funny stuff in my AR - The Firearms Forum

cowboy898 · 08-09-2012, 09:05 AM

Hello,

Not sure this is the area to post this, but here it is. First let me say that I clean my guns when returning home each time I go to the range. I also clean them if they have been in the safe for three weeks or more.

The other day I took out my AR and began to clean it and found a green film in the chamber. Similar to what you see on copper when it ages. It cleaned out with my AR brush with solvent on it and a number of patches to dry it off. The gun has been in the safe for about two and a half weeks and cleaned before being put away.

I have not seen this before and not sure what it could be.

Any ideas what that would be?

ka64 · 08-09-2012, 09:12 AM

Where is your safe? Do you have a dehumidifier or Desiccant?

cowboy898 · 08-09-2012, 10:04 AM

It is in the middle of my home in my reloading room and I have a dehumidifier in it.

GunHugger · 08-09-2012, 10:30 AM

Sounds like it was left over copper solvent in the chamber from it's last cleaning.

ozo · 08-09-2012, 10:47 AM

Ya, sounds like a solvent not fully removed.

aa1911 · 08-09-2012, 12:15 PM

use some Sweet's 7.62 or other copper solvent (ammonia based) on a patch, scrub for about a minute or so, dry patch the bore and then use your regular powder solvent again to finish up.

I like to use some JB bore paste too, would be good if you haven't done so in a while, that will remove quite a bit of gunk also.

LDBennett · 08-09-2012, 12:50 PM

Since most all of the copper solvents have ammonia in them I never leave them in the bore or chamber as ammonia will attack steel over time or if strong enough. I always follow the last dry patch after the copper solvent with a wet patch of Hoppe #9 and then a dry patch then an oil patch (leaving a light film of oil in the bore and the chamber). A wise shooter runs one dry patch through the bore just before shooting the gun at the range to remove all the oil.

Sounds to me (and the others here) that some copper solvent, saturated with copper, got left in the bore/chamber. The solvent evaporated leaving the residue.

LDBennett

soundguy · 08-09-2012, 01:55 PM

my bet is solvent residue leached a bit more copper out of the bore as well.

GunHugger · 08-09-2012, 05:29 PM

I don't know if this was done or not...

Don't clean your AR upside down, some people do for whatever reason. Solvents can enter the gas system and then drain back into the bore.

Helix_FR · 08-09-2012, 06:29 PM

LD is right. Many copper solovents have ammonia in them. Left over and not removed it will attack the steel. also any copper not fully removed will also turn a blue green color and then dry that way

cowboy898 · 08-09-2012, 06:51 PM

Great advice everyone. I will be more careful in the future.

GunHugger · 08-09-2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix_FR

LD is right. Many copper solovents have ammonia in them. Left over and not removed it will attack the steel. also any copper not fully removed will also turn a blue green color and then dry that way

Yes LD is right, and the 5 other people that said more or less the same thing.

08-09-2012, 09:05 AM	#1
cowboy898 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 17	funny stuff in my AR Hello, Not sure this is the area to post this, but here it is. First let me say that I clean my guns when returning home each time I go to the range. I also clean them if they have been in the safe for three weeks or more. The other day I took out my AR and began to clean it and found a green film in the chamber. Similar to what you see on copper when it ages. It cleaned out with my AR brush with solvent on it and a number of patches to dry it off. The gun has been in the safe for about two and a half weeks and cleaned before being put away. I have not seen this before and not sure what it could be. Any ideas what that would be? -->

08-09-2012, 09:12 AM	#2
ka64 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Michigan Contributor Posts: 1,412	Re: funny stuff in my AR Where is your safe? Do you have a dehumidifier or Desiccant?

08-09-2012, 10:04 AM	#3
cowboy898 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 17	Re: funny stuff in my AR It is in the middle of my home in my reloading room and I have a dehumidifier in it.

08-09-2012, 10:30 AM	#4
GunHugger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW PA Posts: 1,161	Re: funny stuff in my AR Sounds like it was left over copper solvent in the chamber from it's last cleaning. __________________ . “There will be a revolution in this country!” “I don’t believe people should to be able to own guns.” ~Barack Obama "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here." ~Captain John Parker, to his Minute Men on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775.

08-09-2012, 10:47 AM	#5
ozo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 2,770	Re: funny stuff in my AR Ya, sounds like a solvent not fully removed. __________________ http://www.nranews.com/#/nranews, "ozo. you're off your rocker sir." -johnlives4christ http://www.prisonplanet.com/ -America,Bless GOD-

08-09-2012, 12:15 PM	#6
aa1911 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 3,115	Re: funny stuff in my AR use some Sweet's 7.62 or other copper solvent (ammonia based) on a patch, scrub for about a minute or so, dry patch the bore and then use your regular powder solvent again to finish up. I like to use some JB bore paste too, would be good if you haven't done so in a while, that will remove quite a bit of gunk also. __________________ "Loud noises don't end gunfights.... well placed shots do."

08-09-2012, 12:50 PM	#7
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,719	Re: funny stuff in my AR Since most all of the copper solvents have ammonia in them I never leave them in the bore or chamber as ammonia will attack steel over time or if strong enough. I always follow the last dry patch after the copper solvent with a wet patch of Hoppe #9 and then a dry patch then an oil patch (leaving a light film of oil in the bore and the chamber). A wise shooter runs one dry patch through the bore just before shooting the gun at the range to remove all the oil. Sounds to me (and the others here) that some copper solvent, saturated with copper, got left in the bore/chamber. The solvent evaporated leaving the residue. LDBennett

08-09-2012, 01:55 PM	#8
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,463	Re: funny stuff in my AR my bet is solvent residue leached a bit more copper out of the bore as well.

08-09-2012, 05:29 PM	#9
GunHugger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW PA Posts: 1,161	Re: funny stuff in my AR I don't know if this was done or not... Don't clean your AR upside down, some people do for whatever reason. Solvents can enter the gas system and then drain back into the bore. __________________ . “There will be a revolution in this country!” “I don’t believe people should to be able to own guns.” ~Barack Obama "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here." ~Captain John Parker, to his Minute Men on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775.

08-09-2012, 06:29 PM	#10
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,627	Re: funny stuff in my AR LD is right. Many copper solovents have ammonia in them. Left over and not removed it will attack the steel. also any copper not fully removed will also turn a blue green color and then dry that way __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

08-09-2012, 06:51 PM	#11
cowboy898 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 17	Re: funny stuff in my AR Great advice everyone. I will be more careful in the future.