Blue Wonder bore cleaner - I'm sold!

[Blind Sniper]

Picked up a tube of this stuff at Cabela's last night ($12 + tax) after a fellow TGTer recommended it to me. Just got done treating my pair of 1943-dated Nagant revolvers with it.

Ho-Lee Schidt, it made a difference. Followed the directions, let it sit for about ten minutes, then spent the next 20 wiping out all the gunk (dry patches, then a Rem-Oil wipe, then more dry patches, then a final Rem-Oil wipe). The bores went from so dark that I couldn't see the rifling to nice, strong rifling (for a gun that's 70 years old) and a near-mirror finish on what metal hasn't been pitted to hell thanks to that corrosive ammo Ivan liked back then.


Has anyone else used this stuff, and if so, what was your experience?

 

[Southpaw]

I just cleaned the heck out of my 44 last night and sounds like I could have used it. Maybe I'll try it out.

 

[Blind Sniper]

It's definitely worth checking out for these old guns. If you do decide to buy some, it's cheaper from Midway ($8 for the same size tube), even with shipping.

The only real "downside" that I saw is that the gel was thinner than I had expected, so I wound up leaving some behind on my cleaning rag.

I'll probably repeat the treatment over the weekend if I bother shooting them. The way the rifling looks now, I'm wondering if they might be a little more accurate than before. For damn sure I'll be using this stuff on my dad's SKS once I feel like tearing it down.

ETA: I'd also recommend this if you don't like harsh chemical smells. Even though BW is ammonia-based, the smell is bearable, and it doesn't feel like it's trying to eat your hands like some stuff does (looking at you, Break-Free...)

 

[40Arpent]

As a side note, if you want to keep the bores in good shape, use something other than Rem-Oil. It's barely good enough for wiping fingerprints off of your weapons.

 

[Blind Sniper]

I know, and I'm looking at a few different products to use in the future. If you or anyone else has anything to recommend, shoot me a PM.

 

[navyguy]

Blue Wonder does indeed clean. I use it for really metal fouled barrels. It has a fair amount of ammonia in it (you can smell that) along with solvents. That helps dissolve the metal fouling. It does an excellent job, but I don't think you need it every cleaning. Just now and again when things are looking bad.

 

[Blind Sniper]

That's what my plan is. I'm saving this stuff for old/used guns and heavy fouling, hence why dad's SKS is a prime candidate.

 

[cbigclarke]

I know, and I'm looking at a few different products to use in the future. If you or anyone else has anything to recommend, shoot me a PM.

Ballistol

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Blind Sniper]

Yep, already got a can in my Midway cart for my next order. Thinking if this Hoppe's oil (found it floating around dad's bag of cleaning stuff) doesn't work, I'll try the Ballistol.

 

[ShootingTheBull]

Ballistol's good stuff. The shipping from Midway makes it expensive, but if you're in the Spring area there's a local dealer, Gulf Coast Firearms, where you can stop by and pick some up.

 

[Blind Sniper]

Unfortunately I'm in the DFW area. Got the 6 ounce spray can in my cart at Midway, thinking I'll order that and some other stuff next time I can spare $50 or so.

Thinking I'll repeat the treatment tomorrow, let the bores soak for a while longer (is there a risk in doing that with an ammonia-based cleaner?), see if anything else comes out, then give my 9s the same.

 

[vmax]

As a side note, if you want to keep the bores in good shape, use something other than Rem-Oil. It's barely good enough for wiping fingerprints off of your weapons.

just curious, what attribute of the Rem Oil makes it a sub standard product for protecting the bore? Do you mean its not good for short term or long term storage?

 

[navyguy]

just curious, what attribute of the Rem Oil makes it a sub standard product for protecting the bore? Do you mean its not good for short term or long term storage?

Rem Oil is a good product but it is a very light oil and it's storage protection is not a strong point. Most any other oil does better for storage protection. Where Rem Oil shines is for areas that you don't want to gum-up and for cold weather lub. I spray a bit on my semi-auto pistol guide rods and springs. Long term (less than a year) I like BreakFree Collector. It's about the same viscosity as regular BreakFree, but is formulated for long time storage, yet wipes right off if you decide to shoot the gun. Best of both worlds on that.

 

[vmax]

Rem Oil is a good product but it is a very light oil and it's storage protection is not a strong point. Most any other oil does better for storage protection. Where Rem Oil shines is for areas that you don't want to gum-up and for cold weather lub. I spray a bit on my semi-auto pistol guide rods and springs. Long term (less than a year) I like BreakFree Collector. It's about the same viscosity as regular BreakFree, but is formulated for long time storage, yet wipes right off if you decide to shoot the gun. Best of both worlds on that.

oxidation stability is important for keeping a bore protected for sure, but most of the test I have seen, they sprayed salt water in the surface to test the protection properties of the lubricants. Nobody sprays salt water into their bores while in the safe.

here is one test that showed Rem Oil to be pretty good
http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html


My fathers 1921 production Winchester had 3-1 type household oil on it since my dad owned it in the 50s and the bore is near perfect.
I understand someone wanting the very best for their guns, but people get all crazy about lubricants always looking for the latest snake oil out there.
Myself, I use Rem Oil or Break Free, I have had no issues with rust and oxidation. But then again, I don't live near the coast like some of you.

 

[Blind Sniper]

To be perfectly honest, I just use Rem-Oil because it's all I've got. I'm avoiding Break Free like the plague 'cause my skin doesn't like it and I just can't stand the smell.

 

[navyguy]

oxidation stability is important for keeping a bore protected for sure, but most of the test I have seen, they sprayed salt water in the surface to test the protection properties of the lubricants. Nobody sprays salt water into their bores while in the safe.

here is one test that showed Rem Oil to be pretty good
Corrosion Protection Products for Rifles, Shooting, Benchrest Competition, Varminting and Firearms Storage


My fathers 1921 production Winchester had 3-1 type household oil on it since my dad owned it in the 50s and the bore is near perfect.
I understand someone wanting the very best for their guns, but people get all crazy about lubricants always looking for the latest snake oil out there.
Myself, I use Rem Oil or Break Free, I have had no issues with rust and oxidation. But then again, I don't live near the coast like some of you.

Yes I've seen these tests. If you look at the 15 hour picture in the link you provided, Rem Oil did not do so well. Not as bad as a few, but plain old BreakFree did the best according to that particular test. The Collector version does much better. But I get what you are saying. If you put just about any lub on metal and store in reasonable conditions you are not too likely to have problems. When my Dad passed in 2007, his BHP (that's mine now) was stored in it's zip up case with very little lub on it. It was probably not handled in 15 years and it was perfect. His Marlin 39A and Sako Finnbear however had a lot of surface rust. They cleaned up just fine though.

I have several guns I shoot once a year or less. I keep them pretty well covered inside and out. Others are free to do what they feel is adequate. I just offer up my observations.

 

[TX69]

How is this stuff on bluing? My deceased FIL's 1941 Winchester bolt 22 could use something like this.

 

[Blind Sniper]

I couldn't tell ya, not from experience anyway. The tube says this particular stuff is safe to remove rust without hurting the bluing, and BW makes a complete re-bluing kit if you need to go that far.

 

[Blind Sniper]

OK, ignore that post. I can say with absolut confidence that Blue Wonder does exactly what it says on the tube. Friend's .22 rifle was rusting, all I needed was twenty minutes, some BW, a bronze brush and a rag to get 90 percent of it gone. Only stuff I couldn't get was what's down inside the stamping on the barrel. Gonna let that soak a bit tomorrow, see what happens.

 

[TheDan]

safe for nickel plating?