We all know that cleaning our firearms is a crucial part of the shooting process. But how many of us actually do it right? Here’s what you need to know about gun cleaning solvents.
Your guns may need some cleaning, but you might not want to use solvents. Why? Because gun cleaning solvents can be dangerous to both you and the environment. Here’s what you need to know about gun cleaning solvents.
1. The Chemistry Behind Gun Cleaning Solvents
The secret is to use a solvent that dissolves the oils and residue that gun owners commonly encounter. Most gun cleaning solvents contain mineral spirits and other petroleum products. These solvents are excellent for general cleaning, but if you’re interested in using them for cleaning firearms, you need to consider their potential impact on your gun. Some manufacturers, such as Brownells, advise that mineral spirits and other petroleum-based solvents should never be used on firearms.
2. What You Need to Know About Gun Cleaning Solvents
Gun cleaning solvents come in many forms, but a solvent that is suitable for cleaning firearms is not necessarily the same thing as a solvent that is suitable for cleaning clothing or even your home. The properties of a cleaning solvent depend largely on its intended application. In fact, a solvent may be perfect for cleaning one kind of material, such as a firearm, but not the other kind, such as a piece of clothing. This is because cleaning solvents are typically applied in the same manner regardless of the material they are intended to clean.
3. How to Make the Best Choice for Gun Cleaning Solvents
For many years gun cleaning solvents have been made from harsh chemicals. As more and more consumers began using guns to hunt and target shoot, the need for a safe, effective cleaner became evident. Today’s top gun cleaning solvent manufacturers rely on environmentally friendly materials like organic soybean oil and water-based solutions, and the safety and quality of their products have skyrocketed.
4. How Do Gun Cleaning Solvents Work?
Gun cleaning solvents are a great way to clean a gun, but unfortunately most gun owners don’t realize how much gun cleaning solvent damage their guns. When a gun owner cleans a firearm with a gun cleaning solvent, they’re often doing damage to the finish on their guns. This damage is usually irreversible, and over time, the damage can become worse. If you’d like to learn how to clean your guns safely, then there are many things you can do. Start by cleaning your guns as little as possible because too much cleaning is usually a bad thing for a gun.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all the gun cleaning solvents products on the market will work fine for a while but they have a limited shelf life and will eventually begin to degrade over time. They also do not work as well in cold weather, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.
