Ultrasonic cleaners for gun parts

[Soccerdad1995]

I am considering getting an ultrasonic cleaner primarily for cleaning guns, at least initially. I go to the range several times a week, and frequently bring more than one gun with me at a time. I am also very compulsive about keeping my guns clean. This translates to a lot of time spent cleaning guns, usually late at night after I have had dinner with my family. I really like the idea of setting up an ultrasonic cleaner and letting it run while I have dinner, etc., followed by a quick touch up and then putting my guns away for the night. If it works this way, I could really save a lot of time, and get more sleep. Both good things.

Does anyone here use an untrasonic cleaner in their gun cleaning process? If so, how does it work, and what brand(s) and sizes do you recommend? Also, is this type of cleaner safe for polymer guns, or just metal? Any other concerns that I should be thinking about for this?

[carlson1]

It will be interesting to hear the answer to this.

Back in my other life we use to use ultrasonic cleaners after training, but that was twice a year not each trip to the range. In those days I remembered you had to take it from the cleaner and then make sure EVERY THING had new lube because the cleaners did such a great job there was ZERO lube/oil left on your gun.

There are a lot of people who love cleaning their firearms I just happen to be the guy who hates it so I am waiting on the answer along with you.

[warnmar10]

I am considering getting an ultrasonic cleaner...

I bought a Lyman 2500 just to dip my toe in the water so to speak. It is big enough to hold any of my pistols, the biggest one I have is a FN-X 45.

Cleaning solution? I can't tell that it makes much difference. I've tried a squirt of Dawn for Dishes, Simple Green, Hornady One Shot etc. Pure water seems to work about as well as any of those. For a really nasty gun, a problem I doubt you will face, I've had to run them a couple of times to get everything sparkling. I use a nylon bristle brush for the stubborn spots but there really aren't that many.

Honestly, sonic cleaning is way overkill for every day cleaning. If I'm being honest, and why wouldn't I be, I don't clean after every trip to the range. My EDC gets an inspection and maybe wipe down after every trip, everything else, not so much.

I've only had my sonic cleaner for a year and a bit but so far no negative side effects on polymer or real guns. If you want it clean like the day it was born I don't know of a better way to do it.

[mrvmax]

I've had my Hornady for a few years but never clean anything but the barrel and even that is rare. I use mine mainly for cleaning brass for loading and for cleaning AR BCGs. I occasionally use it for shotgun parts when I buy used ones that were rarely cleaned. You really have to be careful with handguns/parts to use the proper cleaner that will not harm the frame. You can also take off finish just vibrating in the basket or vibrating against other parts so I prefer to clean my handguns manually. I will say it works great for cleaning suppressor baffles.

[WTR]

I use one occasionally for a completely strip pistol for deep cleaning. There has never been any harmful effect on a polymer frame. "Note".....some pistols & rifles shoot better slightly dirty......you might experiment.

[E.Marquez]

I use my Ultrasonic cleaner for motorcycle carbs, suspension components and yes guns.

Not your small inexpensive big box store or Harbor Freight deal, so not sure if my experience is valid if that is what yoru going to use.

The soap you use matters.
No metal to metal contact, I use plastic baskets to keep parts separated

What is in your soap solution dissolved from previous cleaners is touching your gun parts and the finish, so be selective in what you clean.
Another option is to use water in the tank, and then bag the parts in a plastic bag full of your cleaner soap. This works well with a GOOD Ultrasonic cleaner not sure if it would work on less powerful ones.

I use the Ultrasonic cleaner for the same reason you are considering it.. When we go to the range, its 5-8 guns, myself, wife, son, his lady.. And if I someone brings a friend it could be anywhere from another 1 to 10 guns.

I still clean each one by hand after rinsing and drying post Ultrasonic cleaner ...but its just a touch up, inspecting and lubing at that point.

[Scott B.]

I'm a fan of the Lucas Bore Solvent & Ultrasonic Gun Cleaner. No noxious odor is a big plus.

[JerryK]

I know I am going to get flamed here but you may want to rethink cleaning your guns after every outing. There are some that feel it is necessary and enjoy it, but that may depend upon your personality type more that the guns needs. If you are shooting that much (and cleaning afterwards) you may actually be damaging the guns more, than letting them sit there between outings. At this point it is mind over matter!

Remember you are wanting to clean your metal gun with water! Water and metal do not play well together, so that may very well cause extra work extending out your cleaning time. Cleaning brass is different!

I would never dip my guns in a bathtub. The big question is how are you going to dry your frames??? There are metal parts imbedded in the polymer frames that have wear point on them exposing the raw metal to the water. Water is the arch enemy of metal!!!

[texas yankee]

I like the ultrasonic cleaner I picked up from Harbor Freight - I usually run dirty guns through a cleaning session (maybe with a bit of cleaner, but mostly just water), and then, depending on the gun, I run the guns through a session with Lyman TurboLube - the TurboLube leaves the guns dry to the touch but fully protected - in fact, I have a raw steel gun that I bead blasted three years ago - after an ultrasonic session with TurboLube, the gun still looks great (no rust).

[warnmar10]

I know I am going to get flamed here but ...

I remove the grips and run my model 60 and model 681 through the dishwasher.

[carlson1]

I know I am going to get flamed here but ...

I remove the grips and run my model 60 and model 681 through the dishwasher.

I don't know if you are serious or not, but I just watched a video of an ex Navy Seal who said he does the exact same thing.

As said above I cringe at the thought of putting my gun in water or using WD-40 on my firearms.

[warnmar10]

I don't know if you are serious or not, but I just watched a video of an ex Navy Seal who said he does the exact same thing.

As said above I cringe at the thought of putting my gun in water or using WD-40 on my firearms.

I don't own any blued pistols but if I did they would not go into the dishwasher and likely not the ultrasonic either.

[Bitter Clinger]

sonic cleaning is way overkill for every day cleaning. If I'm being honest, and why wouldn't I be, I don't clean after every trip to the range. My EDC gets an inspection and maybe wipe down after every trip, everything else, not so much.

A range gun that does not get dragged thru the mud or rolled in the sandbox, and if you are shooting CLEAN factory-new ammo, should not need regular cleaning even after hundreds or even thousands of rounds.

My experience is exactly this:

I've had my Hornady for a few years but never clean anything but the barrel and even that is rare. I use mine mainly for cleaning brass for loading and for cleaning AR BCGs. I occasionally use it for shotgun parts when I buy used ones that were rarely cleaned. You really have to be careful with handguns/parts to use the proper cleaner that will not harm the frame. You can also take off finish just vibrating in the basket or vibrating against other parts so I prefer to clean my handguns manually. I will say it works great for cleaning suppressor baffles.

And this is excellent advice as well IMHO:

The soap you use matters.
No metal to metal contact, I use plastic baskets to keep parts separated

What is in your soap solution dissolved from previous cleaners is touching your gun parts and the finish, so be selective in what you clean.
Another option is to use water in the tank, and then bag the parts in a plastic bag full of your cleaner soap. This works well with a GOOD Ultrasonic cleaner not sure if it would work on less powerful ones.

[Soccerdad1995]

Thanks for all the great advice. A lot to consider.

I will also give some serious thought to cleaning less often. I will wait a bit on guns where I only shoot a "few" rounds per outing (20-30 for example), and clean those after every other range trip. But I have definitely heard from many sources that some guns are fine being a little dirty. My time in the Army got me ingrained in the routine of going to the range and then cleaning the gun before giving it back to the armorer. I always have a nagging feeling that I am slacking off if I have "dirty" guns sitting in my safe.

[Abraham]

Bitter Clinger ,

I like your idea, but some of my guns (Glock/Browning Buckmark/) begin to have ejection problems after say 2/3 hundred rounds that cleaning cures. The burned powder residue hampers the action in these pistols. To be sure, so far my AR's can be shot without cleaning very often and perform flawlessly.

Do you recommend any solvent/cleaner type solution you squirt into moving parts and then lube without disassembly and cleaning that keeps your guns performing?

Much like Carlson 1, I take no pleasure in gun cleaning. It's simply another chore I'd like to limit if possible without suffering poor performance.