree hugger" as of late but the stuff has been around for years and years. I don't buy it because of the label of the bottle. I buy it because of the soap inside.

I started buying it a few years ago because I had a skin condition that caused me to get itchy and break out if I used regular commercial soap in the shower. I liked the stuff so much I just kept on buying it.

You can clean your guns, take a shower and kill fleas all with one product!
You can't beat THAT with a stick! :grin:

 

[Stumpkiller]

I've been having good luck with Pine-Sol and water. About 16:1 mix.

Black powder fouling is water soluable and a bit of detergent helps to capture it so the water flushes it away.

Hydrogen Peroxide is an oxidizer and when you oxidize steel you get rust. Since it's also unstable and about 98% water by the time you mix it with something and expose it to air . . . why not just use water?

As a lube/solvent dual purpose mix I use my Moose Juice

Stumpy's Moose Juice

A general purpose blackpowder solvent and liquid patch lube. Shake well before using

Castor Oil 3 oz.
Murphy's Oil Soap 1 oz.
Witch Hazel 4 oz.
Isopropyl Alcohol (91%) 8 oz.
Water (non-chlorinated) 16 oz.

I dip my patching in this twice and let it dry laid flat on wax paper in between. Makes a semi-dry patch material that's easy to carry & use. If you don't mind carrying a little bottle it's a GREAT liquid lube as is.

 

[jdstrang]

Dr. Bronner's castile soap: http://drbronner.com/drb_soapsandingredients.html

I don't buy it because of the label of the bottle. I buy it because of the soap inside. ...

You can clean your guns, take a shower and kill fleas all with one product!
You can't beat THAT with a stick! :grin:

Darn tootin', Worker - although the label is a hoot to read, if you've got yer bifocals on! The good doctor went around the corner years ago, :youcrazy: but the family lets him prattle on in fine print! :yakyak:

Love this stuff - I, too, have used it for years - but never thought of cleaning guns with it. Hey! Maybe you've got an idea here: Shower with yer musket, and come out flea-free and smelling like Koala food! :rotf: :surrender:

 

[Blizzard of '93]

windshield washer fluid. get the winter mix if possible it has more alcohol in it. If I'm camped out I usually have my BP revolvers with me and I put the fluid in a spray bottle and mist it on the gun them wipe it down for a fast clean-up. a full take-down I do when I get home. works great for rifle too. I usually heat it up.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I used to use

and

Now all I use is

Link

No mess, nor fuss. run a few thru until they come out clean, a few dry ones. then yer fav lube.

 

[mazo kid]

Stumpy, if I may ask: what is the purpose of the Witch Hazel in your recipe? It would seem that the other ingredients are all that should be needed? Emery

 

[RC]

Stumpy, if I may ask: what is the purpose of the Witch Hazel in your recipe? It would seem that the other ingredients are all that should be needed? Emery

it's probably THEsecret ingredient!!

 

[mazo kid]

RC, does it make the recipe DRINKABLE??

 

[RC]

RC, does it make the recipe DRINKABLE??

it tastesreallybad without it!! but it'll get ya regular! :thumbsup: :slap: :rotf: oops, gotta go.... :redface: