The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Looking for recommendations and pros and cons of using a sonic cleaner for gun parts.

We use a couple here, one 'clean' and one 'dirty' and both of them are filled with paraffin. Size wise, I think one is 6 litres and the other about half that, the larger is a heated stainless steel affair and is very effective.

Capacity wise the largest is long and thin and takes around 12"-14" long parts so ideal for rifle and shotgun actions plus some of the parts we machine in house and hand polish, the paraffin does a great job of removing the polishing soap.

Downsides, erm, none that I can think of for cleaning gun parts.

Was thinking of getting one for cleaning bolts, BCG's and moderators.

I use mine for cleaning brass and moderators mostly. I have a 3 litre one and it fits most parts I've needed to clean.

i have one and following Daves suggestion use parafin absolutelly briliant pop an action or two a moderator or whatever in it turn it on make and drink a cup of tea and get the parts out brilliant .

Interesting they work well on “parts”, because I found it cr@p on brass!

Some u.s. cleaners can damage brass and aluminium. I have seen pictures of one bolt carrier also damaged by cavitation.

Mattnall wrote:Some u.s. cleaners can damage brass and aluminium. I have seen pictures of one bolt carrier also damaged by cavitation.

It all depends on the power output of the generators. We have some new vapour degrasers with ultrasonics in work and the ultrasonic bath looks like a jacuzzi when they're switched on! Depending on the frequency and power of the generators, I'm not surprised that some parts get ripped apart.

Took the blueing off a Buckmark magazine with mine aaarggh