Green residue from barrel

[ouch]

try this link
acid-base reaction --* Britannica Online Encyclopedia

or check these two out.
Ammonia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acetic acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am not a chemist just a bullet loader.

[billy]

me too and i have sparkling bores that used to look like sewer pipes.

i am only a collector/shooter/reloader

[samuel]

I know Billy,s invention works well.I have used a similar method for years.If anyone doesnt like,or doesnt believe anything that is posted they are not being forced to use it.But it is good that they post their opposition with findings of their own. This allows the reader to make up their own mind. sam.

[billy]

i wish i had invented it sam .
yes it works well.
yes it is a good thing to have opposing viewpoints here.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by billy

i wish i had invented it sam .
yes it works well.
yes it is a good thing to have opposing viewpoints here.

That is opposing viewpoints with references that can be substantiated. sam.

[billy]

i gotta admit i dont understand how that makes salt water?
and if so why in the world would a VERY well respected gun collector forum tell me to use this device?

deep in my heart of hearts i dont give a ^%$# WHAT people do or do not do to the firearms they own.

[ouch]

Billy,
Time to go to your secret lab and check out the chemistry books.

The primers that are used in this older ammo contains compounds of mercury, chlorine and oxygen The residues are salts and promote rusting. SAAMI has some references I am sure.

Copper from the bullet casing can be disolved in an acid. Again would be a good experiment to do in your lab. The idea is that you want to disolve the Cu but not the Fe. Ammonia will disolve the bluing.

Have fun with the experiments

Originally Posted by billy

i gotta admit i dont understand how that makes salt water?
and if so why in the world would a VERY well respected gun collector forum tell me to use this device?

deep in my heart of hearts i dont give a ^%$# WHAT people do or do not do to the firearms they own.

[just_a_car]

To give a bit of perspective, I'm a senior at the University of Washington working towards my bachelor's of science in Chemistry.

What you are doing when you combine the ammonia with the vinegar is what's called creating a buffer solution. It's pretty close to neutral pH but has the benefits of acting chemically on the copper fouling through the ammonia/ammonium ion.

A "salt" is any ionic solid, so technically, a "salt water" solution is any water with ions dissolved in it, not just NaCl (Sodium Chloride, a.k.a. table salt).

The electricity involved in the process is a lot like electroplating, where the positively charged copper is attracted to the steel, negatively charged rod and, thus, pulls away from the rifling of the barrel. If there is powder fouling either on or under the copper fouling, then it will obviously come away much easier if the copper is gone or loosened.

[billy]

i didnt even hafta unlock the door to my secret lab.
my trusty assistant j.a.c. here came through for me once again.
thanks igor...i mean j.a.c.