LMT MWS Bolt/Carrier Hoppes Safe?

[pmclaine]

Cleaning my MWS for the first time. Ive not ever owned a rifle with "coated" anything.

I'm a soaker not a scrubber when it comes to cleaning. Im noting some pretty steady blue coloration using Hoppes on the bolt and carrier, more than Id expect from these parts that only get residual brass and copper debris.

Im unsure of what LMT uses for a coating on these parts, silver colored - maybe industrial chrome or nickel of some sort. I recall that Hoppes should never be used on Nickel plated pistols.

Anyone able to confirm or deny that Hoppes will harm the coating of the LMT bolt group?

The only direction in the manual regarding this is don't use any product that you would not use on the finish of your car. Well I wouldn't use CLP on my car but they recommend that.

Thanks for any reassurance that may come my way.

 

[997/2man]

That's all I ever used on mine (Gen I), never had a problem, used Mobil1 or FP-15 for lube, worked well. I only had it for 2 years, maybe a little less, it had at least 2k rounds down the pipe.

There may be better products than Hoppes, I've used it for years, habit now.

 

[pmclaine]

997/2,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm a traditionalist using Hoppes. My second favorite cleaner is the WWII US GI stuff that I use after shooting corrosive. My sense of smell and Brain have created a pleasure response when I smell either solvent - it just reeks of a good day shooting. I know there is better but this stuff works given a chance and its cheap enough.

I think most chrome is applied over a layer of copper and there in lies my concern. I don't think the bolt should have been bluing that long. I had the part standing up on its lugs and had dropped Hoppes on the boat tail to soften the carbon. I noted that the Hoppes was turning blue for much longer than would be expected as there is little copper contact at the rear of the bolt. I was concerned that the Hoppes is attacking the material under the coating.

I was horrified by the cleaning methods used in the USMC prior to inspection. Im trying to develop an attitude that there can be "clean enough". Ill probably just stick to wiping the parts down with an oiled patch to remove sludge, get the bulk of the carbon off with wiping and brushing and call it a day.