military rifle bore cleaner?

[G.T. Smith]

I was going through a box of stuff in a closet the other day and I ran across an 8oz. can of rifle bore cleaner i bought at a military surplus store a couple of centuries ago and was wondering if anybody here has used the stuff, and if so, how did it work?
The can is OD green and says "CLEANER, rifle bore". (figgers don't it)
Then below that in big letters it says, "poison".
specification RIXS 205 rev 1
purchase order 43-18171
Banner mfg. co. inc.

Just wondered if anybody knows anything about the stuff.
Peace,
gordon

 

[judge]

Works fine but stinks like hell.

 

[gjamison]

sounds like you have some LSA oil, good stuff...

 

[PALADIN85020]

Don't think that's LSA. When I was in high school Jr. ROTC in the mid-'50s, we were issued some of that stuff, which was WWII-era bore cleaner. It not only was labeled as poison, but it stunk to high hell. The purchase order prefix "43" would seem to confirm this as the WWII standard bore cleaner. It was designed to dissolve salts in the bore left by corrosive ammo.

John

 

[G.T. Smith]

I do have 5 or 6 cans of LSA gun oil. You guys are right about stinkin to high heaven, but I tried some a while ago and it really brightened up the bore on my old .22 rifle.
Thanks for the responses,
Peace,
gordon

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Yeah; It stinks but it works.

 

[Rule 303]

What I like about it is that it works on Corrosive Ammo.
Stinks, but when I shoot corrosive out of my Grand, Mausers, 03s or other guns, I clean the Barrels and actions with Old GI Bore Cleaner and hot, hot water.

Rule 303

 

[Andy Griffith]

It likely has stuff in it that has been banned because it's bad for the enviroment. (yes, i will continue to spell it incorrectly so it doesn't show up on searches )

Please send it to me for proper disposal.

 

[Cyrano]

There are two different kinds of GI Bore Cleaner. The older type is a clear, dark brown and smells (strongly) of creosote. The newer type is a milky light brown color and smells bad too. Both contain water and will freeze, as our GIs found out in the Battle of the Bulge. They will prevent rusting due corrosive salts (pottasium chloride) in the bore from corrosive primers. After cleaning, bores need a coat of oil so they won't rust from humidity in the air. Bore cleaner comes in various size containers; I've used the one quart cans to clean the bores of 105mm howitzers.

 

[GANDOG56]

I just got six 6 0z. cans, but it was made by American Oil And Supply Company.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Bought several quart cans of the GI bore cleaner years ago at a gun show ($1 per quart, as I recall). Stinks, yes. Cleans powder residue, yes. Soak the bore and let it remove copper fouling, yes.

Excellent stuff. I doubt that any producer has ever done as much research and development work as the US military put into such products, back in the day.

I'm still using this good old cheap stuff, probably never run out.

 

[rwsmith]

I think we can assume

I think we can assume that if we have bore cleaner that really stinks, it's government issue. Did the government just not like Hoppes or something? It's probably like gyro compass alcohol that they put pink dye in to make it undrinkable.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I think we can assume that if we have bore cleaner that really stinks, it's government issue. Did the government just not like Hoppes or something? It's probably like gyro compass alcohol that they put pink dye in to make it undrinkable.

Several factors drove the military research on cleaning products.

Corrosive primers were standard until the late 50's to early 60's, and ammunition remained in stock for years afterward, so solvents that would effectively nutralize that primer residue were an important consideration.

Solvents capable of expeditiously removing bullet jacket residue helped to make small arms maintenance in all field conditions.

Chemicals that will effectively displace moisture and provide greater protection to steel parts helped to prevent breakdown in many field conditions.

Of course, we should never totally disregard the compelling motivation for those involved in researching and developing these products, because if they weren't engaged in that assignment they might just be transferred to combat units!

Finally, never forget that congress members are always looking for ways to direct appropriations to their home districts. So if a company claimed to have superior products for small arms maintenance they were likely to have lobbyists pushing the buttons in the Capitol Building.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Works great on GI issue weapons...........

it can also work with a touch behind each ear before hitting the town................

However the GI issue mosquito oil will take the varnish off a rifle stock !!

Ah, the good old days............

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I was curious as to what was in it. I found this link on the CMP forum.

WW2 GI Bore Cleaner - CMP Forums

Now I have to dig deeper to find out what the ingredients are.

 

[OFT II]

That stuff also came in a small can (three or four ounces) that would fit in the ammo pouch of a cartridge belt.

Did anyone mention that it stinks like hell?

 

[rburg]

So we know it stinks. I knew that the first time I smelled it back in the 1950s. What no one has answered is how it tastes. There's just got to be some hillbilly who's tried it.

 

[bgrafsr]

So we know it stinks. I knew that the first time I smelled it back in the 1950s. What no one has answered is how it tastes. There's just got to be some hillbilly who's tried it.

Okay where's HillBilly77? Rburg is calling.......

 

[therevjay]

G.I. insect repellent

Works great on GI issue weapons...........

it can also work with a touch behind each ear before hitting the town................

However the GI issue mosquito oil will take the varnish off a rifle stock !!

Ah, the good old days............

The new G.I. insect repellent doesn't smell bad, burn your skin, melt plastic, paint or varnish. Unfortunately it don't repell insects very well either!

 

[Cyrano]

I didn't know it removed copper fouling. I thought all it did was neutralize the corrosive salts from corrosive primers. I'm still not sure it does remove copper fouling.