|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
July 24, 2012, 10:57 AM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: May 29, 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 23
|
Need Help - How do I decontaminate my guns?
I recently had a bunch of people try out a few of my firearms and would like to clean the germs off from the trigger and pistol / rifle grips. I know that you can use isopropyl alcohol to clean cell phones and was wondering if that would be okay to use on gun metal. Guns are the Smith and Wesson M&P's in 9mm and AR style 5.56 if it matters. I'm not sure if the isopropyl alcohol would take the bluing off the guns or if it would make the gun metal brittle.
Any thoughts or suggestions would sure be appreciated. Thanks
__________________
He who hesitates is lost. Think of the solution, not the problem. |
July 24, 2012, 11:17 AM | #2 |
Staff
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,390
|
Isopropyl alcohol is fine on the metal surfaces of firearms.
Not sure about the wood or not.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower. |
July 24, 2012, 11:19 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 20, 2007
Location: Rainbow City, Alabama
Posts: 7,167
|
What germs are you afraid of? The vast majority of pathogens that are harmful to humans only have a life of 24-72 hours outside of a host. Sticking your guns in the safe for a week would kill those.
|
July 24, 2012, 11:51 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 16, 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,497
|
Aerosol disinfectant? Lysol, etc.
But unless the people who borrowed it were carrying Ebola, I wouldn't worry too much
__________________
"The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank" - Montgomery Scott |
July 24, 2012, 11:54 AM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: May 29, 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 23
|
Thanks Mike, I was afraid that it might remove the bluing. Thank you very much for your post. Much appreciated.
Doyle - Not afraid of anything. I like to keep my stuff clean and neat. I appreciate your incite on the pathogens though. One of the kids shooting had been eating Doritos and had that cheesy yellow everywhere. Also had to feed the cows, and was walking through cow manure etc.
__________________
He who hesitates is lost. Think of the solution, not the problem. Last edited by CowboyinIL; July 24, 2012 at 01:07 PM. |
July 24, 2012, 08:13 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 19, 2005
Location: Tx Panhandle Territory
Posts: 4,160
|
I work in a hospital environment, and there has been an occasion or two where we've needed to decon pretty much all of our gear, including weapons. We use a product called Super Sani-cloth. And they have yet to cause any damage to our radios, weapons, handcuffs, or belt gear.
http://www.amazon.com/PDI-Super-Sani.../dp/B001GEZEAK
__________________
Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two. |
July 24, 2012, 08:49 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 4, 2012
Location: NV
Posts: 743
|
Got one of those steamer things? Or maybe a hot blowdryer.
|
July 24, 2012, 09:34 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 15, 2005
Location: free territory
Posts: 203
|
If somebody was eating Doritos, I'd be worried about the salt and what it will do to the finish.
|
July 24, 2012, 10:22 PM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 3, 2012
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 449
|
Quote:
|
|
July 25, 2012, 02:17 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 6, 2009
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 1,128
|
Ah, lay off of him guys. Not all of us like to wallow in germs. Isopropyl should be okay unless the finish is very fragile. Keep in mind it will take all the oil off and out of the metal, so a liberal re-oiling will be necessary.
__________________
'Merica: Back to back World War Champs |
July 25, 2012, 04:33 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 15, 2010
Posts: 8,238
|
I think I got dried pig blood on one of my grips.
Germs build immunities, exposure to them throughout life make you live longer.
__________________
Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!! |
July 25, 2012, 06:17 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 12, 2011
Location: Top of the Baltic stack
Posts: 6,079
|
Just clean them, the way you normally would!
I can't imagine many bacteria and virus that would remain functional when exposed to some of those gun cleaning compounds. Failing that, simple multi-surface or alcohol wipes that you can get from the house cleaning aisle in the supermarket... Given the sort of contact patch a hand would have on a gun, I don't think we need to go down the autoclave route!!
__________________
When the right to effective self-defence is denied, that right to self-defence which remains is essentially symbolic. Freedom: Please enjoy responsibly.
|
July 25, 2012, 06:42 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 4, 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,552
|
I was going to suggest a blast of gamma radiation... that should do the job and won't harm the wood or bluing.
Isopropyl alcohol should do the trick, seriously. |
July 25, 2012, 08:11 AM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: May 29, 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 23
|
Thanks for the help guys. If anyone knew how to take care of a weapon, I knew I would find them here.
Thanks
__________________
He who hesitates is lost. Think of the solution, not the problem. Last edited by CowboyinIL; July 25, 2012 at 08:19 AM. |
July 25, 2012, 10:23 AM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 15, 2010
Posts: 8,238
|
Boiling hat water sounds kinda gross,
__________________
Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!! |
July 25, 2012, 11:09 AM | #16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 28, 2007
Location: Upper Indiana
Posts: 609
|
Quote:
|
|
July 25, 2012, 12:00 PM | #17 | ||
Member
Join Date: May 29, 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 23
|
Quote:
Quote:
Not at all. Isopropyl alcohol dries out objects by its very nature, even metals. Logic tells me it would not do this (make trigger brittle)if used only once, and apply a coat of gun oil on the areas it was used. However, I wanted the opinions, experience, and vast wisdom from the fellow gun owners found on this forum. It's a tremendous resource for all of us to learn from.
__________________
He who hesitates is lost. Think of the solution, not the problem. |
||
July 25, 2012, 12:07 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 24, 2011
Posts: 254
|
A few minutes in the microwave will do it.
Seriously, I doubt if a lot of germs can live doused in Hoppes #9. |
July 25, 2012, 12:11 PM | #19 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 16, 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,497
|
Quote:
Metal in the microwave?
__________________
"The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank" - Montgomery Scott |
|
July 25, 2012, 12:23 PM | #20 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 4, 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,552
|
Quote:
|
|
July 25, 2012, 01:07 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 16, 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,497
|
Might dry out the oil coating, but not the metal itself - It's Metal!
__________________
"The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank" - Montgomery Scott |
July 25, 2012, 02:03 PM | #22 | ||
Member
Join Date: May 29, 2012
Location: Midwest
Posts: 23
|
Quote:
Quote:
I wasn't joking. Maybe I'm wrong. I thought I read somewhere that Isopropyl alcohol dries out metals and makes them more brittle by tightening their molecular structure. That's is why I asked the question in my OP. Like I said, maybe I'm wrong.
__________________
He who hesitates is lost. Think of the solution, not the problem. |
||
July 25, 2012, 02:37 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 3, 2002
Posts: 154
|
Another vote for Hoppes.
|
July 25, 2012, 02:56 PM | #24 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 4, 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,552
|
Quote:
There is no water in the metal for the alcohol to interact with. |
|
July 25, 2012, 03:10 PM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 21, 2010
Location: Rome, NY
Posts: 941
|
Alcohol absorbs water. It won't make metal brittle unless it's a poruous mesh finer than steel wool that doesn't exist to my knowledge. Most folks don't want water on their guns.
I use if often to clean off old oil and after exposure to high humidity or dunking. It won't hurt a thing!
__________________
Jim Page Cogito, ergo armatum sum |
|
|