This question comes up a lot, “Should I use a copper cutter or an aerosol cleaner degreaser / bore solvent, or both?”

There isn’t a simple answer because you can’t put all products in the same bucket, especially when it comes to the different formulations and cleaning strengths that different gun cleaner brands offer. What I can tell you is that you should use whatever you need to get the job done while being cautious enough to avoid mixing different chemistries. You just don’t know what the reactions might be – nasty fumes, solvent residue accumulation or surface damage. Be careful.

In the case of focusing only the Tetra Gun care brand for the purpose of this exercise, you can use one or the other. There is choice involved. Both solutions can work. However, any aerosol will apply a wide pattern and potentially hit or creep onto non-metal parts such as rubber, plastic and wood stock finishes, which you want to avoid. Liquid solvent applied with clean, dry cotton patches and alike will be a more controlled application, but it’s not as convenient as a spray.

The bigger concern is how much cleaning do you need to do. My general advice is, don’t use anything strong unless you have to, and you will know by your results. Harder fouling will be experienced on long gun surfaces, along with other factors such as what cleaner you used last time. Almost likely, your pre-existing buildup will be a culprit for making your job harder.

For best results, apply our Tetra Gun Lubricant to bore metal, if it’s a clean, dry surface. Solvent residue will only get in the way, and make a mess, and counteract your efforts. You can achieve solvent removal by wiping parts with isopropyl alcohol (91%+) and see if there is color on your patches. Clean and unnoticeable is your goal. Amber, or worse, green or teel is bad. Keep scrubbing. Also, use bronze brushes when needed, not just because you want to. And in the bore, and other surfaces, don’t use steel. That is abrasion waiting to happen. That is an option for the worst scenarios, and even then, an ultrasonic bath is preferred to break up hard buildup.

Tetra Gun Copper Solvent is a non-etch formula, intended for hard buildup. I have heard about other brands that say “soak overnight” but that sounds like a chemical that doesn’t work so well. Only let it sit for as long as needed. Once again, brushing will aid the process, followed by patches. Alternatively, the Action Blaster aerosol could be used as a follow-up or as a choice over solvent, but the newer synthetic-safe formula is gentler. That is the tradeoff which can applied to any evaluation of options.

I hope this blogpost helped. And when handling any solvents, operate in a well-ventilated room and use gloves, along with a work mat that can deal with liquid soaking thru that might damage your table. Be aware, clean with care. And if you are outside, spray downwind. Good idea, right?

If possible, especially with handguns, use our water-based cleaner degreaser, our Triple Action CLP in liquid or aerosol form, or even our Carbon Cleaner series. These are less harsh and effective options – once again, unless you have hard buildup that requires more firepower.

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