Cleaning up after shooting corrosive ammo
- Thread starter josquin
- Start date
The funnel method....
I clean my black powder firearms all the time without one. I don't believe they are necessary. I just block the muzzle on a folded paper towel in a bowl and then pour into the breach a boiling hot mix of water and some good dish soap. Let it stand and drain it then do it again. The fouling is effectively removed...the barrel and chamber are very hot so a wipe with a patch and then some bore lube and you are done. The very hot barrel caused any surplus water/soap mix to dry immediately. Voila.....the same cleaning effect would also apply to corrosive primed smokeless loads. No expensive funnel needed.
I clean my black powder firearms all the time without one. I don't believe they are necessary. I just block the muzzle on a folded paper towel in a bowl and then pour into the breach a boiling hot mix of water and some good dish soap. Let it stand and drain it then do it again. The fouling is effectively removed...the barrel and chamber are very hot so a wipe with a patch and then some bore lube and you are done. The very hot barrel caused any surplus water/soap mix to dry immediately. Voila.....the same cleaning effect would also apply to corrosive primed smokeless loads. No expensive funnel needed.
- Location
- Montreal, Quebec
It would be nice mounted on a walnut plaque. Good conversation piece!
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
Cup o' tea
The idea is a good one: that funnel is offset and stays put while you pour boiling water into it so you don't need three hands to hold everything while performing this in the field.
It is also a whole lot safer in keeping your hands away from the scalding water.
The traditional method is this one: you put the muzzle over a nice English bone china tea pot filled with fine tea leaves (chinese Gunpowder brand recommended) then pour the boiling water down the barrel. The barrel will take away a few degrees so the water will be at the exact ideal temperature for your tea.
Just add scones and marmalade to enjoy a nice cup of tea at the range...
Aah! British culture and refinement!
PP.
The idea is a good one: that funnel is offset and stays put while you pour boiling water into it so you don't need three hands to hold everything while performing this in the field.
It is also a whole lot safer in keeping your hands away from the scalding water.
The traditional method is this one: you put the muzzle over a nice English bone china tea pot filled with fine tea leaves (chinese Gunpowder brand recommended) then pour the boiling water down the barrel. The barrel will take away a few degrees so the water will be at the exact ideal temperature for your tea.
Just add scones and marmalade to enjoy a nice cup of tea at the range...
Aah! British culture and refinement!
PP.
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
Why need more?
)
Some use Windex because there is a bit of ammonia in it.
It doesn't have any effect on the salts but can be credited with some degreasing action; if there were traces of oil in the barrel prior to shooting, ammonia can help to remove them and uncover the salt residues. In that case, spraying Windex directly in the bore while the barrel is still hot can be more effective.
One thing for sure: ammonia must NOT remain in the bore after cleaning. Any Windex or boiling water application MUST be followed by proper scrubbing, using brushes, patches and nitro powder solvent. Finally, run a few oiled patches down the bore and chamber before storing the rifle.
Good corrosive shooting!
PP.
Since the corrosive vector is only a highly water-soluble salt, there is no point in trying to find a better solvent. Water is one of the rare universal solvents (maybe the oldest, too...JHC-II said:Is hot water the ony way to go after corrosive ammo, or is there a chemical solution to this problem. Looking forward to the responces
)Some use Windex because there is a bit of ammonia in it.
It doesn't have any effect on the salts but can be credited with some degreasing action; if there were traces of oil in the barrel prior to shooting, ammonia can help to remove them and uncover the salt residues. In that case, spraying Windex directly in the bore while the barrel is still hot can be more effective.
One thing for sure: ammonia must NOT remain in the bore after cleaning. Any Windex or boiling water application MUST be followed by proper scrubbing, using brushes, patches and nitro powder solvent. Finally, run a few oiled patches down the bore and chamber before storing the rifle.
Good corrosive shooting!
PP.
dangertree
Business Rep
- Location
- NL/ON/FL/PL
There's no chemical solution cheaper or more effective than boiled water. SLathering everything in CLP will keep the rust at bay, but for cleaning salts out of a barrel, a litre of boiled water (and some dish soap if you want, I do too) is the ticket.JHC-II said:Is hot water the ony way to go after corrosive ammo, or is there a chemical solution to this problem. Looking forward to the responces
- Location
- burnaby BC
so boiling water is the only way to go?
this will be interesting to try once i get my 303 ammo.
Joe
this will be interesting to try once i get my 303 ammo.
Joe
PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
The Hippie said:
Water IS the way to go. Boiling water is better because it can get most of the oily films out of the bore and solubility of salts is also augmented in a hot environment but warm or cold water will dissolve these salts anyway.
Boiling water will dry out of the barrel faster, too.
PP.
give her a try
I will give her a try will pour the hot water in an old clukner Enfield before doing that in a very expensive Mauser. It is strange years in the military and we never thought of using water. Spent two years in Afrique and we washed our rifles after every patrol funny thing is that they were dry in about 20 seconds we rarley put more than a few drops on or in the actions afterwards. Sand and oil did not mix very well. Many thanks
I will give her a try will pour the hot water in an old clukner Enfield before doing that in a very expensive Mauser. It is strange years in the military and we never thought of using water. Spent two years in Afrique and we washed our rifles after every patrol funny thing is that they were dry in about 20 seconds we rarley put more than a few drops on or in the actions afterwards. Sand and oil did not mix very well. Many thanks
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Since you are in Canada, the proper funnel should be easy to find as it was an issue item. Made of galvanized metal and much larger than that cute brass one. I believe John Denner still has them
A kettle of boiling hot water for two reasons;
1. EVERY barrel has microscopic cracks in it which the primer salts are driven into. The hot water expands those cracks, washing out the salts.
2. The hot water evaporates quickly.
You still need to clean out the copper deposits so thats why one uses conventional bore cleaners afterwards.
OR you can just use non corrosive primed ammo and forget the water.
A kettle of boiling hot water for two reasons;
1. EVERY barrel has microscopic cracks in it which the primer salts are driven into. The hot water expands those cracks, washing out the salts.
2. The hot water evaporates quickly.
You still need to clean out the copper deposits so thats why one uses conventional bore cleaners afterwards.
OR you can just use non corrosive primed ammo and forget the water.
PerversPépère said:...The traditional method is this one: you put the muzzle over a nice English bone china tea pot filled with fine tea leaves (chinese Gunpowder brand recommended) then pour the boiling water down the barrel... Just add scones and marmalade to enjoy a nice cup of tea at the range...PP.
Mon Dieu! Quel horreur! Du thé avec Cordite et le plomb? Non, non, non! On utilise toujours l'eau bouillant pour faire du thé. L'eau tiède est pour faire du café seulement.
Aah... le sarcasme français!
(Well, that's about the extent of my high-school French shot to hell.)
But the idea of a decent cuppa at the range is definitely appealing.
Stuart
