Cleaning chemicals

[kochie]

Is there an all around cleaning chemical for carbon & copper or do you have to buy separately for both & what’s the best you guys have found ? For gun barrels of course.

 

[M-61]

Try “Search”
It’s probably endless

 

[rwj]

Boretech Eliminator works great for me…

 

[kochie]

Boretech Eliminator works great for me…

Thanks guys

 

[Doug Casner]

Aworld champ B.R. shooter told me onetime, a patch of sweets followed by patches of Butches till they come out clean. Then a patch of oil to neutralize the the cleaners. Been doing that for a long time. Works for me. Doug

 

[Dimner]

This is my fav copper cleaner. Not caustic, no awful smell, smooth on the skin. I can put it in my bore and leave it for 10 minutes or 2 days. (I have done both). It's just far more user friendly that sweet's.

I have not found my favorite carbon cleaner yet. I have a decent one, but I have been meaning to try boretech eliminator. Other wise it's just Shooters Choice MC-7. It's like how I remember hoppies being from long ago, but even better on carbon. Also, it cleans a fair bit of copper in its own right. But the following is much faster:

 

[Doug Casner]

Yeah, you better have a haz-mat suit if you use Sweets. Doug

 

[Forum Boss]

Boretech Eliminator works great for me…

Be careful. This was used on one of our rimfire test rifles. A drop or two of Eliminator solvent got into the action during a shipment, causing nasty rust on the bolt and trigger. I won't use this stuff anymore.

I like to start with 5-6 soaking wet patches of a different solvent, then two (2) applications of Wipe-Out bore foam. I try to do this AT THE RANGE while the barrel is still warm. This probably reduces the amount of brushing needed by 80% or more.

 

[Dimner]

Be careful. This was used on one of our rimfire test rifles. A drop or two of Eliminator solvent got into the action during a shipment, causing nasty rust on the bolt and trigger. I won't use this stuff anymore.

I like to start with 5-6 soaking wet patches of a different solvent, then two (2) applications of Wipe-Out bore foam. I try to do this AT THE RANGE while the barrel is still warm. This probably reduces the amount of brushing needed by 80% or more.

Any thoughts on C4 Carbon Remover? (Also Bore Tech) Not sure if it would have the same effect.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Patch Out and Accelerator.

 

[R.Morehouse]

ThorroClean Bore Cleaning System – 118ml Bottles
I have been using this and it works well....No Smell

Regards
Rick

 

[jelenko]

My suggestion is to get a bore scope so you can see the fouling in the bore - especially after cleaning to see if the bore is actually clean.

From my own experience and all the many comments in barrel cleaning threads, many solvents work essentially as well to get the loose carbon out. For copper - I personally like either Boretech Cu remover or KG 12. But many work well.

The borescope is especially helpful to see if/when there is hard carbon left in the throat. For that, you gotta use an abrasive. For using an abrasive, thanks to advice from others, I've found using 'soft' nylon bore brushes to work the best.

Good luck!

 

[WyleWD]

ThorroClean Bore Cleaning System – 118ml Bottles
I have been using this and it works well....No Smell

Regards
Rick

+1 I decided to give this a try. I've only used it twice so far and have been very pleased with it. Just follow directions.

Am also a fan of the Boretech Eliminator and their C4 product. JME. WD

Edit: jelenko's suggestion on a borescope is a great idea to see how well your cleaning process is working.

 

[rebs]

Boretech Eliminator for general and copper cleaning
Boretech C4 carbon remover for carbon

 

[K22]

Any thoughts on C4 Carbon Remover? (Also Bore Tech) Not sure if it would have the same effect.

I have used C4 and it does an amazing job of removing carbon. Try a small bottle and you'll see what I mean. If you talk to their representatives, they claim that have done extensive long-term testing and their products do not cause rust.

However, C4 is water based so the Forum Boss's observations should be taken into consideration. I stopped using it since it tended to leave a residue behind even after patching with mineral spirits and / or 90% alcohol. It is also quite expensive. If you use a bore guide and are careful, you should be able to avoid getting the stuff in the trigger assembly.

I believe the key to efficient carbon removal is using a bronze brush. Therefore, solvents like Shooter's Choice and Hoppe's No. 9 seem to do an effective job removing carbon also when used with a bronze brush.

I used Shooter's Choice for over 30 years and was completely satisfied with it as a single treatment solvent but had to abandon it due to the offensive toxic odor bothering an ill family member. Currently I am using Hoppe's 9 and can detect no difference in performance (shots on paper) from this or other products I tried. However, I am not a benchrest or long-range competitive shooter.

 

[nakneker]

ThorroClean Bore Cleaning System – 118ml Bottles
I have been using this and it works well....No Smell

Regards
Rick

I’m a wipe out fan, patch out and accelator too. I tried this stuff, followed the directions and got great results. Wipe out has an odor but it’s doesn’t both me, it’s not strong but the ThorroClean has less, next to none and the barrels were very clean. I’ve only used it twice, I’ll probably be using it on regular basis now.

 

[nmkid]

I like to start with 5-6 soaking wet patches of a different solvent, then two (2) applications of Wipe-Out bore foam. I try to do this AT THE RANGE while the barrel is still warm. This probably reduces the amount of brushing needed by 80% or more.

Winner, winner.

 

[K22]

Is there an all around cleaning chemical for carbon & copper or do you have to buy separately for both & what’s the best you guys have found ? For gun barrels of course.

Yes and no. Depends on your belief system and experience trying different approaches.

Products like Shooter's Choice MC-7 and Bore Tech Eliminator are dual purpose solvents which do an effective job on carbon and removed "some" copper. Bore Tech C4, Hoppe's No. 9 are similar but to a lesser degree on copper.

If you believe that all copper has to be removed, then products like Sweet's, Shooter's Choice Cooper Remover, Bore Tech Cu+2 and similar products are designed to aggressively attack copper. These are used in a two solvent approach, a carbon remover first, then the copper remover. Cu+2 has the advantage of being less toxic and odorless but is water based.

If you believe that removal of copper to bare metal is not desirable since it creates and unstable bore condition until reconditioned with several fouling shots, then products like Shooter's Choice, Eliminator, and Hoppe's 9 are much less aggressive on copper yet do a good job on carbon if used with a bronze brush.

I am sure that all, if not most the answers you are going to get reflect successful results for those posting their products of choice or they wouldn't still be using them. So, pick one, try it, test it, and you will obtain an answer that best matches your shooting discipline needs. The bottom line, there is not absolute answer to this question. Even top benchrest competitors have difference ideas and approaches, at least from what I read.

 

[kochie]

Yes and no. Depends on your belief system and experience trying different approaches.

Products like Shooter's Choice MC-7 and Bore Tech Eliminator are dual purpose solvents which do an effective job on carbon and removed "some" copper. Bore Tech C4, Hoppe's No. 9 are similar but to a lesser degree on copper.

If you believe that all copper has to be removed, then products like Sweet's, Shooter's Choice Cooper Remover, Bore Tech Cu+2 and similar products are designed to aggressively attack copper. These are used in a two solvent approach, a carbon remover first, then the copper remover. Cu+2 has the advantage of being less toxic and odorless but is water based.

If you believe that removal of copper to bare metal is not desirable since it creates and unstable bore condition until reconditioned with several fouling shots, then products like Shooter's Choice, Eliminator, and Hoppe's 9 are much less aggressive on copper yet do a good job on carbon if used with a bronze brush.

I am sure that all, if not most the answers you are going to get reflect successful results for those posting their products of choice or they wouldn't still be using them. So, pick one, try it, test it, and you will obtain an answer that best matches your shooting discipline needs. The bottom line, there is not absolute answer to this question. Even top benchrest competitors have difference ideas and approaches, at least from what I read.

Ok guys thanks lots of good info is Bristol any good ?

 

[Bill Norris]

I've used Barnes CR-10 for a long time with good results on copper. Recently started using Patch-out and Accelerator on a trial basis and noticed it does not remove the copper as quickly and easy as the Barnes CR-10. Also, was introduced to KG-12 by my builder ODCR and looks like it is as good or maybe better than the Barnes CR-10. Still watching it. As far as carbon goes I find it hard to beat CLR and C4.