Hoppe's #9 vs plastic Marlin follower test = TEST COMPLETE

[J Miller]

My plastic Marlin follower went into the Hoppe's #9 at 8:40PM tonight.
We were talking about this in another thread and now I can't remember which one it was. Who ever remembers, post it for me please.

OK, the comment was that with exposure to solvents the plastic followers would swell up and jam in the tube. This test is to see if we can make that happen.

Original dimensions:
Length = .945"
Dia A = .550"
Dia B = .523"
Wall thickness = .029"

Now, how long should I let it soak in the Hoppe's?

Joe

[darkwater]

That would be this thread: http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=30310

[Ysabel Kid]

A day or so? That should duplicate a heck of a lot of exposure to Hoppes in "normal cleaning".

[Hobie]

I'm betting that the solvent "softens" the plastic and the pressure from the mag spring against cartridges "bumps it up". I doubt simple exposure to solvent will swell it like a sponge...

[Mike D.]

A simple answer to this perceived problem would be to toss the cheap plastic follower and replace it with a steel one.

[J Miller]

darkwater,
Thanks; I suffered a CRS moment and just couldn't find it.

I'm betting that the solvent "softens" the plastic and the pressure from the mag spring against cartridges "bumps it up". I doubt simple exposure to solvent will swell it like a sponge...

Hobie, you are probably right, but since this one is out of the rifle I'll have to fondle it to see if it feels softened any.

A simple answer to this perceived problem would be to toss the cheap plastic follower and replace it with a steel one.

Mike, this little experiment is a result of Cimarron Red's comment in the thread above:

<snip>
The reason for replacing the stock plastic follower is that over time with exposure to cleaning solvents it is likely to swell. This swelling will then lead to feeding problems.

I've already replaced the plastic follower in my Marlin with one from Brownells. Works slick, just like it should.

So, I put the follower in the Hoppe's last night at around 8:40PM so I'll check it tonight about the same time and see what's what.

Joe

[Mike D.]

Ah, I see. I replaced the yellow plastic follower in my Rossi with a '92 Winchester one.

[Old Time Hunter]

What material is the Hoppe's # 9 bottle made out of?

[Hobie]

What material is the Hoppe's # 9 bottle made out of?

A different plastic or glass.

[J Miller]

18 hour update: Marlin follower soaking in Hoppe's #9

I was going to wait until tonight and do a 24 hour update with photos.
I forgot to take a photo at the beginning, sorry about that.

OK, to answer Old Time Hunter's question, the bottle the Hoppe's and follower is in is an opaque white 35mm film capsule. I can sort of see through it, and it's all I had handy.

At 2:00 I looked at the capsule from across the room and the Hoppe's in it has turned ORANGE. This indicates to me that the Hoppe's is dissolving the surface of the follower. I took it out and felt it and it didn't feel any different than it did before.
By that I mean it didn't feel soft or softer than before. But you can see it's a lighter shade of orange than when I put it in.

So the Hoppe's IS having an effect on the plastic.

Next report about 9:00 PM tonight.

Joe

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Hi Joe,
Thanks for bringing this up. It's made me get off my duff and take these pictures.

The first pic is a 44/45 cal follower from a Marlin 1894. As you can see on the lower left it is warped. I don't know why but it is.



Next is a 38/357 follower that came out of a Marlin 1894 CAS rifle ( on the right). This rifle was shot so much the end of the follower was worn away. Also, the one on the left has a flat spot on the right side. I don't know if it was made like that or not.



I also have no way of knowing if either was the results of cleaning with gun solvents. I do know that you won't have this problem with a metal follower.

Now, for the shameless plug. My stainless followers for the Rossi 92's also work in the Marlin 1894's.

[1894cfan]

After you guys going on so much about plastic followers, I just had to check my 1894c. Mines not plastic, it's blued steel! Came from the factory that way. If you want to do the checking, the S.N. is 10131xxx.

[J Miller]

Steve,

Your first pic isn't coming up this morning. I saw it last night though.
The follower from my 2005 Marlin 1894 .45 looks like the orange ones in your second pic instead of the red one in your first pic. Kinda looks like Marlin used what ever they came up with rather than a consistent product.

1894cfan,
I'm not sure what the switch over date is but these plastic followers are one critical part that should never have been cheapened up. The factory will probably claim the colored part is a safety feature because it lets you see there is no rounds left in the magazine. I doubt it really works that way.

Joe

[1894cfan]

1894cfan,
I'm not sure what the switch over date is but these plastic followers are one critical part that should never have been cheapened up. The factory will probably claim the colored part is a safety feature because it lets you see there is no rounds left in the magazine. I doubt it really works that way.

Joe

More than likely it was a cost thing. If they really wanted to make it more visible, they should have anodized the steel ones instead! Now Marlin owners have to pay out of pocket for an part that should have been left alone.

Greg

[adirondakjack]

Not only is NKJ right, but the plastic followers also get imbedded with dirt, fouling, rust and what have you and end up dragging in the mag tube. The SS follower tends to scrub the crud out of the way without getting dirt or rust imbedded in the surface. Of course ya should give the mag tube a good cleaning now and again, but many don't.

[J Miller]

TEST COMPLETE:

After 48 hours soaking in the Hoppe's #9 I took the follower out and remeasured it. Here is the before measurements again, and then the after measurements:

Original dimensions:
Length = .945"
Dia A = .550"
Dia B = .523"
Wall thickness = .029"

After 48 hours in Hoppe's: dimensions:
Length = .947"
Dia A = .554"
Dia B = .527"
Wall thickness = .033"

As you can see soaking this plastic follower in Hoppe's did have an effect. It has increased in size a measurable amount.

IMG_0023.JPG

Soaking in the Hoppe's #9

IMG_0028.JPG

After soaking in the Hoppe's the follower did not feel spongy or soft, but it was a bit lighter in color and slicker.

So, it appears that Cimarron Red's comment that the plastic followers would swell with exposure to solvents was correct.

A very good reason to replace them with a metal (I like stainless steel) follower.

Joe

[Cimarron Red]

J Miller,

Thanks for running this test. For a number of reasons, the plastic follower is an idea whose time should never have come!

[darkwater]

Awesome...thanks for the test and the results!

[Derailed]

I would be willing to bet the plastic is susceptible to temperature as well. Being so close to the barrel after a few rounds it would expand and create issues.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Good stuff, joe.

[aussie]

Now it's due to this type of post that I like this site so much......good work Joe.

[kimwcook]

Thanks, Joe. I need to check my 94 as I honestly don't recall what's in there.

[Washita]

1894cfan,
I'm not sure what the switch over date is but these plastic followers are one critical part that should never have been cheapened up. The factory will probably claim the colored part is a safety feature because it lets you see there is no rounds left in the magazine. I doubt it really works that way.

Joe

More than likely it was a cost thing. If they really wanted to make it more visible, they should have anodized the steel ones instead! Now Marlin owners have to pay out of pocket for an part that should have been left alone.

Greg

You can't anodize steel. "Anodizing" is a form of aluminum oxide. Steel oxide is called "rust."

[Phideaux]

Great work Joe! Where else can you get this kind of information.

[AJMD429]

INVALID TEST !!!

There was no 'control' group, Joe, but since you did such a good job on the first part, I'll help you out.

For the 'control' portion of the test, you need to soak some stainless or other metal followers in the Hoppe's as well, then measure them.

Do as many as you can. Maybe all the ones you have. . . and buy a couple extra if possible.

Afterwards, post the measurements, and then, for your own safety, I've arranged to have them safely disposed of, so you can just send them to me, and I'll make sure they don't get used in anyone else's guns, since even the stainless ones might be somehow altered and rendered unsafe by the Hoppe's.

Specifically, I'd recommend testing two stainless ones in .357, two in .44, and one in .45 caliber, for a start.

Seriously, it is fun stuff like this you just can't get from gun magazines or at the local Gander Mountain.

[J Miller]

AJMD,

I'm not sure soaking the metal ones would do anything but clean them up. But I did wish I had some of the yellow and red ones like NKJ had in his pics. It would have been very interesting to see which ones swelled up the most.

Tomorrow night I'm going remeasure the follower and see if it's returned to it's original size. Been airing out since last night.

As for sending you all the test samples I'll get right on that.

Joe