ever used compressed air cans for gun cleaning?

I've used actual compressed air (from an air compressor, duh!) to clean my buddy's .22 that he dropped in the creek :D It does work, but if you're talkin' about those little wee aerosol cans of compressed air, they're actually just liquid CO2, it's not air at all. They'll still work, but the volume isn't nearly as high as "real" compressed air, which is where the cleaning & drying power is.

To make a long story boring, go ahead and use it, it'll be fine :D
 
I've heard (but never confirmed) that the propellant or some other factor present in the 'air duster' (compressed CO2) cans can be detrimental to non-metalic components (rubber? plastic? wood?) if it condenses on them... but wiping it off is sufficient to avoid issues. Probably not a problem with 'real' steel (this comes from my previous experience with Airsoft stuff). The only relevance I can think of would be things like synthetic stocks, plastic trigger guards, magazine followers, etc...

Because of this I now use real compressed air (bought a portable tank that I refill with my compressor) - great for getting crap out of your gun's nether regions...

/gc.
 
AL30Bailout001.jpg


from time to time.....
 
grayrc said:
I've heard (but never confirmed) that the propellant or some other factor present in the 'air duster' (compressed CO2) cans can be detrimental to non-metalic components (rubber? plastic? wood?) if it condenses on them... but wiping it off is sufficient to avoid issues.
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I've read this as well, on the back of the can. I think they mean the actual CO2 liquid, since it's damn cold (CO2's triple point, where it can be a solid, liquid and gas, is -56.6 degrees C. The temperature of liquid CO2 is usually around -40 degrees C) and if a slug of liquid CO2 happens to exit the can, which definetely happens from time to time, it can flash freeze whatever it touches. This can cause discoloration of plastic and wood parts, painted parts, varnished parts, etc. but steel is essentially impervious to a small spot of -40 deg C temperature change, except for a little condensation which can be wiped off.
 
I always have a can with me when not at home. It doesn't compare to a "real" compressor I have at home, but better than putting your lips together, blowing and spitting all over your gun.
 
I use it all the time. Especially when I was in training and you wanted all the gunk out of your chunk so you didn't catch hell if they did an inspection. I never did like push-ups so the investment in a can of compressed CO2 was worth it!
 
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