Lighter fluid as a bore cleaner?

Bill Wynne

Bill Wynne

Active member
Yesterday I was cleaning my 22 rifle and I used some lighter fluid to clean up the bolt. On a whim, I cleaned the bore by running a patch with lighter fluid through. It cleaned at least as good as my regular Boretech Rimfire Blend which serves me well.

Has anyone else done this that is willing to admit to it? Is there any harm in using lighter fluid as a bore cleaner?

I did run a patch with Rimfire Blend through just to be safe. I did not pick up anything.

Concho Bill
 
Bill,

I can't see where using lighter fluid would do any harm. I'm no chemist, but if it worked so be it.

Joe Besche told me about using lighter fluid to clean a bolt out on the inside without taking it apart.

I know Joe uses or did use straight Kroil to clean his barrel. I thought about doing that myself. I know it will work probably as good as dang near any solvent although it is not thought to be a barrel cleaner soley. But look how well Joe has done over the years. ;)
 
From what I understand, lighter fluid, or something similar is good to clean a bolt because it will wash out the residue and then evaporate quickly, thus not picking anything else up. I would probably clean a bore, but how good would it work as a solvent if it evaporates so fast?
 
Alcohol evporates quickly, and I would bet it would clean a barrel as well. Just a hunch. I know we used to use alcohol as a cleaner years ago to clean certain stains.
 
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I use it to clean triggers. The main thing for triggers it leaves a film which triggers like. I would not think it would clean a bore. It will remove any moisture that may be in the bore. For cleaning a bolt use Break Cleaner, works great.
Fred K
 
alcohol is ment to be drank:D!!! i'm having some 8 year old jeam beam now!!! guess i'm cleaning my barrel after a day at the range so to speak:D!!! has anybody used brake cleaner or carb cleaner before? i've had a few old gunsmith's say that is all they use. i'm iffy on it myself!!!
 
Naphtha is refined from petroleum,,,,It is used as a cleaner.....
i use only O.M.C. outboard engine cleaner to clean the bore...
 
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Carb cleaner or choke cleaner will strip the finish off of a wood stock in a heartbeat. I know. :mad:
 
brad541thb said:
Carb cleaner or choke cleaner will strip the finish off of a wood stock in a heartbeat. I know. :mad:
Click to expand...

That may be the down side to lighter fluid. It comes in such a handy container.

We know that it will clean our bolts and is recommended for Jewell Triggers. Try it for a bore cleaner and let us know what you think.

If anyone knows why it will not work, by all means, let us know that too.

Concho Bill
 
I just take barrel, action and boil it. Gets everything out and then when you take it out of the water, it just dries itself. Works great as long as the rifle is stainless.
 
Beau said:
I just take barrel, action and boil it. Gets everything out and then when you take it out of the water, it just dries itself. Works great as long as the rifle is stainless.
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You must have a fairly big sauce pan, Beau.

Concho Bill
 
Beau
Are you saying that boiling removes carbon and lead ?? I would not think so.
Bet you are talking about crud build-up only.
Fred K
 
I keep

a small bottle of lighter fluid or camp stove fuel(Naptha) at my side when cleaning guns.

After cleaning the last thing I do is run a soaking wet patch or 2 down the bore to remove any final traces. Then I run a lightly oiled patch with Eezox down the bore and go shooting.

The fluid can be also used to give your brush a quick rinse as well.

Calvin
 
I soak my barrel and action in a tank of caustic soda that we clean engine blocks in. My guns are squeaky clean!
 
Gets rid of the "gummy stuff"

If there was a concern it would be that lighter fluid leaves an unlubricated bore resulting in increased fouling on the first shot.
 
My secert sauce is the best bore..........!

cleaner and lubricant. Actually it's not so much a lub. but a conditioner. But it cost so much it's embarrassing. It'll bring up the crude like nothing I've ever seen before. :D

D R
 
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Fred K said:
Beau
Are you saying that boiling removes carbon and lead ?? I would not think so.
Bet you are talking about crud build-up only.
Fred K
Click to expand...

Fred,

I just threw that in there. A state policeman once told me that's how he cleaned his .357. I always thought he was a little nuts.
 
I used to use OMC engine..........

cleaner in barrels, then read where it uses ammoniated ingredients, I use Mercury Quicksilver now. If I want to "blow out" a bore, I'll use Gumout Carb & Choke Cleaner(because it has NO ammoniated OR Cholinated ingredients) then follow-up with a good oil in the bore. As far as brake cleaner, I use CRC Brak-Kleen(I think that's the right spelling), in the GREEN CAN ONLY because it has no chlorinated chemicals. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons attract moisture, which attacks steel. I see no problem in using Lighter Fluid in the bore, it does evaporate, but follow-up with oil. I DO use a drop or two on neck turning mandrels between every 3-4 rounds, because it lubricates, but DOES evaporate, leaves no residue, and seems to preclude brass from "sticking", plating, or "tinge-ing" the mandrels. HTH ;)
 
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