ammonia barrel cleaner

[willp58]

Hello, I have an old recipe for mixing a good barrel cleaner for copper fouling. it is: 1 oz. Ammonium persulphate, 200 gr ammonmium carbonate, 6oz. stronger ammonia, 4 oz. water. I tried to get the first ingredient at a drugstore, the ammonium persulphate and they never heard of it nor could they find it listed from their suppliers. Is there a substitute for that? The next ingredient is ammonium carbonate (they have that) but what is 200 gr? grains or grams?? thanks, willp

[johnwill]

Personally, I would stick to commercial mixes, your ingredients list sure scares me! :)

[willp58]

Are any of these elements dangerous?? Why are you scared? This recipe came from a publication from "The American Gunsmithing Association". think again, willp

[James K]

Hi, willp58

That is an old formula from the days of great glops of cupro-nickel fouling from the old bullet jackets, and I am surprised that it is given in any modern publication. With almost all jackets today being either gilding metal or mild steel, I don't think all that ammonia is necessary and it can itself be corrosive if it gets into inaccessible places, like under the stock. I agree with johnwill to stick to commercial stuff.

Of course, I should not need to caution about getting a strong ammonia solution anywhere near a nickel plated gun. It won't affect the nickel itself very much, but it will eat the copper undercladding used in most electro plating of nickel.

Jim

[Zorro]

Barnes CR-10.

The stuff is PLENTY fierce!

DON'T breathe any!

You don't want to use anything stronger.