Best cleaning fluid for barrel

A place to discuss non-discipline specific items, such as mental training, ammo needs, and issues regarding ISSF, USAS, and NRA

If you wish to make a donation to this forum's operation , it would be greatly appreciated.
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/targettalk?yours=true

Moderators: pilkguns, m1963, David Levene, Spencer, Richard H

Post Reply
bryan123
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 3:19 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by bryan123 »

Hi, I have the .177 Patch Worm for my Daisy 853, 717 and 901.

What's the best cleaning solution? Ballistol, Hop's, WD-40 or something else?

Thanks.
Bryan
RR (2)
901
CMP 853 trigger mod
717 DT Fletcher Collection, trigger mod
P17
5 ,10m targets, occasional plinking, always fun.
Rover
Posts: 7048
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:20 pm
Location: Idaho panhandle

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by Rover »

Nothing at all.

You might break the end off a Q-Tip and shoot it after every few tins of pellets.
atomicgale
Posts: 853
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 7:34 am
Location: Copperhill Tennessee USA (a registered CERCLA superfund site)

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by atomicgale »

bryan123 wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:56 pm What's the best cleaning solution?
NONE.
Felt pellets. About 2-cents each. LINK: http://champchoice.com/store/Main.aspx? ... &item=V515

bryan123 wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:56 pm . . . WD-40 . . . .
WD-40 on ANY firearm should be subject to penalty of "Death by Hanging."
william
Posts: 1470
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 12:31 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by william »

Rover wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 6:26 pm Nothing at all.

You might break the end off a Q-Tip and shoot it after every few tins of pellets.
Or not. If changing brands of pellets, a dry patch pushed through with a dowel will do the trick. And that's only to prevent possible (but I think pretty unlikely) adverse effects due to the slightly different surfaces. Q-Tips are, I think, too likely to leave fibers behind.
Rover
Posts: 7048
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:20 pm
Location: Idaho panhandle

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by Rover »

You can do like William and apply a liberal dose of Scotch to the throat, preferably before shooting.
SuperIIFT
Posts: 103
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:05 pm
Location: Mesa AZ

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by SuperIIFT »

Its a sad state when no one has answered the original posters question

I use WD 40 and dry patch after .

Come on folks
The poster asked a question
Lets be civil and answer with helpful answers
Dennis
atomicgale
Posts: 853
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 7:34 am
Location: Copperhill Tennessee USA (a registered CERCLA superfund site)

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by atomicgale »

SuperIIFT wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:34 am Its a sad state when no one has answered the original posters question . . . Lets be civil and answer with helpful answers
WE DID: Don't use cleaning solution on air guns. PERIOD. Three solutions proposed: Qtips, felt pellets, dowel.

Hoppes or ballistol? There's no powder residue. Hoppes = ammonia. Why put a solvent in an air barrel? I've got an air pistol with 100,000+ pellets - felt pellets only. Still perfectly clean. Even provided a link to where to buy the product. Can't answer any more clearly than this.

SuperIIFT wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 9:34 am I use WD 40
. . . get a rope.
Tim S
Posts: 2054
Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:33 am
Location: Taunton, Somerset

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by Tim S »

atomicgale wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 7:02 pmWD-40 on ANY firearm should be subject to penalty of "Death by Hanging."
What about if the firearm gets wet? It does rain on 50m and fullbore ranges. WD40 does displace water. Once dry I'd use an oil for rust protection.

I've used WD40 to clean a .22LR barrel when I'd run out of my normal solvent, and the bore didn't dissolve or instantly rust. WD40 is mostly paraffin, and Hoppes no 9 has a good slug of paraffin. I think the current formula has some ammonia, but far less than the old nitro-benzene stuff. I agree it's overkill for an airgun. I do remember an interview with Juha Hirvi (Sydney 2000 3x40 silver medalist), where he stated he cleaned his .22s with WD40, as it worked well enough and was available anywhere.
kevinweiho
Posts: 949
Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:44 pm
Location: Costa Rica, Central America

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by kevinweiho »

bryan123 wrote: Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:56 pm Hi, I have the .177 Patch Worm for my Daisy 853, 717 and 901.

What's the best cleaning solution? Ballistol, Hop's, WD-40 or something else?

Thanks.
Since they're all airguns, the recommended cleaning solution out of the three you mentioned will be Ballistol. It is safe on the o-rings.

I use mineral oil from the pharmacy to clean my airgun barrels and it does a good job removing lead and rust. It's also good for internal lubrication on my crosman 1377 and Daisy 901 multipump pneumatics with no problems.
David M
Posts: 1674
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 6:43 pm

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by David M »

Normal cleaning involves running a dry patch thru the barrel till clean
or using felt cleaning patchs, about each tin of pellets.
If you see a group deteriotation or if you have been using old oxidised pellets
you made have a small lead build up.
Then a cleaning rod with a bronze brush followed by dry patchs or you can use
VFG Bore Cleaning Compound with VFG Intensive Felts.
Followed by a dry patch, repeat until clean.
As a competition shooter I would do a intense clean every 2-3 years and
each seal rebuild 5-7 yrs.
www.vfg.de/fileadmin/VFG/Brosch%C3%BCre ... EN_web.pdf
william
Posts: 1470
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 12:31 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by william »

Yeeeeesh! Talk about answers in search of a question. Rust in an airgun barrel? Sorry, it's too late.
kevinweiho
Posts: 949
Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:44 pm
Location: Costa Rica, Central America

Re: Best cleaning fluid for barrel

Post by kevinweiho »

william wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 4:08 pm Yeeeeesh! Talk about answers in search of a question. Rust in an airgun barrel? Sorry, it's too late.
Will, no need to fret. It was just light superficial rust on the barrel. My airgun buddy used my 901 rifle for pest eradication in his farm for a week, but he didn’t wipe it down afterwards… now if there was pitting in the barrel, then it’s too late…
Post Reply