Cleaning solution for rifle barrels.

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geonjules

geonjules

Member
Jun 7, 2024
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Hello, I am new to the site and the forum.
Have a pull through barrel cleaning kit with no cleaning/oil solution. I use 100% silicone lubricant for treadmill for my rubber seals and such. Was wanting to know if I could use this for the barrel as well. My wife is getting mad because I keep $20 us to death!
 
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If your barrel is not caked with lead and you are pulling tight fitting patches through to remove small flecks and black discoloration on the patch then it will be fine with about any cleaning agent in an airgun. A quart bottle of Ballistol is cheap and can be used everywhere. Shooter's Choice Lead Remover is pretty good for the heavy stuff if need be, and not $20.00 but expensive for the amount you get.

I'd use that silicon oil to lube and load my ammo in the magazine right before shooting. Doing this has many benefits, including accuracy, consistency, and keeping the barrel from leading up. On a polished barrel it I have found it to be self cleaning, so I don't hardly pull patches through. One particular barrel doesn't like to be cleaned; it's more accurate with the microscopic lead buildup and oil residue in there.
 
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Ballistol here as well.

I'd be careful using WD40 on any quality equipment - it's quite aggressive and can attack aluminum, brass and zinc. I destroyed several locks by lubricating them with WD40. WD40 is great for freeing rusty bolts, that's all I would use it for.

As a side note. I prefer to clean my barrels with the PCP inverted and the muzzle lower than the breach to avoid having cleaner/solvent making its way into the receiver through the transfer port. I also shoot a half a dozen pellets immediately after cleaning to blow out any oil/cleaner that made its way into the receiver and to season the bore a bit.

Cheers!
 
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Honestly a TIGHT fitting patch is about all you need. There's no fouling as in a powder burner, and the lead also isn't melted to the bore.

The biggest thing you're trying to remove is built up lead/gunk at the choke. And a dry patch will usually do that.

If you just gotta have something, Ballistol is pretty good stuff and it's usable on about anything.
 
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When I first got my .22lr back after moving around a bit post college it needed a good cleaning.
I went to get a cleaning kit and some fluid of my own since my pops shop wasn't close anymore. The old timer behind the counter recommended Ballistol.
I got home, opened it and started having all these memories from my childhood. I quickly realized the fluid in my pops shop spray bottle was Ballistol and that smell triggered those memories and made me love the smell even more. To me it just smells like my pops shop.
He used that crap on everything. And now, so do I.
My wife even likes it. Turns out her dad was a user as well.
 
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I use Hoppes #9 for barrel cleaning. Some will poo poo that idea, but I use it with confidence.

The only righteous use for WD40 in my opinion is as a water displacement agent, which is what it's designed for. For lubricant I use Tri Flow. For loosening up moving parts I use Kroil.

Honestly, these days there are so many products available for any particular task you can imagine that there's no need not to use the right thing. And for pretty good prices...excepting Kroil! It's expensive. But an excellent product!
 
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When Dr. Beeman was in business he sold cleaner.
It was nothing but dish soap.

IMG_2598.jpeg
I would recommend any good grease cutting liquid like, Dawn.
 
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