ED's Red...thoughts

[SDoldiron]

A friend was telling me about mixing up a bore cleaner. I looked it up and was wonder what the thoughts are about it. My brother has been shooting some old 7.62 X 54R that is DIRTY. There are several of use that shoot older ammo and do worry some about it. Does it work well Also said that it worked well for guns in storage.
Thanks for your thoughts.

Information

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[Ken T]

I have used it to clean rifles after use of corrosive primed ammo.It worked fine for me.

[Calif-Steve]

You MUST clean these ammo with soap and water then use Ed's Red. These ammo is corrosive and you need a water based cleaner first.

[Vincent]

I wouldn't be concerned about the bore if the weapon has a chrome lined barrel. Just give the weapon a good bath in warm water and dish washing detergent. Then dry it off and oil it. It feels a little strange the first time you do it. But that's what's needed.

[Ken T]

Ed's Red works as the sole cleaner for corrosive primed ammo for me.I believe the ATF does the work.The bee's wax is added for long term storage use.

[LostSoul]

Bee's wax?

I made up a batch of Ed's Red, and it's a great general cleaner. I wouldn't trust it by itself to clean after corrosive ammo, but it works great on pretty much anything else. I have a small tub I soak my AR15's bolt carrier group in after shooting in Eds Red, and it makes short work of it after a short soak time. Plus, you can make a gallon of it for what you'd pay for a few ounces of some commercial cleaners. It works to clean out soft barrel fouling pretty well, but I'm a recent convert to Wipe Out bore foam, which is the pinnacle of all bore cleaners I've tried. Quoted from E.Shell at MDShooters forums, "If you're not cleaning your bore with Wipe Out, you're working too hard"

[Ken T]

My mistake on the bees wax.Should have said lanolin.

[WeeIan]

Can't say I've ever used it for rifles.
Made up a gallon several years ago for shotgun use. It is very effective in removing plastic residue from SG bores, chambers, and forcing cones. I would be very careful using it around a firearms with a "man-made" fibre stock or plastic parts.
Be sure to store your "brew' in a GLASS container - as I expect it's BAD NEWS on anything resembling plastic.
My $0.02 (Canadian) and offered IMHO.

[bearhunter]

If you're shooting that 7.62x54R through an SVT38 or 40, you need to clean the gas system and anything the gas gets on as well as the bore. That's the beauty of hot water. You don't really need the soap but it makes some people feel better and may loosen up some of the carbon as well. I strip down my semi autos after shooting corrosive and just soak them in a tub of hot water for half an hour. Then, brush and oil inside and out. If you're doing more than one rifle at a time, take care to separate the parts.

[gunnerasch0]

I have been making Ed's Red since reading C E Harris' article on it in the FOULING SHOT back in early 90s. His first article was too specific on the paint thinner solvent used with a CAS#. When I checked with a retail chemical supplier, they told me they didn't have it but could get it for about $50 a gallon! A later article in FOULING SHOT just said "paint thinner" which dropped the price down
a lot. It's my standard bore cleaner and I wear Harbor Freight nitrile gloves when I use it.
I make it up a gallon at a time and supply a couple friends with it. I like being able to do something nice for them as they are so generous with me.
i have also tried STEVE'S SQUEEZE but not enough to making a meaninful comparison.
I have nevver added the lanolin to my "Ed's Red"
BTW, a fellow cruffler reported in late 90s that there was a screw cap wine in stores labelled "Ed's Red."

FWIW I have found that the 50 ml plastic "airline" liquor bottles work well for small amounts of Ed's Red. I do peel the old label off lest some kid steals
a bottle and then drinks it thinking it was a Cherry vodka.

Larry Murray