Top Recommendations for Gun Cleaning Solvents
- Thread starter Alan
- Start date
After years of trying many brands of cleaning solutions, I made & have been using an old stanby..Ed's Red.
Made of equal parts Kerosene,Mineral Spirits, Acetone, & ATF ( gives it it's red color) it cleans very well.
Keep it in a sealed container after mixing, as the acetone will evaporate.
The interweb has various forms of it, adding different things to the mix (google search for Ed's Red)
Made of equal parts Kerosene,Mineral Spirits, Acetone, & ATF ( gives it it's red color) it cleans very well.
Keep it in a sealed container after mixing, as the acetone will evaporate.
The interweb has various forms of it, adding different things to the mix (google search for Ed's Red)
WolveWander1
Member
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2025
- Messages
- 15
Ed's Red is a solid mixture! I use Hoppe's No. 9 for copper fouling on my rifles and it cuts through carbon fast on my AR bolt. For pistols, CLP works great for quick cleanings after range days. Do you have a favorite brush or patch setup to go with your solvent?
I use a wide variety of cleaning "tools"..( laughing here)
Mostly I use a toothbrush, to scrub stubborn carbon build up, after it's been moistened with Ed's Red, Hoppes #9, FP-10, even WD-40, whatever I happen to select. I use q-tips for cleaning tight spaces, where residue collects.I started using napkins/ paper towels instead of cloth, to wipe off residue & even as a patch
over a jag on on a brass brush..they're very absorbent & usually around my bench from the last food I've consumed.
I do have a seabag filled with old t-shirts ,flannel shirts, etc..that I sometimes use as patch / rag material.
Mostly I use a toothbrush, to scrub stubborn carbon build up, after it's been moistened with Ed's Red, Hoppes #9, FP-10, even WD-40, whatever I happen to select. I use q-tips for cleaning tight spaces, where residue collects.I started using napkins/ paper towels instead of cloth, to wipe off residue & even as a patch
over a jag on on a brass brush..they're very absorbent & usually around my bench from the last food I've consumed.
I do have a seabag filled with old t-shirts ,flannel shirts, etc..that I sometimes use as patch / rag material.
well, $20.00 for a 4 oz btl... it should work really well.
There are so many expensive cleaners & lubes on the market it gets confusing, what is "best"
For me, if it works & is inexpensive, I'll use it.
So far, WD-40 & Ed's Red gets the job done , & is much more economical than many other solutions.
I buy WD-40 by the gallon, put it in a pump spray btl., lowers cost significantly & a gal. lasts a long time.
There are so many expensive cleaners & lubes on the market it gets confusing, what is "best"
For me, if it works & is inexpensive, I'll use it.
So far, WD-40 & Ed's Red gets the job done , & is much more economical than many other solutions.
I buy WD-40 by the gallon, put it in a pump spray btl., lowers cost significantly & a gal. lasts a long time.
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2025
- Messages
- 63
For the toughest copper and throat cleaning, Butches Bore shine and Montana Extreme's 50 BMG is my go too cleaners. I've used Bore Tech and some other less potent cleaners which are easier to work with because of their milder nature on skin and breathing while using. It works for a lot of my cleaning but if I'm trying to remove that carbon ring and lots of throat carbon thickening, I use the two others. Sweets 7.62 copper remover is another excellent cleaner.
