[Traders]

I have been using Hoppe's #9 for at least 20 years to clean all of my guns. Seems to work fine. I notice that there are many new products on the market and am wondering if there is something better.

I shoot about 100 shotgun rounds per week during warmer months.

 

[Allen-MX8]

I have used Hoppes #9 for probably over 40 years! It works for me!

However, I do sometimes use Shooter's Choice.

Allen

 

[skeet_man]

Straight mineral spirits is bar none the best firearm cleaning solvent I've come across thus far...

 

[Quack Shot]

Hoppe's #9 is pretty good for rifle and pistol bores, but Shooter's Choice Bore and Choke Cleaner seems to do a great job on shotgun bores. It's one of the few solvents that will remove plastic fouling, along with built up powder residue. Break Free in the aerosol can works good too, but not quite as well as Shooter's Choice. Kerosene or Mineral Spirits will do for trigger assemblies and other removable parts that don't have "hard" fouling. Nothing beats good old elbow grease, but these solvents makes it easier.

 

[zeroed4x]

Here's a recipe for Ed's Red. Its cheap and works as well as any of the commercial products. Some people play around with the proportions. I prefer a little more Acetone and Mineral Spirits in my recipe.


25% Acetone


25% Mineral spirits


25% Automatic Transmission Oil


25% Kerosene


This takes out all powder and plastic fouling from a shotgun.
It will remove all grease from your firearm.
I usually use straight Acetone or Lacquer Thinner before I reapply any oil or grease.


There's always shooters choice. Good stuff too but damned expensive.

 

[GBatch_25]

Ed's Red is good struff and it is inexpensive to make.

Also, I have tried Clenzoil with good results on all firearms. It's cost more then Ed's Red, but it's not toxic, won't damage wood, and smells decent.

Gene Batchelar
Wheaton, IL

 

[shooterIII]

Hoppe's #9 is not only a good solvent but it is the best smelling of them all.

 

[Allen-MX8]

Correction to my reply to this post: I use Hoppes #9 mostly for pistol bores and sometimes rifle.

The Shooter's Choice I use on my Perazzi bore--it does a good job removing the plastic fouling.

Allen

 

[philk]

#9 bore cleaner/aftershave. Love the smell.

 

[Barrelbulge(Fl)]

Hoppe's is decent but I switched to Shooters Choice years ago. Bulge.

 

[prairieviper]

Shooter's Choice and Gunzilla have both worked great for me.

 

[Unknown1]

Some of the armorers I know use this mix as a powder solvent:<UL><LI>2 parts Hoppe's #9 Plus Black Powder solvent<LI>1 part Hoppe's #9 Nitro Solvent</UL>Combine, shake and allow to stand over night. It will form a gel that stays on brushes and patches better than either one and does a darn good job on powder residue.

If you're lazy, try Butch's Bore Shine.

MK

 

[Dingelfutz]

I like Clenzoil for the same reasons Gene Batchelar does. I use it mostly for lubrication and long-term storage. For cleaning, I prefer Ballistol. Ballistol is even less toxic than Clenzoil and it cleans at least as well. Like Clenzoil, Ballistol is harmless to wood finishes, In fact, Ballistol works well as a wood polish. Ballistol also does a good job on cleaning and preserving leather...along with a whole lot of other applications. (See the Ballistol website. Unbelievable!)

Ballistol works well as a black powder/corrosive priming cleaner, too, mixed with various proportions of water. As a frugal (e-wives; CHEAP)type I like to spray a 10-to-one mixture of water to Ballistol mixture down my barrels, followed by brushing, as a first stage of bore cleaning. It is amazing the amount of "crud" that comes out. I then follow up with Ballistol, full strength. (Interestingly, a 10-to-one will still protect agains rust.)

John Schedel
Buffalo, NY

 

[grntitan]

I 2nd the Hoppes smell statement. No wonder i don't have any brain cells. LOL

 

[HC_John]

I've always used Hoppes #9, then coat everything with a light coat of Hoppe's gun oil. I just won't smell right if I didn't. (love that smell).

John MI

 

[Unknown1]

"Ballistol" is also marketed in Europe as an internal medicine for people and hot water will clean black powder residue from guns. Why does that make either of them good gun cleaners?

MK

 

[trim tab]

Cleanzoil is my choice. Does a great job and no offensive odor.

 

[DoubleAuto]

Clenzoil or Slip 2000.

DoubleAuto

 

[MAX & TOBY]

I started with Hoppes and changed to Shooters Choice and now use Montana X-treme and feel its better than all the above. JMO-FWIW

 

[zstaylor2]

Ed's Red is good stuff get the plastic out of your barrel you wont believe how much plastic is in your barrel