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I read something similar to this concerning older GIs using hot soapy water to clean thier M-1 Garands.
why would any one do such a thing?
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Hot, soapy water is the ages old cleaner for black powder residue, and the perchlorate salts from corrosive primers.
THe residue has to be fresh for it to work best.
Hot soapy water dissolves the salts and lets them be flushed away. Hot water evaporates quickly (the hotter the faster) so it doesn't harm the steel.
Hot soapy water is often available when supplies of specific cleaners are not, and is much better than not cleaning at all.
The correct process to follow is clean with hot soapy water, rinse, dry (where needed) then clean again with regular cleaning solvents, the usual way. Oil (or your chosen lube) afterwards.