Hey fellas,

I just picked up some Break free CLR. I've always used good 'ole Hoppes just like my dad taught me, so I thought I'd break old habits and try something new.

I know lots of people really like the Break free and recommend it, so here's my question; Do any of you notice a discernible difference when letting parts soak over night? or is there a diminishing point of return after a few minutes or hours?
also, what application rate are you using? A quick spray or a complete soak? right now I've got my barrel soaking in a plastic baggy along with the spring slide.

I sent 200 rounds down the pipe this afternoon, and soak is dingy and dark with zero brushing or swabbing ...

I don't believe in 'miracle' snake oils, but I've seen this product for years and know lots of people like it ... it's pretty cheap too, so if it does better than Hoppes it won't be a big deal to switch ..... what do you fellas think?


Thanks in advance for your opinions and advice.

I was the same way used Hoppes #9 all my life, and still use it. I had a spray can of Break-Free CLP given to me, and tried it on one of my barrels. It does clean pretty well, and I found that I prefer to use it on just the barrel on my handguns as it is a spray can, I plug up one end of the barrel with a cleaning cloth and spray it in the other. I found it foams up really well, and with both ends plugged I let it set on a flat surface overnight. Then all it seems to need is one or two patches and it is nice and shiny clean. I still use the Hoppes with cleaning the rest of the nooks and crannies, and apparently my cleaning mat, as the last time I spilled about half a bottle of Hoppes on it--man did that stink.

Boy, isn't that the truth. Ya gotta leave the room after a session with Hoppes. Heck, even the patches I'll use will stink up the place.

That's a good idea using it as a barrel soak. I'm really meticulous about keeping my weapons clean (as I'd say we all are here) ... I was shooting that cheap Winchester™ 230gr target ammo, and WOW does it leave everything a mess.

Thanks for the reply ... I'm looking forward to seeing what an overnight soak does for me.

I have been using Break Free for many years, not as a cleaner, but as a lubricant. I still clean with Hoppes or Pro-Shot bore cleaners, but everything gets a thin coat of BF when the cleaning is done and all the solvent it wiped away.


WG840

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Freedom above all else.

I only use Hoppes in my 22s....all my 38, 9 and 45 have lead free primers and have fully encased bullets so there is no need for it..

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Don't like Break Free since they took out the Teflon. Not near as "slippery" as it used to be.

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NRA Instructor

Break Free is ok for a lubricant or rust preventer, but is not that great as a solvent. I like to use Hoppes as a solvent, Bear Grease for a lubricant, and Rem-oil as a rust preventer. If I don't have time to clean guns immediately I'll spray 'em down with WD-40, just cause its handy.

It's CLP not CLR. It is a great general use product but as mentioned not the best solvent for heavy copper or lead build up. I do not see any need to soak overnight with any product unless you have a serious problem.

If I could only have one product it would probably be CLP

I generally just use Hoppes #9 or just Kerosene to clean all the firing /carbon residue and then follow up with a few patches of CLP.

Where was it stated that the Teflon was removed? All my new bottles (Safariland) list Teflon???

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Still Running Against the Wind

I use Break Free as a lub.
My first encounter with Break Free many years ago was I used it on my new ASP baton.
Afterwards I could extend the ASP and when I held the ASP up, the ASP would close on its own. Lesson learned.

CLP won't touch copper fouling, but it does a good job of removing powder residue. It does better than hoppes as far as corrosion protection.

The best thing about CLP is that it prevents carbon deposits better than most other products,when it is previously applied.

I use Breakfree CLP for general cleaning and as a first step for rifles and pistols that are lead and copper fouled. After cleaning the usual powder fouling, I switch to Sweets for heavy copper or a mix of Kroil and Hoppes for lead. I let the Sweet's soak for 15 or 20 minutes if needed.

I hope that helps,

Frank

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sona si latine loqueris .

Breakfree is a great product and I’ve used it to clean out carbon deposits, lubricate and for storage.

I now use Eezox instead of Breakfree, as it’s just a tad bit better at corrosion protection, but is about the same relative to carbon removal and lubricating. You'll have a hard time finding anything that provides corrosion protection as well as either Breakfree or Eezox without using a grease.

The best I’ve found for copper removal is Bore Tech Cu+2 – It’s much faster and more efficient than Sweets and will remove carbon.

I only use Tetra Gun.

Tried Breakfree several years ago and noticed that it disipates when the barrel gets hot. Tetra Gun does not.

I use a just dab behind each ear, 'cause I like it better than Old Spice. Attracts like minded ladies, and repels liberals at the same time.

I really like the smell of Hoppes, and even more importantly the aroma of #9 was sure to run several of my Ex's and their moms out of the house.

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Always Stay Strong!

I use Hoppes for the first cleaning, then Break Free for the second cleaning and lub. I have found that if one applies Break Free, allows the gun to sit overnight, then goes back with a cleaning patch, lots more goo has worked it's way out. I like Break Free so much that I ran across an old gallon jug of GI issue from several years ago and coughed up the $$$ to buy it.
Steve

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Steve

I mostly use Breakfree for a lube, for cleaning I like brake cleaner for the residue and carbon build up, and good old #9 for cleaning the bore. And I too love the smell!

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

What 7P's said . . .

Plus, Breakfree stinks and I like the smell of Eezox almost as well as Hoppes! ~GRIN~

I too like Breakfree CLP well enough to buy it in the gallon jug. I use Hoppe's No. 9 for general fouling removal and one really important reason; I Like The Smell! The smell of Hoppe's never fails to bring back a very early memory of my father. He was sitting on the floor in front of his glass front gun cabinet cleaning a rifle while using Hoppe's No. 9. I was about 3 or 4 years old. I was also sitting on the floor cross legged and watching every move. I determined then that my Dad must be the best rifleman/hunter in the whole world and I wanted to be just like him. :-) ........... Big Cholla

I have used CLP ever since the Army gave me my first bottle. It will continue to clean even after you think the barrel is spotless with Hoppe's. When I shot M14 highpower, we used Hoppe's then leave the bore wet with CLP, and stand them up muzzle down. I was always amazed at how much more crud ran out the end.

Well, I gotta say ..... you fellas were right, this stuff is great. I like the suggestion of cleaning with Hoppes first and them lubricating with the CLP.

I soaked for 24 hrs (I don't think that amount of time is absolutely necessary, but it did the job)

I took some advice from some other posters in this thread and ran a few patches through the pipe after the initial cleaning and soak, and WOW, it really did bust up some gunk.

I haven't been out for a shoot since I've cleaned it, so I can't make a call on how much gunk the residue picks up, but this product will with out a doubt stay in my routine.

I noticed a big difference in the slide, it's like butta (not that it was rough before, but I can tell how the lubricants in this work as opposed to my good 'ole hoppes oil)

Thanks again for the guidance, fellas ...

Edit: Are the teflon sprays that much more effective?

Also, how do you fellas deal with copper fouling?

There is only one commercial product that REALLY removes copper that is worth the money. There are a few others that remove trace amounts but only KG12 will remove heavy fouling. This can be debated ad nausea but unless you have 10% ammonia there is nothing better.

Gun Cleaning Product Tests

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Still Running Against the Wind

My "uncle" introduced me to it many years ago. Still using it. Works more me for most general cleaning, rust prevention and lubrication. I also use the treated pape when storing guns.

rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

Sorry for bumping this but I didn't want to make a thread about it. Just got Hoppes #9 and wondering: Is it just for barrel cleaning only? I have a Hoppes boresnake so I put some on the end of that and run it through but could I use this for cleaning the bolt, etc? I borrowed my cousin's CLP before I bought #9 & Hoppe's gun oil

Jav-clean the gun all over with Hoppes, use Hoppes liberally with a copper bore brush making 8-10 passes. Then run wet Hoppes patches 3-4 times through the barrel. Follow that with dry patches till they come out clean. Last step: Run a very wet patch with CLP on it through the bore and stand the gun on its nose on some towels. You will be amazed at how much more CLP will pull out the bore in a week. Run a dry patch down the bore in a month and see what comes out This is just my method, I am sure there are other ways to skin the cat. I know this is choppy, had to type fast - I have honey do's to get done.....hope it helps.

What gun are you cleaning? You mention bolt so I am assuming a rifle. Yes you can use #9 to clean anything metal but the Bore snake will only clean a little bit of carbon and powder residue. It will not remove copper or lead. For that you need some elbow grease and a cleaning rod with correct size brush and lots of patches. Bore Snake is a novel idea but only good for a final pass or maybe a light cleaning at the range.

Then as flyfisherman stated, run some CLP through it.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Many "thank yous", guys! I had to ask because there just seems to be SO many ways to clean a firearm from very simplistic (I was taught CLP & boresnake) to more complicated ways, it gets confusing as a first time firearm owner. Looks like I'll end up getting a brush and patches then. Bummed that just the snake won't suffice, that thing is thick and has 3 brushes hehe. Yeah it's the S&W M&P 15-22 rifle, this is what the bolt assembly looks like:

I use Hoppes for initial cleaning then Break Free for lube.

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

I use Hoppes to scrub the bore. It does a good job. There are other products that do just as good a job but Hoppes is readily available and pretty cheap. I run a patch of plain gun oil down the bore after scrubbing. I use an ammonia based product for copper fouling. Over the years I have tried several of the new and improved cleaner/lubricants. They work well but are expensive. Gun cleaning is pretty simple. All you are doing is removing the powder fouling and applying a film of oil to keep it from rusting. It doesn't take much to accomplish this. I have never had any problems with this approach.

Somewhere on the net a few years back I saw a link to a test a guy did with various gun oils.

This was simply a corrosion test. He got sixteen penny nails and put them in several five gallon buckets with holes drilled in the bottom. Now a sixteen penny nail will rust if you look at it cockeyed.

He coated the nails in the buckets with various gun oils and left them in his yard. At the end of the test period the only bucket of nails with no corrosion was the one with Breakfree CLP.

It's a pretty unsophisticated test but pretty darn clever.

I wish I could find the link.