Suppressors get filthy fast, especially rimfire suppressors. Finding a good suppressor cleaner becomes important once carbon, lead buildup, and powder residue start accumulating inside the baffles.
Carbon, lead buildup, and powder residue accumulate quickly inside suppressor baffles, which is why a good suppressor cleaner can make maintenance much easier. If you shoot a lot of .22 LR, cleaning becomes necessary to maintain performance and prevent excessive fouling.
That raises an important question: what is the best suppressor cleaner?
When Breakthrough Clean Technologies announced its new Suppressor Cleaner, it was met with some skepticism. Especially from rimfire enthusiasts like me. Rimfire is dirty, and rimfire suppressors get filthy quickly. So when a company releases a water-based, ammonia-free cleaner and claims it can remove carbon and lead, there will be doubts. Of course, rather than question them, I reached out for a sample and quickly put it to the test. Because I myself have a tendency to be a bit of a skeptic, and I’m also perhaps a bit lazy when it comes to cleaning my suppressor.
Check Current Price and Availability
The Breakthrough Clean Technologies Suppressor Cleaner is available from several major retailers. Prices, coupon codes, sales, and free shipping offers change frequently, so it is worth checking each one to find the best deal.
Tip: One retailer may have a coupon, another may have a sale, and another may offer better shipping. It pays to check all three before you buy.
Breakthrough Suppressor Cleaner Quick Verdict
- Best for: Rimfire suppressor cleaning
- Safe for: Aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium suppressors
- Cleaning method: Spray or soak
- Best feature: Very little scrubbing required
- Bottom line: A simple, low-effort way to clean a dirty rimfire suppressor
These rimfire suppressor baffles were heavily fouled with carbon and lead buildup before soaking in the suppressor cleaner.
Why a Dedicated Suppressor Cleaner Matters
As mentioned, this new Suppressor Cleaner is both water-based and ammonia-free. It works via proprietary chemical surfactants and detergents. Basically, it breaks the bond between your suppressor’s internal parts and that messy lead and carbon buildup. And it does this without nasty fumes or harsh or flammable chemicals. It will not dissolve the finish of your suppressor or damage aluminum parts. If all this sounds too good to be true, keep reading.
Why Rimfire Suppressors Get So Dirty
Rimfire ammunition produces significantly more fouling than most centerfire cartridges. Soft lead bullets and dirty-burning powder quickly deposit carbon and lead inside suppressor baffles. Because of this, many rimfire suppressors need cleaning more often than centerfire cans, especially if you shoot bulk ammo or run long range sessions.
If you run suppressed rimfire regularly, proper maintenance and firearm cleaning become an important part of keeping things running smoothly.
Testing the Breakthrough Suppressor Cleaner
My TacSol Axiom Takes a Swim
Depending on the ammo, rimfire suppressors may require cleaning after as few as 500 rounds. Although my My TacSol Axiom has seen twice that in a single weekend, it probably doesn’t get cleaned as often as it should. Because it’s a pain.
So I was excited to try out the Breakthrough Clean Technologies Suppressor Cleaner. Directions state to spray the suppressor, wait an hour or so, and then shoot some hot ammo through it. Alternatively, give it a soak for 8-24 hours. I chose the latter. Doing this during the week, when I wasn’t planning on using my suppressor, just made sense. Also, I really wanted to try the lazy way. As you can see, the baffles looked pretty crusty with some buildup.
After a bit of searching in the kitchen (sorry, honey!), I found the smallest container that they would fit in. Then I poured in some suppressor cleaner, put a lid on it, and agitated it every once in a while over the next day or so. In other words, I put in nearly the minimum amount of effort. After a short time, the cleaner looked pretty dark. And with each agitation, I noticed it created bubbles with rainbows, a sure sign that something magical was happening.
So Is It Magical?
Nearly.
As I took the baffles out of the cleaning solution to inspect them, I dropped one in the sink. And the built-up carbon and lead popped right off. A quick tap on the countertop was all it took to remove the big chunks. Back into the soup for some more soaking, and then more agitation.
Note that I didn’t soak the split tube that holds the baffles, as it doesn’t get too dirty, and wipes clean easily enough. It was just the baffles that needed cleaning and needed it badly. The following photos show what they looked like after about 24 hours.
After soaking overnight in the suppressor cleaner, the rimfire suppressor baffles were dramatically cleaner, with most carbon and lead deposits removed.
These cleaned rimfire suppressor baffles required very little scrubbing after soaking in the suppressor cleaner.
For the most part, the baffles were spotless after nothing more than soaking and a little shaking. Exceptions were the blast baffle, which is closest to the muzzle, and then the second baffle. A quick scrape with a knife blade got them clean. All that remains is one spot on the inside of the rear cap. There’s still some stubborn lead, which I’m certain will come out when I shoot a few rounds of .22 WMR through it. Otherwise, everything looks nearly like new, certainly better than my efforts at scrubbing and tumbling.
Compare current deals and shipping options:
MidwayUSA |
Brownells |
Amazon
Coupons, sales, and free shipping offers change frequently, so check each retailer for the best deal.
Would I Recommend This Suppressor Cleaner?
After using it on my rimfire suppressor, I am convinced that the Breakthrough Clean Technologies Suppressor Cleaner is definitely a viable solution.
Value will depend on which bottle size you buy and which retailer currently has the best deal. The good news is that I used only a small amount for this cleaning, needed very little elbow grease, and did not have to buy additional equipment to get solid results.
Suppressor Cleaner FAQ and Cleaning Tips
What is the best way to clean a rimfire suppressor?
One of the easiest ways to clean a rimfire suppressor is to soak the baffles in a dedicated suppressor cleaner that can loosen carbon and lead buildup. This greatly reduces the amount of scrubbing required.
How often should you clean a rimfire suppressor?
That depends on the suppressor and the ammunition used, but rimfire suppressors can get dirty quickly. Many shooters clean them every few hundred rounds, especially when using bulk ammunition.
Can suppressor cleaner damage aluminum baffles?
Some harsh cleaning methods can be rough on aluminum parts. That is why a suppressor-specific cleaner is important. Breakthrough formulated this cleaner to be safe for aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium suppressor components.
Is soaking better than scrubbing?
For heavy fouling, soaking can save a lot of effort. In my case, the long soak did most of the work, and only the dirtiest baffles required a little scraping afterward.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of enthusiasts who will tell you that they find cleaning their firearms relaxing. But I have never heard anyone say they enjoy cleaning their suppressors. Options include the toxic dip process, ultrasonic cleaners, media tumblers, or a lot of scrubbing. Each option requires time, equipment, or both.
Breakthrough Clean Technologies offers a biodegradable solution that does not smell, actually works, and makes suppressor maintenance easier. As always, I would like to thank the Allen Company and Breakthrough Clean for providing their Suppressor Cleaner for this review. You can find this product, as well as their line of solvents, cleaners, and lubricants on the Breakthrough Clean website.
Where to Buy Breakthrough Suppressor Cleaner Online
Retailer promotions change frequently, so check each site to see which one currently has the best price, coupon, or shipping offer.