The "hot water" thing

Romulus · July 17, 2001, 03:52 AM

I heard that back in the old days, hot water was used to clean the crap from firearms. I have a pistol and a couple of shotguns, all parkerized, and they are quickly accumulating loads of crap, gummed up solvents, even phosphor-bronze particles from scrubbing regimens. Can I run these items under hot water, maybe some dishsoap, scrub them down, then douse in wd40, some fresh CLP or whatever? I just want the crap to go away...

Thanks

Jim V · July 17, 2001, 06:07 AM

Hot, soapy water will not harm yor Parkerized(tm) firearms. Dry well and relube.

BigG · July 17, 2001, 07:31 AM

Hot water was used on guns before noncorrosive priming was developed. The salts deposited by the old primers would attract water from the air and rust holes in the bores even under an oil coat. Also Black Powder residue is extremely filthy and water is prolly the ultimate solvent for that too. Hot because it helps to dry itself by heating up the metal. Go ahead, give your guns a bath. They'll thank you for it. If you can remove the wood, so much the better. HTH

Ledbetter · July 17, 2001, 12:55 PM

A very good product to use in conjunction with your hot water is Simple Green, an organic degreaser. Use the hottest water you can so that most of it evaporates quickly off the metal.

Romulus · July 17, 2001, 11:52 PM

Thank you all, and I'll give Simple Green a try as well.

Romulus · July 18, 2001, 12:10 AM

Thank you all, and I'll give Simple Green a try as well.

Paul B. · July 21, 2001, 03:26 PM

Romulus. I don't know it hot water will do the trick, but I'll bet Mpro's MP-7 will. (1-800 yes 4mp7) Really good stuff. Clean your guns thoroughly with it in the same manner as you normally would. Then, use a good copper remover like Sweet's 7.62 to remove all copper fouling. Use the MP-7 to remove all the Sweet's and oil the bore well. (MP-7 will remove all oils and solvents. Oiling after MP-7 is a must.) After any shooting session, run a patch soaked with MP-7 through your bore first, then your regular solvent. MP-7 will remove powder residue faster than regular solvents.
No, I don't own any stock in the company. I'm just one hell of a satisfied user.
Paul B.

LIProgun · July 25, 2001, 09:04 AM

For several years I used hot soapy water to clean black powder guns, with great success. I picked up using Simple Green and water for heavy cleaning and degreasing from the American Gunsmithing Institute video series. Works very well; easy on the hands and nose; safe for the sink and sewer.

MPro7 is excellent, IMO. But Simple Green and water is much cheaper. However, I've never compared them side-by-side as nitro powder and carbon fouling solvents.

Romulus · July 25, 2001, 10:12 PM

Thank you all, once again...

July 17, 2001, 03:52 AM	#1
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	The "hot water" thing I heard that back in the old days, hot water was used to clean the crap from firearms. I have a pistol and a couple of shotguns, all parkerized, and they are quickly accumulating loads of crap, gummed up solvents, even phosphor-bronze particles from scrubbing regimens. Can I run these items under hot water, maybe some dishsoap, scrub them down, then douse in wd40, some fresh CLP or whatever? I just want the crap to go away... Thanks

July 17, 2001, 06:07 AM	#2
Jim V Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 1999 Location: SE Michigan - USA Posts: 4,038	Hot, soapy water will not harm yor Parkerized(tm) firearms. Dry well and relube. __________________ *MOLON LABE* If it ain't metal, single stack & single action, it ain't a 1911 no matter what it looks like. 1911 Forum THE TUBBY CURMUDGEON

July 17, 2001, 07:31 AM	#3
BigG Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,334	Hot water was used on guns before noncorrosive priming was developed. The salts deposited by the old primers would attract water from the air and rust holes in the bores even under an oil coat. Also Black Powder residue is extremely filthy and water is prolly the ultimate solvent for that too. Hot because it helps to dry itself by heating up the metal. Go ahead, give your guns a bath. They'll thank you for it. If you can remove the wood, so much the better. HTH __________________ o "The Earth is degenerating today. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer obey their parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching." Assyrian tablet, c. 2800 BC o "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain o "They have gun control in Cuba. They have universal health care in Cuba. So why do they want to come here?" Paul Harvey o TODAY WE CARVE OUT OUR OWN OMENS! Leonidas, Thermopylae, 480 BC

July 21, 2001, 03:26 PM	#7
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	Romulus. I don't know it hot water will do the trick, but I'll bet Mpro's MP-7 will. (1-800 yes 4mp7) Really good stuff. Clean your guns thoroughly with it in the same manner as you normally would. Then, use a good copper remover like Sweet's 7.62 to remove all copper fouling. Use the MP-7 to remove all the Sweet's and oil the bore well. (MP-7 will remove all oils and solvents. Oiling after MP-7 is a must.) After any shooting session, run a patch soaked with MP-7 through your bore first, then your regular solvent. MP-7 will remove powder residue faster than regular solvents. No, I don't own any stock in the company. I'm just one hell of a satisfied user. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

July 25, 2001, 09:04 AM	#8
LIProgun Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2000 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Posts: 489	For several years I used hot soapy water to clean black powder guns, with great success. I picked up using Simple Green and water for heavy cleaning and degreasing from the American Gunsmithing Institute video series. Works very well; easy on the hands and nose; safe for the sink and sewer. MPro7 is excellent, IMO. But Simple Green and water is much cheaper. However, I've never compared them side-by-side as nitro powder and carbon fouling solvents. __________________ MOLON LABE. - Leonidas of Sparta, 480 B.C.

July 17, 2001, 12:55 PM	#4
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	A very good product to use in conjunction with your hot water is Simple Green, an organic degreaser. Use the hottest water you can so that most of it evaporates quickly off the metal.

July 17, 2001, 11:52 PM	#5
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	Thank you all, and I'll give Simple Green a try as well.

July 18, 2001, 12:10 AM	#6
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	Thank you all, and I'll give Simple Green a try as well.

July 25, 2001, 10:12 PM	#9
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	Thank you all, once again...