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Cheap can of automotive engine degreaser works really well. Just be sure to oil afterwards as it really dries it out.

Has anyone considered using a Scotch-Brite pad to scrub with? It certainly won't remove any metal.

I have a little device that cleans the carbon off of an AR-15 bolt tail. It consists of a delrin piece that only serves to hold a piece of Scotch-Brite pad and apply pressure to it. It takes me about 2 minutes to have the bolt tail shining like new, no matter how much carbon was on it to begin with.

Here's the device and a video that illustrates how well it works. Unfortunately, they don't appear to be made any more. I can't find it on the GG&G website.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/51672 ... d-polisher

Pawpaw wrote:Has anyone considered using a Scotch-Brite pad to scrub with? It certainly won't remove any metal.

I've tried it. Worked good on the magazine tube cap shaft. It's okay on the piston itself. On my 391 version they added 3 slots in the piston body and 'teeth' to the top end, results in lots of blue scotch-brite confetti

Initially, I worried about the steel wool. The piston appears to be harder than the wool, and that's really the only place I use it, but one of these days I'm going to remember to buy some bronze wool and try it.

carlson1 wrote:Slip 2000 Carbon Killer is the best I found and it has a pleasant smell.
https://www.slip2000.com/slip2000_carbon_killer.php

I will second the Slip 2000. I first used it probably 15 years ago for cleaning choke tubes. I have a couple of 390's that are "Loaner Guns" when I take someone shooting. I use the Slip for those pistons too. Works great.

Buy a gun with a recoil operated system like a Benelli. End of carbon build up.

Recently I used Hornady OneShot Gun Cleaner to clean out the lower of my Taurus 809 pistol. I'm not a seasoned gunsmith, so I didn't want to fully disassemble it. Sprayed that down into the lower and it ran out the bottom along with a year or more worth of gunk. Not sure if this would work with your situation, but it at least sounded similar to mine.

I'll be adding the one shot gun cleaner to my kit to clean up similar parts and pieces that I don't want to use hoppes on and/or put too much oil on.

The Annoyed Man wrote:Buy a gun with a recoil operated system like a Benelli. End of carbon build up.

And get a heavier gun that kicks more, no thanks. I will deal with the carbon build up. I kid and do not want to derail the thread into shotgun wars like Glock or 1911 wars.

At least the Beretta piston looks like it comes apart unlike the Browning (and Winchester and FN).

Here's a pic I shot a couple of weeks ago from the last major tear down of my AL 391. This is about 95% disassembled. Only things left to tear down are the firing pin/extractor, trigger, and buttstock.



On the left is that pesky piston we've been talking about.