Cleaning Mil Surplus Magazines

[ltorlo64]

I bought some mil-surplus mags for my M1 Carbine. I just took one apart and it is full of cosmoline. Cleaning the follower is easy and the spring will not be too hard. Any hints on how to clean the inside body of the magazine?

[FunkyPertwee]

I've never cleaned M1 mags, but I've cleaned some pretty nasty AK mags, and I used toothbrushes, shop brushes, gun scrubber and WD-40, and of course lots of paper towels.

[Richard Simmons]

I like mineral spirits for dissolving cosmolene. Not what i would consider "toxic", not terribly expensive and you can find it at any hardware store/home center.

[stinker]

Submerge them in scalding hot water. Turns the cosmolene into a liquid that should float.

Finish up with a dry rag and a bit of water repellant like wd40.

[ltorlo64]

Submerge them in scalding hot water. Turns the cosmolene into a liquid that should float.

Finish up with a dry rag and a bit of water repellant like wd40.

I think I will go buy a cheap pan and do this. If it doesn't work I am going with Richards mineral spirits. Thanks for the ideas. (And I will still use lots of paper towels!)

[Schuetzenman]

I like mineral spirits for dissolving cosmolene. Not what i would consider "toxic", not terribly expensive and you can find it at any hardware store/home center.

This, Mineral Spirits is a good way to do it and it's cheap. Plastic pan, put in mags, pour in MS, cover with a lid or Glad Wrap, a clear food covering material to hold in vapors just in case. Let sit overnight, usually come clean quite easily after the soaking. I use a 1" paint brush to assist in getting the goo off. Wipe down with old towel and reoil to prevent surface rust. Wear rubber gloves, this stuff will dry out your skin.