There's some gun people here, so thought I'd ask. Also, guns do have a slight metal content.
I want to wash some gun parts. I need about a gallon, and I intend to store it in a jug and reuse it. Gun solvent is more expensive than REALLY good single malt Scotch. I was thinking of maybe washing on some solvent on gun parts that have powder residue, like bolt, breech, barrel, trigger assembly, etc. Let it sit a bit, then wash it off in a bath of cheap liquid. I will need this also to clean some of my pistols, where almost the entire gun can be submerged. Is this a good idea, or is this a Q-tip/rag/lots of patience thing?
Would rubbing alcohol or regular isopropyl work? Another liquid? And would gun solvent evaporate if I let it sit too long between brushing and dipping in final wash solution? Don't want anything that will harm the bluing, or the wood stocks.
I know that these parts can be cleaned with tiny brushes, pieces of dowel, etc. I just have this semi-auto rifle that looks like it has never been cleaned, and it obviously is going to have to be cleaned in stages. And how about the inside of the gun that stays attached to the stock, and cannot be dipped without getting some of the solvent on the stock?
Particularly, I'm working with a Rem 552 BDL with a very nice stock.
TIA
Steve