Most people on this forum know that ammonia based cleaning solvents are effective at removing copper fouling from barrels. I have heard it's OK to leave ammonia solvents in your barrel for how ever long you want. I've also heard ammonia slovent should not be left in your barrel for more than 10 or 15 minutes. My question is, if ammonia solvents aren't supposed to be in your barrel for very long what damage do they do if left in for too long. I know that ammonia extracts any oils in your bore and you should lightly oil after using ammonia. Is there a chemist or someone knowlegable that can explaian what ammonia does to barrel steel?
??? about ammonia based cleaning solvents
- Thread starter AZMIKE1
- Start date
Smokeless
New member
Ammonia based solvents like Sweets or Barnes CR 10, are water based ammonia. If left in the barrel more than 10-15 minutes, the ammonia dries the surface of the bore and causes instant rust!
If on the other hand you use Montana Extreme solvents, they are oil based ammonia, and will not harm your barrel if soaked over night.
Also water based ammonia if left in your barrel when fired, will cause immediate fire cracking to the surface of your bore when fired. Clean it out completely before firing with bore conditioner oil, or something like Kroil oil.
Great stuff that Montana Extreme! Use it without worry.IMO
If on the other hand you use Montana Extreme solvents, they are oil based ammonia, and will not harm your barrel if soaked over night.
Also water based ammonia if left in your barrel when fired, will cause immediate fire cracking to the surface of your bore when fired. Clean it out completely before firing with bore conditioner oil, or something like Kroil oil.
Great stuff that Montana Extreme! Use it without worry.IMO
Originally Posted By: SmokelessAmmonia based solvents like Sweets or Barnes CR 10, are water based ammonia. If left in the barrel more than 10-15 minutes, the ammonia dries the surface of the bore and causes instant rust!
If on the other hand you use Montana Extreme solvents, they are oil based ammonia, and will not harm your barrel if soaked over night.
Also water based ammonia if left in your barrel when fired, will cause immediate fire cracking to the surface of your bore when fired. Clean it out completely before firing with bore conditioner oil, or something like Kroil oil.
Great stuff that Montana Extreme! Use it without worry.IMO
+1
Montana Extreme Copper killer is the best copper remover on the market IMO. 15 minutes and you are done. If you have a really rough bore, scrub with the Copper Killer with a Montana Extreme plastic brush...done with no farting around.
If on the other hand you use Montana Extreme solvents, they are oil based ammonia, and will not harm your barrel if soaked over night.
Also water based ammonia if left in your barrel when fired, will cause immediate fire cracking to the surface of your bore when fired. Clean it out completely before firing with bore conditioner oil, or something like Kroil oil.
Great stuff that Montana Extreme! Use it without worry.IMO
+1
Montana Extreme Copper killer is the best copper remover on the market IMO. 15 minutes and you are done. If you have a really rough bore, scrub with the Copper Killer with a Montana Extreme plastic brush...done with no farting around.
Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
The only time Sweet's will etch a bore is when it is combined with Shooters Choice, even in trace amounts.
I mirror polished a piece of barrel steel and soaked it in Sweet's for 24 hours. Even under magnification there was no etching at all,
Jack
I mirror polished a piece of barrel steel and soaked it in Sweet's for 24 hours. Even under magnification there was no etching at all,
Jack
Evil_Lurker
New member
Originally Posted By: CAFRAmmonia itself will not harm steel, however it is hygroscopic and will attract moisture if it remains under any kind of fouling left in your bore.
That's the actual answer right there.
That's the actual answer right there.
CAFR
New member
Originally Posted By: Terry N.I've found that when using ammonia solvents it is a really good idea to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Sweet's has been known to etch bores when left in place for longer than what the mfr recommends.
Again, it's not the ammonia that etches the steel. It's the oxidation of the moisture trapped under the copper fouling that the sweets has loosened. The instructions tell you not to leave sweets in a fouled bore for more than 15 minutes. That is correct. Brush out the copper fouling and follow up with your normal bore solvent and then bore lube.
Again, it's not the ammonia that etches the steel. It's the oxidation of the moisture trapped under the copper fouling that the sweets has loosened. The instructions tell you not to leave sweets in a fouled bore for more than 15 minutes. That is correct. Brush out the copper fouling and follow up with your normal bore solvent and then bore lube.
Smokeless
New member
Originally Posted By: reddog964So what happens when you mix Barnes CR 10 and Montana Extreme? I messed up last night and put a bottle of the montana Extreme in a bottle with a little CR 10 in it by mistake...
My advice.
Throw it out, and start fresh with Montana Extreme.
The damage that the water based ammonia can do is not worth the risk. I learned the hard way!
My advice.
Throw it out, and start fresh with Montana Extreme.
The damage that the water based ammonia can do is not worth the risk. I learned the hard way!
Jim n Iowa
New member
I had a .243 that I bought used, I realized it was copper fouled and used sweets several times but still had copper signs. A guide I knew from AK said soak it over night. Eight hours later with dry patch the copper came out in coils of wire. I then cleaned it up with Kroil. Had it bore scoped and the smith said the barrel looked ok. I now clean for copper when the groups open up or 50 rds.
Jim
Jim
Darkker
New member
Cafr is correct about what is ACTUALLY doing the damage.
Lilja also doesn't see an issue with them, read here:
http://www.riflebarrels.com/faq_lilja_rifle_barrels.htm
I personally have left both Sweets, and CR-10 in my bore overnight without issue, have also mixed them. It depends upon humidity and your climate. Since the OP is in Scottsdale, there is no humidity.
Just remember to NOT use a brass brush. Or you will get a false sign of copper, when it is your brush being attacked.
Lilja also doesn't see an issue with them, read here:
http://www.riflebarrels.com/faq_lilja_rifle_barrels.htm
I personally have left both Sweets, and CR-10 in my bore overnight without issue, have also mixed them. It depends upon humidity and your climate. Since the OP is in Scottsdale, there is no humidity.
Just remember to NOT use a brass brush. Or you will get a false sign of copper, when it is your brush being attacked.
Originally Posted By: AZMIKE1Most people on this forum know that ammonia based cleaning solvents are effective at removing copper fouling from barrels. I have heard it's OK to leave ammonia solvents in your barrel for how ever long you want. I've also heard ammonia slovent should not be left in your barrel for more than 10 or 15 minutes. My question is, if ammonia solvents aren't supposed to be in your barrel for very long what damage do they do if left in for too long. I know that ammonia extracts any oils in your bore and you should lightly oil after using ammonia. Is there a chemist or someone knowlegable that can explaian what ammonia does to barrel steel?
Montana Extreme products are oil based, I leave the regular bore solvent in over night in really copper fouled up guns. The montana Extreme copper killer rules the day on amonia bases copper solvents and when used on one of their plastic brushes, cleans the dickens out of a barrel really fast. I only leave the Copper killer in for 15 minutes.
I clean at the rifle ranges quite often while in load development stage, you should also.
Montana Extreme products are oil based, I leave the regular bore solvent in over night in really copper fouled up guns. The montana Extreme copper killer rules the day on amonia bases copper solvents and when used on one of their plastic brushes, cleans the dickens out of a barrel really fast. I only leave the Copper killer in for 15 minutes.
I clean at the rifle ranges quite often while in load development stage, you should also.