What solvent for stainless revolvers?

[Warren Sear]

"Oderless mineral spirits" is an excellent solvent for cleaning guns. A gallon is less than $20 and will last a looooooong time. I pour it into a spray bottle for easy use.

 

[Coyote56]

Ballistol. Been around for decades. Works well. Easy on the furniture if you are going to use it on sporting arms as well.

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

I'll second the recommendation for Ballistol. It's not too pricey, is safe on most materials, and makes cleaning my two stainless Colts easy.

 

[Norton 750]

Ballistol for sure. Non toxic is just a plus, it works great. But as far as mixing something up, I don't get it. Commercial labs have formulated solvents to work specifically on powder residue. I am not so cheap as to cut corners cleaning a $1000 gun. I will eat generic food, but oil/cleaners for my cars and guns are name brand only.

 

[Shootist00]

Only Hoppe's #9. It is the best. Been shooting and cleaning multiple firearms for 67 years and #9 is the product I have always used. Tried others always gone back to #9.

That and Lac Thinner after cleaning all the carbon out of my guns.

 

[VinnieL59]

What solvents would you recommend cleaning a stainless revolver, in my case a Ruger SP101, besides Hoppes 9 and water base products?

I use pure old Mineral Spirits to clean everything but blackpowder guns. It is cheap and works wonders. I am not one who believes you have to spend lots of money on gun cleaning supplies. There more "Stuff" advertised for cleaning than you can imagine. Some companies probably make more selling their "Snake Oil" than the companies selling the firearms.

 

[KarlA]

I came to this late, after hearing about it since the 60's but now I use Ed's Red except for copper fouling in high velocity rifles.

Ed's Red Bore Cleaner Recipe

http://handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=9 for the full article including safety information. ''Ed's Red'' Bore Cleaner... Home-Mix Really Works This cleaner has an action very similar to standard military issue rifle bore cleaner, such as Mil-C-372B. Users report it is more effective...

bushcraftusa.com

Riposte

Ain't the same w/o the sperm oil. Don't make things like the Good Ole Days....

 

[Long2guns]

Simichrome polish. My stainless revolvers look nearly nickel-plated, simply from cleaning/polishing with this stuff. I've used it on aluminum, brass, copper, and stainless steel. It is the best stuff I've found for cleaning the powder "burns" off the front of the cylinder. Use it on all the feed ramps of my semi-autos, too. I shoot my stainless guns a lot, and am way too OCD to not keep them shined up.