Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenMauser
That will attack the metal, as well.
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But lye wouldn't. We cast iron cookware collectors use lye baths to soak cast iron in to remove old gunk and seasoning. It won't hurt steel/iron (don't use it on aluminum though) but it will dissolve anything organic - including cotton cleaning patches. It takes a while though. It would certainly be worth the try. Remove the barrel. Temporarily plug the breech end and fill the muzzle end with solution (mixed at the rate of 1lb of lye to 5 gallons of water). Then, put a really good plug in the muzzle end (plastic plug that won't get eaten by the lye), turn it over and fill the breech end. Plug that and let it sit vertically (hanging over a plastic bucket in case the plug leaks).