Always Spot Test When Cleaning

[Gumbo]

Just because you have safely used product A on all of your other guns doesn't mean it's safe for gun X. Used Ballistol in the green can to clean my SCAR and, against my better judgement, didn't bother to spot test because it's been safe for everything else. Two days later I took the rifle out of its case for a little fondling and to my horror, the upper had gone from flat black to flat grey. It's like the Ballistol dehydrated the metal. When I apply gun oil to the upper, the original color comes back, so I've been slopping it on every day praying I don't have to get my brand new rifle refinished.

 

[Nomad.2nd]

Why would you refinish it????? Just shoot it.

 

[BayouSlide]

You may be OK...if you remove all the oil from the finish, some AR-15 finishes seem to from dark to light gray. If so, oil is your friend.

 

[Gumbo]

Why would you refinish it????? Just shoot it.

Because finishes aren't just cosmetic, they're functional.

 

[SpeedRacer]

My Daniel Defense lower is the same way, even before I ever cleaned it. I think that's just how certain finishes are. I wipe it down with a silicone cloth to make it all shiny for pictures.

 

[Nomad.2nd]

Because finishes aren't just cosmetic, they're functional.

Yes, but all you said was that it changed the color. Not that it removed it etc.

I shot a AK74 so hot that the phosphate changed from Grey to green.

Here we are years later and it's a nonissue.

But then, Other than my collectibles, I use my guns.

 

[Baldrik78]

Was it parkerized?

 

[Gumbo]

The upper is aluminum, so I'm assuming it was anodized.

 

[Sin-ster]

I've had similar experiences on several different firearms-- and just like you say, it's as if the solvent dries out the finish. You can actually feel the difference.

The best example I've found (with my cleaning practices) is the Nitron finish on my P226. That sucker almost gets ashy, using even the most gentle of solvents. I just take a large patch, soak it with oil and go to town. Even wiped clean, the finish is glossy and smooth and shows none of the "drying" effect at all.

I've also observed the same thing on several ARs, as others have mentioned. Phosphate BCGs, park'd barrels, etc. I wouldn't be too worried about it, honestly. I understand your concern of course, being a brand new and very expensive toy.

 

[tactical723]

Thats unusual, when I was shooting Cowboy Action, those guys used Ballistol on everything including wood / plastic. My understanding it is a milder of the lubricants and somewhat eviro firendly

 

[Bearco]

4th gen Glocks are the same way. They come out light gray after stripping all oils.