Suppressor Dip – Should You Use It or Avoid It?
Shooting suppressed is a ton of fun, but it’s also inherently dirty.
No, not like that. Sheesh. I’m talking about carbon buildup and lead fouling.
Even when you’re shooting unsuppressed, your gun can and will get dirty. No matter how clean-burning the ammo you shoot, there’s still going to be some residue left over that will eventually need to be cleaned.
When shooting a suppressed firearm, that residue, buildup, and fouling happen faster because all of the gases and debris from firing are intercepted by the surface area of the suppressor’s baffles before leaving the barrel.
Everyone has their favorite method and cleaning solution for removing stuck-on carbon and fouling, but they’re not all created equal. In fact, some of them can be harmful or downright deadly. We’re talking about suppressor dip, or simply, “the dip.”
What is “The Dip”
“The Dip” is a cleaning solution created with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Used separately, they’re completely harmless ingredients. The resulting solution can be used to dissolve the lead that is caked on stainless steel suppressor baffles or a monolithic core.
Submerging lead-coated suppressor parts into the reactive solution creates lead acetate, which is basically just dissolved lead in a solution, and lead is bad news.
There’s a reason lead paint was banned and why it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly after shooting lead ammo. It can be very hazardous to your health.
Should You Use The Dip To Clean Your Suppressor?
The answer is a resounding NO, you should not use “the dip” to clean your suppressor, and here’s why.
The most common type of lead poisoning usually occurs by ingesting or absorbing lead into your gastrointestinal system. Again, this is why the kid you knew who ate lead paint chips was “a little off” and why putting your fingers in or near your eyes or mouth after handling lead ammo is a very bad idea. Still, this kind of common lead poisoning requires some effort to commit.
Poisoning from lead acetate, which is what “the dip” is, can occur simply by coming into contact with your skin. It’s an entirely passive way to poison yourself, unlike the more common active way of getting lead poisoning.
If you’ve already got a batch of “the dip” mixed up on your cleaning bench, it’s important that you don’t just dump it down the drain or pour it out in the yard. It is considered a hazardous material, and you should wear proper PPE when taking it to an official hazardous waste disposal site.
When To Use The Dip – The Answer: Never
I know this is repeating what was just said above, but it bears repeating. The answer is no, you should not use “the dip” to clean your suppressor. There are plenty of other alternatives out there, and each one of them is infinitely safer.
Alternatives To The Dip
Don’t try to relive your high school chemistry class days, no matter how strong the pull may be, by mixing up a batch of “the dip” at home. Instead, use one of these other cleaning methods.
Tumbler
Just as people use tumblers to clean cartridge cases for reloading purposes, you can also use a tumbler to clean carbon and other fouling from your suppressor parts.
Elbow Grease
You put in the work on the range, so why not put in a little more at the cleaning bench? Some brushes, patches, safe cleaning solutions, and some good, old-fashioned elbow grease will take care of those dirty suppressor parts.
Sonic Cleaner
If you really have the urge to submerge when it comes to cleaning your suppressor parts, you can use a sonic cleaner with a safe cleaning solution. You can pour in the cleaner, drop in your parts, and let the sonic waves cut through the crud without worrying about getting any of the liquid on your skin.
USER SERVICEABLE SUPPRESSORSGet A Proper Clean And Shop For A New Can Today
Now that you know not to use “the dip,” you may find yourself shopping for a new cleaning method. If that’s the case and your baffles are really stuck in place, you can pick up one of our baffle jacks in our online shop to make it easier to remove them from the outer part of your can.
And while you’re in online shopping mode, why not check out our selection of cans in our online shop? Silencer Central is the nation’s largest silencer dealer, licensed to sell to customers in all 42 states where suppressors are legal.
We’ll handle the entire purchase process for you – including setting you up with a free NFA gun trust – all from the comfort of your own home. You can even set up an interest-free payment plan to break up your purchase price and pay while you wait for ATF approval of your tax stamp. Then we’ll mail your suppressor right to your front door once it’s been approved.
Buying a suppressor has never been easier, so what are you waiting for? Let’s get your suppressor purchase started today!