38SPL HV
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What solvents would you recommend cleaning a stainless revolver, in my case a Ruger SP101, besides Hoppes 9 and water base products?
What solvent for stainless revolvers?
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Outpost75
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Kano Kroil or 50-50 ATF and mineral spirits.
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38SPL HV
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Would Castrol Synthetic ATF work with the mineral spirits?
"AI Overview
Bore Tech bore cleaners, such as Bore Tech Eliminator and Bore Tech C4, are safe for stainless steel barrels and will not harm them. The products are specifically formulated to be non-toxic, ammonia-free, and barrel-safe, making them suitable for various barrel types, including stainless steel, blued, and chrome-lined barrels. "
Bore Tech bore cleaners, such as Bore Tech Eliminator and Bore Tech C4, are safe for stainless steel barrels and will not harm them. The products are specifically formulated to be non-toxic, ammonia-free, and barrel-safe, making them suitable for various barrel types, including stainless steel, blued, and chrome-lined barrels. "
Outpost75
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Yes! Absolutely.
Outpost75
Member
And cost ten or more times the simple ATF-mineral spirit mix.
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bigggbbruce
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I use a spritz of Remoil. Cleans and lubricates.
anything I would use on a blued one.
Oldsalt66
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Besides using a traditional solvent like Hoppes #9 I use Pro Shot Lead Removal Cloths for removing cylinder burn rings, top strap burn marks, and forcing cone burn marks.
They work great for polishing and lead and stain removal, but since they'll remove bluing, I only use them on stainless revolvers.
They work great for polishing and lead and stain removal, but since they'll remove bluing, I only use them on stainless revolvers.
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Whatever solvent you have handy will work well, but use an actual solvent, not a CLP concoction.
Marksman
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Butch's Bore Shine works for me.
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I clean my guns after every range session. Normally I just use G96 Synthetic CLP and it works very well. It's pretty much just like Breakfree CLP but the G96 seems to clean a bit better. When my guns get dirtier than normal (due to round count) I will use Hoppes 9 solvent. After cleaning with the Hoppes 9 solvent, I will remove the Hoppes with the G96 which lubricates and protects as well. Don't like just leaving solvent on a gun. BTW, these are great for blued guns as well.
Use whatever gun solvent you have available. What's wrong with Hoppes 9?
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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.
Riposte
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...
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Riposte
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Same here. Used Hoppes#9 for a long time. Now I just wipe them down with an oily cloth on the outside but still use Hoppes#9 or a black powder cleaning solution called Black Off.
Even after cleaning with Hoppes#9 I still wipe the gun down with that oily rag.
Pisgah
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Go to Walmart and buy the cheapest gun oil and cheapest cleaning solvent they have. Nothing special is called for, and nothing labelled for guns is going to harm it.
swagmeister
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I agree with a couple of previous posts. I've used Hoppe's (and still do) for years with zero issues. No need for expensive or new to the market wonder cleaners.
sparkyvega
Member
In reality, any type of solvent/cleaner works fine on SS, save those that contain halogens such as chlorine.
It's a Ruger… you could drop it in a vat of acid and it would survive just fine. Don't overthink it.
"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
Member
Ballistol. Been around for decades. Works well. Easy on the furniture if you are going to use it on sporting arms as well.
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
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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
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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.
That and Lac Thinner after cleaning all the carbon out of my guns.
VinnieL59
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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.
Ain't the same w/o the sperm oil. Don't make things like the Good Ole Days....
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.
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Try good ole Hoppes # 9
I use the Birchwood Casey "Lead Remover & Polishing Cloth" for carbon residue on the front of the cylinder and around the cylinder/forcing cone gap of the frame. I use Breakthrough carbon remover spray on tough to remove carbon deposits and as a bore cleaner. For really dirty bores, I use whatever bore solvent I have onhand - Butch's Bore Shine, Hoppes #9, Bore Tech Eliminator (I haven't found one that really works any better than another) - mixed 50/50 with Kroil. Some benchrest guys told me that the Kroil penetrates under the fouling well and helps the solvent remove it better. Whether this is true or not, I have no idea, but bores do seem to clean up really fast with the mix. For everything else, parts lube and general wipe down, I use Hornady One Shot gun cleaner/lube (not to be confused with the One Shot case lube).
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