Removing ammonia based cleaners

[SS427]

A few months ago I opened a new 16oz bottle of Butch's Bore Shine. This bottle is different than the previous bottle I had been using. It is much lighter in color and has a much stronger ammonia smell. In fact I didn't even know for sure Butch's had ammonia in it until I tapped this new bottle. It sure works good.

I now have a little concern about getting all the Butch's out of the bore. What needs to be done to make sure you get all of an ammonia based cleaner out of the bore? Do you just dry patch it until the patches come out dry? Is there another chemical you can use to neutralize the ammonia? What would you use to get a really strong ammonia product out, like Sweets?

 

[fdshuster]

Otter: On the advice of a friend I've begun using automotive brake cleaner, just a few "spritzes" from the spray nozzle on a dry patch, pushed thru the bore. Wait a few minutes 'til it air dries. Scoped it out with the "Hawkeye" and chamber & bore are bone dry.

 

[NorCalMikie]

What Frank says. Brake parts or carb cleaner both work real good. Some folks use Lighter Fluid as well as alcohol. The spary can brake or carb cleaner are easier to use. Keep one in your range bag as well as on the bench for removing case lube. Get the brand that smells the best to you. ;D

 

[butchlambert]

Yeah that may dry it out, but I don't like to send one down the range like that. I would run a wet patch down the bore and one dry one before shooting.
Butch

 

[SS427]

Butch, when you say a wet patch do you mean a patch with gun oil on it? Or another non ammonia solvent like Hoppes?

Sometimes you get lucky. I've always used Kroil as a final barrel treatment to flush any solvent out and just before a patch of gun oil. I considered the gun oil redundant after the Kroil, but it has become a part of my cleaning routine and I'm not sure if I should ditch that step or not. I always run one dry patch through after the oil patch. I've just started doing another dry patch just before I go shooting. Not sure if I should bother with that either.

 

[fdshuster]

gunamonth: Good explanation. I was about to ask Butch why he would not fire the rifle after a patch was run thru with brake cleaner. After using the brake cleaner, then a couple of dry patches, "to be sure", the bore appeared dry as seen with my borescope. I've had the occasional problem, especially with the 6BR, in leaving some solvent in the chamber then getting very hard bolt lift with the first 1 and 2 firings only, then the problem went away. My gunsmith said the chamber was wet, and of course he was right, so I was looking for a method to insure the chamber was as dry as possible. Guess I'll have to re-think my use of brake cleaner. Been at the "game" since 1960, still learning, but running out of time.

 

[Greg110]

Frank,
An easy way to dry a chamber is with a shotgun bore mop. They come in several different sizes from .410 ga. to at least 12 ga., about .730. Just a thought.