From: lvc@cbvox1.att.com (Lawrence V Cipriani)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: alternative chemicals for lubrication and getting the lead out
Date: 20 Dec 92 15:33:41 GMT
Organization: Ideology Busters, Inc.

Below is the article: "An inexpensive method for lubricating firearms
& getting the lead out" by Pete Culpenski in the Oct. '92 Florida Rod
and Gun Trader"

Any comments on this ?  Mine are in [square brackets].

"One of the most overlooked methods for lubricating firearms after
cleaning is to use air conditioning refridgerant oil.  A/C refridgerant
oil is one of the finest, odorless lubricants available.  As mentioned
in previous articles WD-40 can do more harm than good and transmission
fluid (Dexron) also has it [sic] downfalls.  Because it's meant to be
used in transmissions, transmission fluid has coloring added to it
[I don't follow that logic - lvc] which will stain woods and will not
hold up in high temperature situations [such as in a rifle chamber]
without getting sticky.

Air conditioning refridgerant oil, on the other hand, is a highly refined
oil designed to lubricate under high pressure and high temps as well as
not freeze when mixed with liquid freon [maybe this would be a good
oil for cold weather hunting ? - lvc].  It has no odor, no color added to
it and it can be purchased inexpensively at any auto dealership parts dept.
It's also a good idea to keep a cloth with this oil added to it to wipe
off firearms after handling them [isn't this stuff something you don't
want on your hands ? -lvc]

For a penetrating oil, the best I have found is another automobile product
called Heat Riser Solvent.  It comes in a spray can and will penetrate and
dissolve rust or corrosion in a heartbeat.  Originally designed to free up
frozen (i.e., rusted) heatrisers on exhaust systems of cars, this solvent
contains a liquified graphite to eaze removal of frozen hardware.

And, how about getting the lead out of them barrels.  The market is
saturated with all kinds of concoctions guaranteed to do the job better
than the next guys product.  Most products require elbow grease and a stiff
brush.  I got tired of using Hoppe's #9 and decided to make life easier by
using two common household ingredients that we all have kicking around,
white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.  Mix up a 50-50 mixture and you have a
solution that will eat the lead out of a gun barrel within minutes, with no
hard scrubbing.  Here is how I use it.

After blasting a hundred or so lead cast bullets out of my Ruger Redhawk
(stainless) [the man has good taste :-) - lvc] my accuracy drops off due
to leading and lead streaking the barrel.  When I return home after
shooting, I'll mix up a solution of peroxide and vinegar which I put in an
old mustard bottle [it's the mustard bottle that makes this work! -lvc]
with a painted tip so I can pour the solution in after plugging off the
end of the barrel.  A reaction will occur between the lead and the
solution.  You may even see some "fizzing" out of the barrel due to the
lead being attacked.  After five or ten minutes, pour the solution out and
rinse with tap water [not down your kitchen sink! -lvc] to rinse out any
residue.  A second cleaning may be necessary in the case of heavy lead
deposits.  After rinsing with tap water run a patch through to dry and
lubricate and you're done.  Sounds easy -- it is!

Okay, most of you are probably asking yourself right now, "Won't this
harm my barrel.  The answer is - no.  This solution is so mild that you
can drink it.  It's non-toxic and non-poisonous.  For years I've poured
vinegar on my greens and salads, and I've used hydrogen peroxide to rinse
out my mouth.  Now how on earth is it going to damage a gun barrel, that
you just blasted a hundred or so rounds out of (especially stainless
steel)?  [ What Culpenski forgets is the chemical reaction, if any
between hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar.  And what reaction does
this "mixture" have with lead ? - lvc]  The salts in our skin and
persperation [sic] are more harmful to firearm finishes.

I've even conduct tests where I have put this solution in a glass dish
and added a lead bullet, a copper penny and a steel nail, just to watch
the reaction.  The lead was attacked immediately and by the next morning
dissolved.  And don't forget, we're only working against a thin film of
lead that has built up in a gun barrel.  I've used this method for over 10
years on my Redhawk and the bore is spotless and has lost no accuracy.

This method is basically the difference between spending big bucks on
cleaning supplies while a couple of dollars will do the same job.  I
personally believe that one a shooter trys [sic] this, he/she [sic]
will discard all other cleaning methods.

Disclaimer: The author and publisher disclaim any liability for the
information provided [that says it all ;-) - lvc]
-- 
Larry Cipriani, att!cbvox1!lvc or lvc@cbvox1.att.com

Xref: sparky rec.guns:18132 talk.politics.guns:25217