If you use brake cleaner it has to be non chlorinated or you can mess up some finishes. You're better off using something like Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber.

 

Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber yes, yes, Yes!

 

I don't use brake cleaner anymore on guns. There are a number of aerosols that are cleaners and preservatives together. One of my faves is 'Super Lube' spray grease - don't think of the spray white lithium grease - this is like spraying a clear solvent for cleaning but when it evaporates, a light, clear gel of Teflon grease is left behind. Another is 'Super Slick Stuff' that again is a clear liquid that cleans and lubricates but this one dries completely, leaving slick surfaces but no oil or grease. There are many others and they all have their uses. With my striker-fired pistols, I've never detail-stripped one (frame or slide) or taken out the chassis - I just blast them down with one of those products. Depending on which product I might come back after drying and use some light grease in the slide rails and the chassis rails.
I avoid spraying anything directly on night sights - they don't get dirty anyway.

 

Probably 6 to 8 years ago I was told by someone at Wilson that they use Zep Resolve II at Wilson. Can’t remember who it was and don’t want to guess at this point. I bought a case of 12 and still have some. I do recall that I got a little sticker shock at the cost of the case, maybe 130ish back then. Works good and I’ve had no issues with it. I still use some break cleaner for cleaning brushes, etc but don’t use it on my good blued guns.

 

I don't know about spraying cleaner in to the works of my guns, like does it wash the crap further in or clean the lubricant all out? Maybe I'm just too picky, well the 1911 is pretty simple inside but just the same I'll detail strip/clean/lube.

 

Can’t say that I’ve used the Zep except as one of the steps in a detail strip. On an assembled frames it would degrease all the lubricant from anything it got to.

 

Some good suggestions here. Allow me to present a short story on brake cleaner.

Being a heavy equipment mechanic brake cleaner is commonly used daily. Some is flammable and some is not.
At the end of a day I decided to clean a folding LED work light with brake cleaner and wipe down with a rag. Quick and simple. No grease and it looked new again.
The next day the brake cleaner had made it non folding. Permanently. It will also remove recent paint. So be careful not to use it on fiber sights or grips. Some finishes may be affected. My .02

 

Imagine what it'll do to your lungs. Just sayin'

 

I use Birchwood Casey gun scrubber. It is awesome stuff. a little pricey but it is the gold standard in my book.

 

BC Gun Scrubber for a while now.

 

Another vote for Birchwood - Casey Gun Scrubber .... Also B-C Bore Scrubber. I also keep a few cans of compressed air on my bench. I get the stuff you find in the office supply department to dust off key boards. Really handy stuff.

 

I only use brake cleaner/Gun Scrubber to degrease stuff for purposes such as gluing or refinishing. Degreasing is NOT a normal function of my cleaning regimen, and I HIGHLY recommend against it. If you degrease (or even get your gun wet), replenish with a healthy shot of WD40 and compressed air when you're done.

Edit to add - If you don't have room or funds for a "shop" sized air compressor, I've also used canned air like this with decent effect:

Amazon.com : Dust-Off Disposable Compressed Gas Duster, 10 oz - Pack of 2 : Office Products

 

If it's really bad, I use Gun Scrubber. If it's just sooty/grubby then Hornady One Shot or WD-40 Dry Lube with PTFE (it's not the regular WD-40). The Zep Resolve II looks interesting.

 

The "Gun Scubber" name/brand is so misleading. It's expensive brake cleaner that strips all the protective oil and grease away from your metal. And they don't remind you to replenish whatever their product has stripped away. So, beware. If you degrease your sht for whatever reason, don't neglect to regrease/oil it. And the only way I know to properly do that in all the nooks and crannies is with the help of compressed air.

 

Engine oil and a toothbrush. I avoid solvents. No need to blast anything with degreaser, that can be wiped off by hand.

Use a .22 cotton swab in the FP channel.

 

I have been having great results getting parts cleaned nicely with non-aerosol Kroil penetrant....then a thorough wipe down and reapply Ultima II lube.


If the crud is more difficult, I'll let the Kroil sit on it an hour first and hit it with a nylon brush.

 

A typical lazy mans gun cleaning for me is a soak down with Kano Kroil, let it sit for 24 hours and then a good blow out with compressed air. It works like a charm. The Birchwood Casey stuff is for when a gun gets really gummed up. And as has been stated here already you have to relube afterwards.

 

On brakeleen type aerosols. Bill wilson and Hackathorn can replace or refinish anything they have. First, I’m not convinced they clean their own guns…lol. Depending on the finish, aerosols can be bad. Melonite finish is the first that comes to mind. WD40, Hoppes 9 and Ballistol are my preferences. Just my .02 fwiw.

 

Gun Scrubber --a great product--- is very high pressure, so it's common for the straw to pop out. If that happens it can ruin stocks, both plastic & wood (I learned the hard way) so only use it on totally stripped-down guns.

 

Know your gun, know your finish. I use gun scrubber or non chlorinated brake cleaner on stripped slides and frames.

I'm not sure I'd use it on assembled parts because you usually can't get oil back in where you need/want it on assemblies.

Grumpy- learning to detail strip a 1911 might be nerve wracking at first but it's one of the easiest guns to detail and reassemble once you learn the order and the 2 or 3 little tricks to aligning certain parts.

 

Where is the Ed's Red cheer leaders? Same question..Marvel Mystery Oil cheer leaders?

 

Are you wanting someone to argue with ?

 

I've never cared for WD-40 for use on guns. I know a lot of people do. But I keep it for car and lawn mower work. I prefer cleaners and lubes made for guns and there's a lot to choose from. I don't use automotive products on guns ... but that's just me. I do have a large gun cleaning tool box ... lots of stuff accumulated over many years (decades?) of shooting --- cleaning --- shooting --- cleaning --- we all have our preferences.

 

K-1 and a brush then blow it off with compressed air. you won't get it any cleaner.. My barrels are all done separate.

 

Use this on all of my 1911s.No harm to the finish on any.The aerosol works best, the using compressed air afterwards.The oil up and wipe down.The gun medic is The cheapest on bushnells website ( under $7.00) The foaming version is about $12

 

I haven't found a need to degrease a gun yet. I understand that at some point I may need to stick a decal or sight paint on my gun and at that time I may need to use brake cleaner or Gun Scrubber, but until then, I have no need to degrease my guns. I spend some time, effort, and money putting lube on the guns, and I'd just as soon not take all of it off.

There are several aerosol CLP's that will clean just fine and leave the lube on your gun.

Ballistol Ballistol: World’s Most Versatile Multi-Purpose Oil and Gun CLP

Break Free CLP® Cleaner, Lubricant & Preservative

G96 Gun Treatment ® – G96 Products Inc.

Amsoil https://www.amsoil.com/c/firearms-l...s-cleaners/53/?srsltid=AfmBOor30R4CHvbGW7yKv52dmV9BEp7OR-TbkQE5dm-Lae7VC1bitaGz

 

Buy Gun Medic Cleaner and More | Hoppes

Shopping for the Gun Medic Cleaner - Learn more about the latest Gun Medic and other hunting or shooting gear at Hoppes.

www.hoppes.com

 

Marvel Mystery Oil is my go to for a lot of things.

Rah! Rah! Siss-boom-bah!

Seriously though, it's a good cleaner and oil.

I buy it by the Gallon at the local hardware store. The last time I did that it was about $15 for the gallon.

I keep a small container of it in my Range Bag.

Was at the range a while back and one of my buddies gun needed a drop or two of oil.

I loaned it to him and it slicked his pistol up just fine.

Now, he also has a small bottle of it in his Range Bag.

I have some of the Birch, and it's handy for a quick spritz.

For heavy leading issues, I like Cowboy Blend.

I have an old flat quart whiskey bottle that I put parts in, with cylinders for revolvers and/or barrels for 1911's for instance hanging on an old piece of straightened coat hanger to make for easy removal.
I can leave stuff soak and then remove them, blow them off with the airgun.

 

Marvel Mystery Oil is my go to for a lot of things.

I'm aware of Marvel Mystery Oil, but have never used it. Do they make an aerosol version like the OP is looking for?

Marvel Mystery Oil Store

Marvel Mystery Oil has been improving power and performance since the 1920s. Check out our products to see how your engine can be improved.

marvelmysteryoil.com

 

Another Birchwood Casey vote here. Best aerosol cleaner I’ve found.

 

The only thing about MMO is it does gum up the works if given time. I've seen this in outdoor equipment carburetors and air tools. They make a special MMO air tool oil but I haven't tried it yet to see if it gums. Needless to say it won't be seen among my gun oils.

 

What's MMO? Educate me like a 3-year-old haha.

 

Marvel Mystery Oil