Ed,
I used to be a competitive shooter in years past. I spent
ages keeping things clean. Lead removal has always been difficult.
I DO NOT believe that any of the firearm cleaning products actually dissolves lead. They are designed
to help loosen it's (lead) attachment to the bore of the firearm. Most
true cleaning relies on a mechanical device to actually remove the lead,
usually a wire brush. I had the most trouble after shooting all lead cast
bullet reloads. (cheaper and used mostly for practice) This caused lead to be
deposited directly on the bore and was very hard to get off.
I don't believe anything that would actually dissolve lead could
even be sold to the public due to the toxicity of the solvent. I not a chemist but, think of gasoline,
there have been some lead additives available and most of them almost wanted
you in a hazmat suit to use them.
Bill Jepson
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Anderson
<eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Thu, 19
Jan 2006 13:25:32 -0500
Subject: [FlyRotary] Fw: Lead Solvent
or Cleaner
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 1:22 PM
Subject: Lead Solvent or Cleaner
Ok, you gun
enthusiasts, I have a question. It appears that the best hope of finding
a lead solvent is among the many gun cleaning products. Hoppe #9 has been mentioned, but when I did some
research, I really got a bit confused. I think there is little
distinction made between a true "solvent" and a cleaner. As best I
recall from my highschool chemistry days,
nothing appeared (that I recall) to dissolve lead - but, that was a while
ago. So again, it would appear that if any body would have something to
dissolve lead it would be the gun crowd.
For instance, on some of the "Gun" talk lists, I have
seen reference to Hoppe #9 as a "Powder"
cleaner and to Shooter's Choice Lead
Solvent as a "lead solvent". Actually I've seen Hoppe referred to for
lead removal as well- but, doesn't claim it dissolves lead.
If Hoppe is
primarily a "powder" remover then that may explain it not working as well as
we had hoped. I just asked my wife to pick up some on her trip to
support the economy and then found indications on the web. that what I
might really want is Shooter's Choice Lead
Solvent - but that could be just another "cleaner" rather than a true dissolve
of lead.
I suspect that most of these products may be cleaners
rather than solvents despite what they are called. Anyone really
know?
Thanks
Ed