Cholla Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Some here recommend Windex with vinegar for cleaning black powder guns. I have tried it and am happy with the results. But, I have also read that using vinegar is an easy way to remove bluing. This concerns me. Anyone have experience in this? I assume there isn't enough vinegar in the Windex to affect the bluing but I don't want to take chances with a $3K Shiloh Sharps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I use it on mine and haven't had any noticeable issues. My guns are also $500 guns, not $3K. Due to warnings from others, I do immediately wipe it off the barrel etc. So far so good. Can't say that over time it may start to show thinning. The blue on my Stoeger is thin to begin with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 If it damaged the finish. I sure as heck wouldn't keep use'n it on my 2 Shiloh's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc roy l. pain Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Wipe it off immediately. I antiqued a pair of Ruger old army cylinders accidentally by spraying it on and setting them aside while I cleaned other parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uriah, SASS # 53822 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 53 minutes ago, doc roy l. pain said: Wipe it off immediately. I antiqued a pair of Ruger old army cylinders accidentally by spraying it on and setting them aside while I cleaned other parts. Doc, how did it affect them? Uriah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 It really shines cleaning BP s x s barrels. Squirt it in from both ends and cork. I wipe over spray off the outside. Let sit and rotate a few times while cleaning another gun. Then wad up a quarter sheet of paper towel and pust thru from the chamber. The plastic will come out like an accordioned snake! Some times there is just a little left to get with a patch, but usually shiney clean with one dose. I generally use moose milk for other cleaning and follow up with Eezox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jack Black Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Water works very well. Rocket science this is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend P. Babcock Chase Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Howdy, FYI: I have used straight vinegar to remove blueing on guns in the past. It works very well if that's what you want to do. Never used the Windex/vinegar for cleaning (don't shoot BP anymore, but that's another story). Rev. Chase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I'm a big fan of W/V for bore cleaning. Probably used it for over 20 years. Although I try to clean any residue and not let set long with a film. W/V (or generic) and KG1 are my favorite cleaners. As mentioned, great for shotgun. Whether revolver, rifle, or shotgun, after use of W/V, I wipe bore clean/dry then follow with wipe of Ballistol down bore to finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeb Gray, #36839 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I've used W/V & water 50-50 mix on my Highwall for years to clean the bore & wipe down the muzzle & breech area with no damage to bluing. It does an excellent job of removing BP fouling. I always follow up by wiping down with Thompson bore butter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 You know why windex with vinegar works so welI? Because it has water in it. I have used it but prefer moosemilk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc roy l. pain Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 4 hours ago, Uriah, SASS # 53822 said: Doc, how did it affect them? Uriah It left the cylinders with faded bluing, like an old patina look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 9 hours ago, Cholla said: Some here recommend Windex with vinegar for cleaning black powder guns. I have tried it and am happy with the results. But, I have also read that using vinegar is an easy way to remove bluing. This concerns me. Anyone have experience in this? I assume there isn't enough vinegar in the Windex to affect the bluing but I don't want to take chances with a $3K Shiloh Sharps. My Sharps is 35 years young... I've never used Windex, with or without vinegar... the part to cuts BP fouling is water... plain and simple. Hot is better than cold, but cold works also... Rinse out with water, brush, then wet patches, until clean, then dry patches until dry, then a lubed patch with whatever lube you prefer, I use Thompson Center's "Bore Butter". A dry patch before the next shooting session and all is good! (Cleans out whatever dust settles in the greasy bore while sitting in safe)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Nichols, SASS #6461 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I've used Simple Green with hot water rinse with no issues but maybe I've been lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ol Number4 Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 The best easiest solution I have found is a mix of DAWN Platinum and water it cuts the BP grime, crud and soot. I use it on cleaning patches throughout a match in both rifle and pistol barrels, I used it more thinly mixed mixed for my brass jug for spent cases and with a couple rinses they are all cleaned out and ready for the tumbler, after drying. I have used the Windex to release the melted shot wads in the shotgun barrel a time or two, or several. Never had a bleached bluing problem, but I wipe as soon as I'm done washing. The key, as mentioned above, is water.. Hotter is better!! Ol' #4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 3 hours ago, Ol Number4 said: The best easiest solution I have found is a mix of DAWN Platinum and water it cuts the BP grime, crud and soot. I use it on cleaning patches throughout a match in both rifle and pistol barrels, I used it more thinly mixed mixed for my brass jug for spent cases and with a couple rinses they are all cleaned out and ready for the tumbler, after drying. I have used the Windex to release the melted shot wads in the shotgun barrel a time or two, or several. Never had a bleached bluing problem, but I wipe as soon as I'm done washing. The key, as mentioned above, is water.. Hotter is better!! Ol' #4 FYI Dawn Platinum contains Sulfuric Acid. http://sds.staples.com/msds/1548841.pdf A quick check shows that most Dawn dish washing formulations contain between 1 and 20 percent sulfuric acid by weight. Dawn Platinum and Dawn Ultra both contain between 15 and 20 percent sulfuric acid by weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I fall squarely in the water crowd. Hot if it is available cold if it is not. Has always worked for me. Cork my shotgun barrel and fill with hot water. Let it sit while cleaning my other guns. Then pull the cork let the water run out and then use a patched jag to push out the plastic. Hasn't failed to work since I started shooting BP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howlin Mad Murdock SASS #4037 Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I just use the regular Windex without the vinegar, works just as well. I even use it on my non BP guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Jack Black Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 15 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said: I fall squarely in the water crowd. Hot if it is available cold if it is not. Has always worked for me. Cork my shotgun barrel and fill with hot water. Let it sit while cleaning my other guns. Then pull the cork let the water run out and then use a patched jag to push out the plastic. Hasn't failed to work since I started shooting BP. BUT, That is the easiest and cheapest way we can not have that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I've noticed flint lock shooters using windshield washer fluid with good results. Also, seen folks mix alcohol and water to use like moose milk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Never had a issue . Been using Windex at the range for years with my Cap Guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 Windex with vinegar followed by hot water and finished with Ballistol for my black powder gunsa and Hoppe's Number 9 for my smokeless stuff. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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