Whether you spend your time shooting targets or hunting, shooting is a fun sport. But then there is the cleaning and maintaining of your firearm. Carbon fouling and dirt buildup can cause malfunction problems, which is why it is vital that you clean your gun after a shooting session.
Although the process can be daunting and time-consuming because you have to take your firearm apart to clean every piece, lube them, and put them back together, it is necessary.
The problem is that sometimes you cannot get the best gun cleaning solvents and lubricants when you want. This is why you should consider getting an ultrasonic cleaner for gun parts.
It is a cost-effective solution that can effectively and efficiently clean your firearms.
You can find ultrasonic cleaners being sold in gun stores or online at pretty affordable prices.
But you might be wondering, what is an ultrasonic cleaner?
An ultrasonic cleaner is a gun cleaning machine that uses high-frequency sound vibrations to physically move the cleaning solution, which in turn breaks up the dirt in your firearm. It is like a washing machine for guns, and it’s extremely effective and time-saving.
The machine comes with everything you need to clean and lubricate your gun. Since it uses ultrasonic vibrations, the cleaning solvent can reach the small joints and crevices of your firearm and remove any dirt or powder residue inside.
There are good reasons you should consider buying an ultrasonic cleaner, but the two mains ones are efficiency and speed.
Your days of spending a lot of time cleaning and lubing your gun will be long gone if you buy this machine.
So now that you know what it is and how it works, you might be wondering which is the best ultrasonic Cleaner to buy. To answer your question, here are some of the best ultrasonic cleaners for gun parts in the market.
Top Pick
Hornady Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner -2 Liters
- Removeable lid allows easy filling and cleanup
- De-gas feature removes excess bubbles from solution
- 80-watt ceramic heater enhances cleaning action
The Hornaday Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner features a 2-liter stainless steel tank that measures 7.25″ x 6″ x 3″. The tank can hold up numerous cartridge cases.
Ultrasonic Cleaner for Gun Parts Comparison Сhart
| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Hornady Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner - 2 Liters Tank capacity: 2 liters Tank material: stainless steel Heater Wattage: 80 Watt | |
 | iSonic Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner Tank capacity: 2.5 liters Tank material: stainless steel wire mesh Heater Wattage: 100 Watt | |
 | H&B Luxuries Ultrasonic Cleaner Tank capacity: 2.1 liters Tank material: stainless steel Heater Wattage: 160 Watt | |
 | Lyman Ultrasonic Cleaner Tank capacity: 2.5 liters Heater Wattage: 160 Watt Timer: 3-9 minute | |
 | Hornady Lock-N-Load Hot Tub Ultrasonic Cleaner Material: It's not lint-free Sizes: .270-.35 caliber Quantity: 650 |
5 Best Ultrasonic Cleaner for Gun Parts (as of April, 2024):
1. Hornady Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner – 2 Liters Ultrasonic Cleaner for Gun Parts – Review
The Hornaday Lock-N-Load Sonic Cleaner features a 2-liter stainless steel tank that measures 7.25″ x 6″ x 3″. The tank can hold up numerous cartridge cases. According to the product description, it can hold three hundred .233 cartridge cases and 150 .308 cartridge cases, which is quite a lot.
It comes fitted with an eighty-watt ceramic heater that improves the cleaning process. Hot or warm water can help loosen up carbon fouling, dirt, and grime quickly than cold water. So the ceramic heater is a great addition.
When combined with the One Shot Sonic Clean solution, reviewers say that it does an excellent job of cleaning the cartridge cases’ outer and inner surfaces and the primer parts, small gun parts, and other small metallic equipment.
You could choose to use another cleaning solution of your choice, but the One Shot Sonic Clean solution has many great reviews.
The Cleaner has a 5 to 30-minute timer to allow you to set the appropriate cycle time depending on what you are cleaning.
Pros:
- Cleans quickly and efficiently
- It comes with an 80-watt ceramic heater
- Ideal to use with One Shot Sonic Clean solution
- Features a two-liter stainless steel tank
- Capable of washing over 500 cartridge cases at one go
- Microjet action for superior cleaning
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- It is too small to fit a full-sized pistol
2. iSonic Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner Ultrasonic Cleaner for Gun Parts – Review
The iSonic Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner is truly a multipurpose machine. You can use it to clean gun parts, carburetors, jewelry, watches, and eyeglasses. This makes it extremely economical because if you have small metal parts that you want to clean, this Ultrasonic Cleaner can come in handy. After all, it is not designed to clean one specific type of object.
It is extremely efficient and powerful because it uses a stack transducer rather than the wafer transducer used in other small iSonic models.
This is because the stack transducer is more powerful than a wafer transducer, and it is also more durable.
The Cleaner features a 2.5-liter white stainless steel wire mesh tank and a 110-volt heater. The tank measures 9.8″x5.8″x3.1, which is long enough to accommodate silverware and dental instruments.
The tank is compact, and it is designed for easy cleaning. The heater is preset at 149F/65C, and it operates independently and does not rely on cleaning. There is a cooling fan to protect the machine from overheating.
Overall, it is an excellent gun cleaning machine, and it is pretty quiet compared to other Ultrasonic cleaners. It comes with five international safety certifications, and there is an optional plastic basket with a 25-minute timer.
Pros:
- Uses stack transducer for enhanced and efficient cleaning
- Durable and compact
- Long tank that can accommodate long metallic pieces like dental instruments
- Features a 2.5-liter stainless steel wire mesh tank
- It comes with a heater
- Extremely versatile
- It comes with five international safety certifications
- budget-friendly
Cons:
- The basket has no handles, which is an inconvenience
- Some users have complained that the motor is too loudistol
3. H&B Luxuries Ultrasonic Cleaner Ultrasonic Cleaner for Gun Parts – Review
The H&B Luxuries Ultrasonic Cleaner comes with a large, long stainless tank with a capacity of 2100ml suitable for cleaning long instruments like metal tubes and dental equipment.
It also comes with a sturdy plastic basket made of ABS 757 plastic, a high-grade plastic known for its strength, rigidity, and solvent-resistant properties. It also has shock-proof and waterproof properties that are better than metal.
The machine uses a strengthened transducer to make it more powerful and efficient. It is also fitted with a heater with a 45-timer, which can heat solvents to 65 degrees.
The digital program on the machine has five working cycles, so you can choose the one you want depending on the object you are cleaning. The device is designed to work for an extended time so you can clean many metal items, including your gun parts, without worrying about the machine overheating.
Plus, it has a circuit protector to extend its life span.
The Ultrasonic cleaner is waterproof, and it comes with a quality basket with handles and a one-year warranty.
Pros:
- Cleans quickly and efficiently
- It comes with a long elongated stainless steel tank to accommodate long metal objects
- Ideal for cleaning gun parts, handguns, and dental equipment
- Digital program with five working cycle options
- Sturdy plastic basket that’s tough, rigid, and resistant to solvents
- Circuit protect to increase its lifespan
- Capacity of 2100ml
- It comes with a one year warranty
Cons:
- It is noisy
- Some users have expressed that the heater does not work properly
4. Lyman Ultrasonic Cleaner – Review
This machine can clean over 800 cartridge cases, inside and out, for not more than 15 minutes. It is incredibly efficient and convenient, particularly when you have many cartridge cases and gun parts to clean.
Pros:
- Efficient, compact, and durable
- Heated good sized tank with a capacity of 2500ml
- It can clean over 800 cartridge cases in a matter of minutes
- Removes carbon fouling, grime and dirt efficiently
- Works fast
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- It takes relatively long to clean brass objects
- It only has an 8-minute timer
5. Hornady Lock-N-Load Hot Tub Ultrasonic Cleaner – Review
Hornady Lock-N-Load Hot Tub Ultrasonic Cleaner is an efficient, fast cleaning machine that is large enough to accommodate a 16-inch AR-15 Upper Receiver. This makes this Cleaner extremely handy for cleaning rifles, shotguns, and handguns.
It comes with a 9-liter stainless steel tank and removable basket drain trays. The Cleaner features a heating function, a digital timer, a de-gas function, and a solution usage timer.
It does have quite a bit of functionality to enhance cleaning and ensure excellent results.
The tank is big enough to accommodate many cartridge cases, and the machine does an excellent job of cleaning the inside and outside of the cartridges and the primer parts.
Overall, it is a great piece of equipment for cleaning small and large metal objects. Obviously, there is a limit on how much length it can accommodate, but this can comfortably hold AR-15 Upper Receivers that are 16 inches in length, which is pretty decent.
Pros:
- Cleans quickly and efficiently
- Compact, sturdy, and durable
- Economical and cost-efficient
- It comes with a 9-liter stainless tank
- Can accommodate long and large metal objects
- Versatile and easy to use
- It comes with advanced features for better cleaning results
Cons:
- Cleaning instructions are not clear or straightforward
- Strips all the oil from a gun, so lubing is necessary after cleaning
Buyer’s Guide
There are many Ultrasonic cleaner options, and it can get tricky finding the right one. What you need to know about these cleaners is that some come with advanced features and are capable of cleaning more than gun parts. So when choosing a cleaner, it all depends on your needs. However, there are certain factors that you also need to consider when selecting an Ultrasonic cleaner, and they include:
Size of your gun
Ultrasonic cleaners come in different sizes, so depending on the size of your gun, this should help you decide the size of the machine to buy. A big machine may cost more, but if you have big gun parts that you want to clean, spending a little extra for an efficient and time-saving solution will be well worth it.
With or without a cleaning basket
Some ultrasonic cleaners don’t come with cleaning baskets, and others do. The advantage of getting one with a cleaning basket is that it simplifies the cleaning process.
If this is something you would like, make sure that the basket is sturdy and solvent resistant and that it has handles for easy portability. Some cleaners come with quality baskets that don’t have handles, inconvenient when you need to move or transport the basket.
With or Without a heater
Some ultrasonic gun cleaners don’t come with heaters or a heating function. The advantage of having the heater is that it makes it easier to remove carbon fouling, grime, and dirt. Without this option, it may take quite some time to remove all the dirt from your firearm, particularly the stubborn kind.
It also may not remove all the carbon fouling even after three washes. Therefore, consider investing in an Ultrasonic cleaner with a heater to make your life easier.
Multipurpose functionality
You can get an Ultrasonic cleaner that is capable of cleaning more than your gun parts. Some cleaners are extremely versatile, that you can use them to clean jewelry, small car parts, eyeglasses, and dental equipment.
Although they cost a little more than cleaning machines with limited functionality, it makes economic sense to buy one that can clean a variety of metal objects. But this, of course, also depends on your needs.
If you own one or two firearms, which you use occasionally, it might be cost-efficient to buy a simple Ultrasonic cleaner unless you plan on cleaning other metal objects other than gun parts.
Tank Size and Capacity
If you own many guns and are of different types, it might be ideal to get an Ultrasonic cleaner with a large-sized tank. Some tanks are large enough to clean hundreds of cartridge cases in one go, and they extremely efficient. Some are large enough to accommodate a rifle, so the tank size depends on your needs.
A multipurpose cleaner with a large tank can be handy if you own a gun cleaning or jewelry cleaning shop. Or if you have metal parts that require constant cleaning.
Although you may need to dig a little deeper into your pocket to get such a cleaner, it is economical if you constantly need to clean small and large metallic objects.
Conclusion
Ultrasonic cleaners are handy when you don’t have the time or energy to manually clean your firearm, particularly if you own more than one or two guns. They are efficient, quick, and extremely effective at cleaning metal objects, including gun parts, jewelry, and other metallic parts.
