:: Bersa Talk ::

Can anyone comment on the use of bore cleaners that contain ammonia? I've seen many (dozens maybe) cleaners that state in their literature "Contains no ammonia".

I picked up some Birchwood Casey 2-in-1 Bore Cleaner yesterday and the label didn't say anything about ammonia. But once the jar was opened I could really smell the ammonia (think real bad baby diapers!).

It worked great and took out copper fouling better than Hoppes but now I'm wondering. Is it harmful to the gun or just nasty to the nose?

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Bersa Thunder 380 DuoTone
Bersa Thunder 45 UC Stainless Steel
Uberti Millenium 45 Colt
Pietta 44 Black Powder w/RD Conversion to 45 Colt
Remington 870 12 ga 3 1/2" w/custom LH offset 3x9x40 scope
Browning BPS 10 ga 3 1/2"
Combat Engineers - "Doin' it in the dirt!"

I don't believe that ammonia is harmful to the gun.   I use windex on some of my mil-surp rifles after shooting coorosive primer ammo (old surp ammo).  ammonia neutralizes the corrosive salts in the primers.  I couldn't think of any reason why it would be bad on your bore...  probably not good on wood (could ruin the finish) but should be fine on metal.

DD

The only time you need to be really concerned with it is on a nickel finish. The ammonia compounds are what dissolve the copper so well. Most nickel finishes and some chrome as well, have a copper underlayment. If you have a nick or porous surface, in it goes and off comes your plating.

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You trying to screen for communists? Don't worry, we're all cool. - Dale

If you have copper fouling, a cleaner with ammonia is the way to go.  Since I primarily shoot lead, I don't deal with the harsher cleaners.  I prefer to use (and smell) Hoppes #9... love that stuff!  If I do come across a barrel with copper fouling, I will break out the cleaners specifically made for removing the copper, and they smell pretty bad.  Use it only when you have to, otherwise, use stuff that isn't as harsh.

On a side note, for lead fouling, use some copper (not steel) scouring wool (chore boy) through the bore.  It removes lead pretty quickly and easily.

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"There are no good guns. There are no bad guns. Any gun in the hands of a bad man is a bad thing. Any gun in the hands of a decent person is no threat to anybody-except bad people..." -- Charlton Heston