jimmyraythomason
Member
I don't own or want any polymer guns. I use BRAKE cleaner both at home and work and have for several decades. Hot soapy water wont damage any material even properly finished wood stocks.
How many of you rinse your guns with hot water during cleaning?
- Thread starter 0to60
- Start date
- Status
Gord
Member
JustinJ said:
You mean the ones that are repackaged with a picture of a gun on the can and sold for five times the price? Yeah, I tend to avoid those.
Unless you need to get lead or copper fouling out of your bore, everything else is pretty much just caked-on ick same as any other - the whole gamut of gun-centric solvents, degreasers, cleaning agents, rust preventatives and lubes sure is a heck of a way to make a buck for the manufacturers though.
Why so many people are so absolutely terrified of getting water on their guns remains a mystery to me. You guys know that you sweat when you carry, right? And that there's usually some level of humidity in the air? And that there are countless people out there every day hunting, training and fighting in inclement weather with guns that don't magically transform into rustbuckets by sundown?
armsmaster270
Member
I only use Break Free CLP on my weapons. Do an initial cleaning leave a light film in the bore then a couple days later do the bore again with fresh wire brush and more CLP dry bore with patch.
bluetopper
Member
No water I just give 'em a bath in diesel.
Don357
Member
"I use WD-40 for this." by JIMMYRAYTHOMASON
Jimmyray, you should never use WD40 on the internal mechanisims of a firearm. It leaves a sticky film that attracts and holds on to dirt and powder residue, especially in trigger groups and firing pin channels, that unless cleaned relativly soon will harden and be next to impossible to get out. I have had customers bring their hunting rifles and shotguns to me because they would mis-fire, and after breaking them down, I would discover hardened crud built up in the bolt, and other places. But after a through cleaning with Hoppes #9 and hot water, they work fine. When asked, the customer said they used WD40 in the gun for lube. I use Hoppes oil or Rem oil. Wiping down the outside to prevent rust is fine, just keep the WD40 on the outside of a gun.
Jimmyray, you should never use WD40 on the internal mechanisims of a firearm. It leaves a sticky film that attracts and holds on to dirt and powder residue, especially in trigger groups and firing pin channels, that unless cleaned relativly soon will harden and be next to impossible to get out. I have had customers bring their hunting rifles and shotguns to me because they would mis-fire, and after breaking them down, I would discover hardened crud built up in the bolt, and other places. But after a through cleaning with Hoppes #9 and hot water, they work fine. When asked, the customer said they used WD40 in the gun for lube. I use Hoppes oil or Rem oil. Wiping down the outside to prevent rust is fine, just keep the WD40 on the outside of a gun.
jimmyraythomason
Member
Thank you for your concern Don357 but 40 plus years of practicing this has proven that to be wrong. I have used WD-40 on all of my firearms from the most simple mechanisms to the most complex mechanisms without ANY bad experiences. This is a battle that I am tired of fighting so use what you like and I will also.
oldfool
Member
when it's all said and done, most anything that takes "dirt" off will get it done, provided you use a little (a little dab will do ya) lube after cleaning
and that includes water and or WD40 and/or....
it's a lot less about what you use to clean than it is about what you clean, and good common sense cleaning techniques
jimmyray is right
(but he pays attention to what and how he cleans)
blackpowder shooters been using water since black powder was invented, and it doesn't hurt a thing unless you are doing it wrong
but me.. lazy.. I have been spoiled by aerosol CLP, won't deny it
(mama raised a fool, not an idiot child, never argue with them 'bama lads, especially not "ex" gunsmiths)
and that includes water and or WD40 and/or....
it's a lot less about what you use to clean than it is about what you clean, and good common sense cleaning techniques
jimmyray is right
(but he pays attention to what and how he cleans)
blackpowder shooters been using water since black powder was invented, and it doesn't hurt a thing unless you are doing it wrong
but me.. lazy.. I have been spoiled by aerosol CLP, won't deny it
(mama raised a fool, not an idiot child, never argue with them 'bama lads, especially not "ex" gunsmiths)
Last edited:
Guillermo
member
I keep water away from my guns
brake cleaner to strip
air compressor blows away the stuff that is loosened. Q tip or plastic end of a letter opener for hard to reach corners and such.
Water is bad
Solvent is good
brake cleaner to strip
air compressor blows away the stuff that is loosened. Q tip or plastic end of a letter opener for hard to reach corners and such.
Water is bad
Solvent is good
JustinJ
Member
"I don't own or want any polymer guns. I use BRAKE cleaner both at home and work and have for several decades. Hot soapy water wont damage any material even properly finished wood stocks. "
Well, for those in the 21st century, dont use Auto Zone products on your polymer guns. And there are far better options for guns than wd40, ecspecially for carried guns that may not be used for a while after being lubed. There is not better way to gunk up a door lock than spray it with wd40. Many people have carried a gun for 40 years and never had to use them. Don't mean it won't happen.
Well, for those in the 21st century, dont use Auto Zone products on your polymer guns. And there are far better options for guns than wd40, ecspecially for carried guns that may not be used for a while after being lubed. There is not better way to gunk up a door lock than spray it with wd40. Many people have carried a gun for 40 years and never had to use them. Don't mean it won't happen.
jimmyraythomason
Member
Hmmm......nothing wrong with old school.
no doubt,but nothing wrong with using it either.
Sure there is. Spray it with any oil. Door locks are never cleaned out. The particles left over from key wear are never removed from the lock,or dirt or grit. The comparison to a doorlock only works if you never clean your gun and just spray it periodically never removing the crud collected there. We once were required (at work)to lubricate all door locks on rental trucks with a penetrant/lube oil called Howe's Lube. It gummed up locks so badly they wouldn't work at all. We cleaned them all with WD-40,washing black gunk everywhere. Never had anymore problems with those locks and door latches.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
Only for my 1851 navy.
Yup, field strip and throw the whole thing in a bucket of water.
After a dry in the oven and a spray of WD-40 it's good to go.
I've started to run a wet patch through the barrel and chamber(s) when cleaning because I shoot so much corrosive ammo. I don't fully agree with the "non-corrosive" aspect of some ammo.
JustinJ
Member
"You mean the ones that are repackaged with a picture of a gun on the can and sold for five times the price? Yeah, I tend to avoid those."
Wether the solvent has a picture of a gun or a picture of carburetor on the can there is no need to rinse with water as they should evaporate completely and quickly.
"Why so many people are so absolutely terrified of getting water on their guns remains a mystery to me. You guys know that you sweat when you carry, right? And that there's usually some level of humidity in the air? And that there are countless people out there every day hunting, training and fighting in inclement weather with guns that don't magically transform into rustbuckets by sundown?"
Different gun finishes have varying rates of corrosion resistance but maintaining a protective film of an oil based product is essential. The problem with soapy water is that it removes this film. Plus, the amount of water affects rates of corrosion which is why soaking a gun with a water hose is differnt than a light drizzle. There is nothing wrong with using water so long as it is all removed, prefererabbly with a product that displaces moisture, soon after rinsing. Steel can actually rust much quicker than some may realize.
"Hmmm......nothing wrong with old school."
History is full of defeated militaries who refused to adopt new technologies who may disagree.
"Quote:
There is not better way to gunk up a door lock than spray it with wd40.
Sure there is. Spray it with any oil. "
Not exactly a good arguement to use WD40.
Wether the solvent has a picture of a gun or a picture of carburetor on the can there is no need to rinse with water as they should evaporate completely and quickly.
"Why so many people are so absolutely terrified of getting water on their guns remains a mystery to me. You guys know that you sweat when you carry, right? And that there's usually some level of humidity in the air? And that there are countless people out there every day hunting, training and fighting in inclement weather with guns that don't magically transform into rustbuckets by sundown?"
Different gun finishes have varying rates of corrosion resistance but maintaining a protective film of an oil based product is essential. The problem with soapy water is that it removes this film. Plus, the amount of water affects rates of corrosion which is why soaking a gun with a water hose is differnt than a light drizzle. There is nothing wrong with using water so long as it is all removed, prefererabbly with a product that displaces moisture, soon after rinsing. Steel can actually rust much quicker than some may realize.
"Hmmm......nothing wrong with old school."
History is full of defeated militaries who refused to adopt new technologies who may disagree.
"Quote:
There is not better way to gunk up a door lock than spray it with wd40.
Sure there is. Spray it with any oil. "
Not exactly a good arguement to use WD40.
jimmyraythomason
Member
I'm not arguing for anyone to use WD-40 or anything else. The facts are that WD-40 does not gum up gun works if used in the proper manner. Poor cleaning procedures are at fault not the product used. I don't care what anybody uses or doesn't use. I just get SO tired of so much misinformation spewed out at the very mention of cleaning guns with water or brake cleaner or WD-40.
So why hasn't Ma Deuce been retired.
It's terribly hard to gunk up a cap n' ball revolver's works if you know how to take care of it, after all black powder defines "gunk".
My cap n' ball is the only gun I use WD-40 on, something cheap I can just hose it down with, let it sit for awhile and evaporate before putting back together. And would you believe that after a proper cleaning and use of WD-40 I haven't a spot of rust on it yet. You can't use software to fix a hardware problem, buying the fancy foaming action bore cleaner is just as effective as a bucket of hot water and soap sometimes.
What kinda solvent evaporates quickly?
I've used lots of different solvents (right now I'm using Hoppe's #9) and NONE of them evaporate. Spray or soak the parts, scrub with a toothbrush, they'll be covered in solvent. Maybe it would evaporate after a day or so, but I haven't seen this happen during cleaning at all.
If solvent evaporated, what good would it do??? It would leave all the dirt behind as if you didn't clean in the first place.
Snowbandit
Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2007
- Messages
- 314
Between this thread and another recent one about all the things you can't use to clean an FN pistol I decided to try it today. My FN is made of nothing but stainless steel and plastic so I filled the kitchen sink with some hot water and Dawn dishsoap. Scrubbed down the whole gun with a nylon brush and rinsed in hot water. Dried everything with paper towels and compressed air then left it apart for several hours to make sure it was completely dry. One drop of oil on each of the six points described in the manual and it should be good to go. It seems to have worked out fine.
Mind you that FN is the cheapest gun I own and I did this as an experiment to see how it would work out. I don't have any complaints but I'm also a very long ways from trying that on something more valuable.
Mind you that FN is the cheapest gun I own and I did this as an experiment to see how it would work out. I don't have any complaints but I'm also a very long ways from trying that on something more valuable.
Apocalypse-Now
Member
this should be the punishment for anyone that cleans their guns with water, or puts them in the dishwasher like people on glocktalk do.
JustinJ
Member
Snowbandit, you are taking an unnecessary risk. You should have thouroughly sprayed the gun with an oil based product to ensure all water is displaced after air drying. Its unlikely you were able to get all water out of the slide internals. Not to mention tap water can leave behind salts and minerals.
Overkilll0084
Member
I have been known to drop a stripped semi auto slide & it's associated parts into a ultrasonic cleaner filled w/ detergent & HOT water. Works well.
- Status
