Hydrogen Peroxide?

[Claude Mathis]

What compels people to use and recommend hydrogen peroxide for cleaning muzzleloaders?

Since hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer and can rust metal (in high concentrations), what does it actually add to the cleaning process?

I assume people are using household grade H2O2, which is 97 percent water. Isn't black power residue soluble in plain water? What is it about that 3 percent peroxide that is useful? (besides the fact that someone recommended it)

 

[Halftail]

I dunno,I heard it long ago but never tried it.Figured water works well enough.Maybe it's one of them "Old Wives Tales".

 

[Runner]

It neutralizes the corrosive properties of the fouling. It changes the fouling from black to brown and it no longer draws moisture to it. The usage mainly comes from guys doing multi day battle recreations and such. I used it for a long time myself. I recommended it to a cousin. He took two browned barrels and leaned them against his counter. When the peroxide started to overflow from the bubbling, he stuck a paper towel between the barrels and the counter to catch the overflow. He got busy and did not check the barrels for hours. One barrel was severely damaged where the peroxide ate the browned finish off the barrel because of the paper towel. I quit using it then for most purposes. I do use it for several things when needed. It is the very best thing I have ever found for loosening stuck cleanout screws and such. It eats the crud out that has them stuck. It is not something that should be used a lot on your barrels!

 

[BrownBear]

I've always been too nervous to try it because of the other things I use it for, as well as full strength bleach. Bleach is dandy for pitting metal prior to browning for example, and it does it quickly. Hydrogen peroxide is a more dilute solution, but I can't get past the fact that it's gotta be doing the same thing except slower.

 

[nchawkeye]

The mix of alcohol/Murphy's Oil Soap and peroxide to clean muzzleloaders has been used for years...I remember reading an interview in MuzzleBlasts years ago where the "Champion Shooter" used this mix to swab between shots...I used the mix for a few years, but switched to rubbing alcohol after I read about the corrosive nature of peroxide...

 

[silverfox]

Claude: Most of the pro's and con'n have be mentioned already. The best thing I like about peroxide comes after the shooting and cleaning but before leaveing the range.
It is and excellent handcleaner quick and easy. Then don't have to clean the steering wheel on your vehicle when you get home.
Fox :hatsoff:

PS: I don't use it on my guns.

 

[roundball]

"...clean the steering wheel on your vehicle when you get home..."

You too, eh?
I noticed that when I began shooting BP...part of my range stuf ever since has been a plastic quart bottle of water and an old hand towel...get done shooting and loading up I wash up good before getting back in the truck.
:thumbsup:

I never tried peroxide...early on from posts like these I decided I never would...hot soapy water has done fine ever since I started...and besides: "Daniel didn't need no stinking peroxide"
:grin:

 

[Heidi 1672]

I have read several articles that claim that it is one of the best things to get rid of plastic fouling in your bore after firing sabots.

 

[RedFeather]

Don't mess with the high concentrations, should you have access to them. We used it in the Navy as an oxygenator for MK16 torpedoes. In that concentration, it would spontaneously combust dry rags. Stick with the household 3%.

 

[JWP]

Guess it's due to being told something years ago by someone you felt knew what they were talking about

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I've never used it, windsheild washer fluid ( a tip I heard of here) works too well.

 

[Bob Riegl]

:hmm: Listen to the old Chem Prof and take good notes, there will be test at the end of this period. The drug store version of Hydrogen Peroxide is by law a 3% mixture and after the bottle is opened to the air that percentage drops very quickly---so much so that after the bottle was opened, in approximately 10 days the peroxide concentration is equal to that of almost pure water. The 97% version is not obtainable by most persons as it is an extremely powerful oxidizer---you don't want to be fooling around with that stuff---no telling what it would do to your barrel. So IMHO, after many years as a Chem Prof, putting peroxide in any mixture for BP shooting is a waste of peroxide and your time. :yakyak: :rotf: :hatsoff:

 

[Walks with fire]

I have become a firm believer in plain old warm (not hot boiling) water for cleaning real black powder. Don't have any experience with the other substitute powders and don't want to either.

Water cleaning and dry patches clean as good as it needs to be and I know it won't do anything to the barrel. The other stuff! Who knows? Can't see any reason to use it.

 

[renovato]

Maybe by itself it has some use. I don't know as I haven't tried it and probably won't. But in a mix, it will begin to react with any organics in the blend and turn itself to water soon. Might as well use water to start with.

I keep hearing about it going inert in the bottle, but I have an old bottle that I occasionally use for wounds, etc. It still bubbles like made on contact and it has been used on and off for years.

 

[Norskie]

It's fun! It fizzes!
I've used the concentrated industrial stuff in a wet room (don't ask) and it scares the s##t outa me. One drop turns your skin dead white!
Chemically it adds one free oxygen atom to any reaction. It's similar to chlorine bleach in effect. Don't see anybody mixing bleach into their cleaner, do ya? :shake:
Water is cheap. If you want to add things, add a drop of dish detergent.
Moose

 

Interesting thread but I guess the question I have (and I am not beinag a smart alleck) -- why is ther such a drive to concoct a brew that may or may not work or may rust the innards of a bore, when there are perfectly good commercailly available products out there? Somebody help me...! :hmm:

 

[guncobbler]

Peroxide is great for cleaning your teeth and mouth! Maybe those folks who tear their cartridges in their teeth use is to get the black off their teeth GC

 

[Slake]

E Gads...I've never used on my teeth {maybe I should} Peroxide belongs sealed tightly in a light proof bottle in your first aid kit. It's unstable and when mixed it quickly looses an Oxygen molecule which renders it water anyway
H2O2...to H2O

 

[Zonie]

If you use H2O2 for cleaning your rifles it gives you an excellent excuse for the color of your hair.

"Oh, ye mean all of this gray hair along side of the bald spot and in my beard?
Well you see, the other day, I was cleaning my muzzleloader with Hydrogen Peroxide and some of it splashed up all over the top of my head and on my face!!
You'll never believe it, but my hair was dark brown before then!!"
:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :grin:
zonie

 

[blacksmithman64]

I think only armchair shooters use it ( the ones that KNOW everything, but don't DO it) I only use hot water and elbow grease, but I do keep a bottle in my box for washing my hands.