I'm melting! I'm melting...melting...

K

Kaylee

New member
:D

so I go to clean my rifle after a day at the range, and pull out my field cleaning kit (an old GI M16). Out comes the segmented rod, out comes the brush, out comes the...

lump of cancerous looking plastic that used to contain my solvent.

Here's my apparent oops.. having run out of whatever solvent was in the USGI plastic bottle, I replaced it with Hoppes. I think I just discovered why the Hoppes came in a glass bottle.. oops.

So..

1 -- Should I replace my solvent, for field use anyhow, with something that doesn't mind plastic? If so, what should I use?

OR --

2 -- is there another container suitable for field use that won't melt with Hoppes?

OR --

did I just make a fool of myself by posting this when the real cause of said meting was leaving my kit in my pack in my truck some summer afternoon? :p

-K
 
Don't use a segmented rod. It is hard on the barrel.

That plastic bottle is meant to contain Breakfree CLP. That's all I use to clean my AR-style rifles. Solvent in the bore maybe twice a year. CLP for all the rest.

Get a really good cleaning rod, and save that segmented scraper for SHTF/TEOTWAWKI.

Oh, and it looks like they put Hoppes in a glass bottle for a reason.:)
 
Breakfree CLP -- thanks!

gotcha on the rod.. Doesn't seem to have mattered on the .30 cal (doesn't touch the bore anyways if guided in properly), but having just picked up a .22 I'll go that route from now on anyhows. I figure on following Fred's advice.. field kit in the stock, decent rod at home.

Thanks!

-K

PS.. M14 field cleaning kit -- grease in the small half of the bottle, Breakfree CLP in the bigger half?
 
Might want to try a polypropylene plastic bottel if you want to stick with plastic. These are relatively very good for most solvents. I've had a empty Accurate #2 powder plastic bottle filled with Hoppes for years without a problem. Whenever I clean a handgun, I just drop the parts that fit in the bottle in and let it sit for awhile before scrubbing. Only problem is to find a good seal for the cap. Rugger seals will eventually fail. Paper laminated with something like silicone like the release paper behind stickers should work OK. Polyethylene bottles aren't as robust agains chemicals.
 
Kaylee: check out Sinclair International's sight for some of the polypropylene bottles. I use theirs for all my solvents, oils, etc. They also have any other cleaning gear you might need like a good, coated, one-piece cleaning rod (Dewey is tops in my book).

www.sinclairintl.com
 
For a small solvent container,I use those little 30 day prescription pill bottles (the brownish red ones). I've had some Hoppes #9 in it for several months with no problems.
 
Metal containers only

Hoppes contains Cellosolves (tm) that dissolve most plastics, including polyolefins (polyethylene and polypro). If it doesn't dissolve, it will migrate through the plastic and go stale quickly.

If you use metal, be sure it isn't tin or lead plated because the ammonia will also attack.

I hope you were using this on a non-plated bore. In this case, do not use the segmented rods. They are hard on chrome bores too but to a lesser extent.

If you have a MRE Tabasco bottle, use it for Hoppes in your stock. Just put a aluminum foil liner in the lid to prevent the dreaded plastic attack. Wrap it in a small towel for padding. It holds enough for 2 cleanings and is easy to keep fresh.
 
Hey Keith --

Got a source then on metal solvent bottles that might work in a buttstock?

Hrmm.. on second thought.. mightn't the Hoppes melt my fiberglass stock over time, or is that another animal altogether? Stick with CLP?

Also,
I'll be looking for a 1-piece rod today, thanks guys!

-K
 
I've got a chrome-lined barrel 1981 SP1 that's been in the family since it was bought new. Been cleaned with a segmented rod and Hoppe's #9 about 30 times a year for the past 20 years now, followed by an oiling of whatever oil we had around the house (I even used to use vegetable oil back in the day!!).

Bore's fine after all this time. Hoppe's and segmented rods bad? Technically, maybe and doubtable. In reality, they're fine.

:rolleyes:
 
Use Hoppes if you have a stainless or unplated bore. CLP is good only for chrome, it lacks the solvents necessary for copper.

I have a small metal bottle used for sewing oil. They are collectors items, especially if they have good markings. Mine didn't and as such, is worth only a few dollars.

Look in flea markets and collectors. Ebay has a few. Get the ones with a metal top and cap. Caution, they can be quite expensive and don't tell anyone what you plan to use it for. They will pop a fuse! Buy the ratty ones. You can repair with low temp silver bearing solder. Radio Shack stuff works.

Small glass bottles (perfume samples?) also work great and are disposable.

As far as the stock goes, yes, it can be bad for it. Plastics tend to absorb solvents. Cellosolve (tm) is fairly volitale but the kerosene and other oils will follow it and not evaporate.
 
Don't know if they'll fit in your buttstock but the combloc AK47 kits had a lil metal bottle in them. Don't think Hoppes would migrate thru that. They were available for dirt cheap prices. Whole kit about $5.00 iirc. Some of the bottles had stars on them. Russky.
 
It won't fit in a buttstock, but a small whiskey flask oughta do the job.

Uh, do be sure to mark it plainly. I doubt there's anyone who's such a dedicated gun nut that they'd want to drink #9!

:D
 
Uh, do be sure to mark it plainly. I doubt there's anyone who's such a dedicated gun nut that they'd want to drink #9!
Click to expand...

Maybe not, but I once knew a feller who's girlfriend got decidedly frisky every time she smelled it on him. Poor dear, no wonder he liked shooting so much. :p

-K

Thanks for the many ideas guys..
(gopt a coated, solid rod last night -- actually much easier cleaning now! kicking myself for not doing it a year ago)
 
I like Mp7 for cleaning...

I like Mpro 7 for cleaning my rifles, I like the fact that its a non-oil based cleaner - just seems less messy to clean with. I like CLP breakfree for oiling exteriors of my rifles... I guess I just don't feel comfortable putting any oil in the barrel of my rifles, esp. in field conditions where crud might get into it and I definitely know I don't want any obstructions in the bbl itself. Just my opinion though.
 
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