Cosmoline (grease) cleanup?

[Skychief]

I brought a rifle home today and the bore and breech are covered with cosmoline.  I brought a bunch out of the breech with a scraper.

I'm wanting to remove all traces of the grease.  Would acetone be a good solvent for this?  I've got plenty of it on hand.   Any other ideas for a better solvent?

Thanks for the help, Skychief

[Flint62Smoothie]

I stuff/shove paper towells everywhere and warm it all up with a heat gun, barrel pointed up, cosmo drils out. Gets most of it, then I use whatever solvent or fluid handy. Some use keosene, but wear gloves if acetone - as instantly absorbs into your skin.

[kudu]

wd -40 but it takes quite a bit, 
I really like WD-40 for alot of stuff I even Like the Smell.  I buy a Gallon can at Menards when on sale for about 18.99 , I use it in the bore when storing the gun , and coat the out side of the gun also. never had any Rust.
as a matter of fact I coated some fine modern shot guns last night and put them in the safe.
I shoot most of my stuff often some guns "real often" it stores pretty good  in my opinion.

[Eric Kettenburg]

I would second WD40.  I think it's lousy as a lube or preservative (eventually turns varnish-like) but it's absolutely excellent for cleanup chores of this sort without dealing with toxic inhalation or nasty skin exposure.

[PPatch]

Mineral Spirits: absolutely.

Soak the parts for 15 minutes if you can, then use an old toothbrush, shop towels or paper towels, and compressed air to blow out the dissolved grunge and used spirits. When finished. A light coat of oil when done.

dave

[Daryl]

If hands get sticky with stock finishing oil, WD40 cuts it off almost instantly. I literally wash my hands with it, then wash with soap. Love the stuff - so many uses.

[oldways]

You can use a hair dryer and those blue shop towels from Walmart or a auto store. heat it up and wipe it off.

[Old Salt]

If you can remove the barrel I would use gasoline

[Hungry Horse]

 I’ve never seen muzzleloaders, or their parts, preserved in cosmoline. I once examined an old muzzleloader that had been stored with it barrel filled with melted tallow. And also examined some locks and triggers stored by an old gunsmith that had been dipped in melted bees wax, but never cosmoline.

  Hungry Horse

[Skychief]

I used acetone on the bore and it did fine. Left an amount sitting at the breech for about twenty minutes and scrubbed the bore good after scraping the breechplug face.

Clean as a whistle.  Thanks for all the replies.  Much appreciated.

Best regards, Skychief