I just shot my first gun and I have the hoppes cleaner kit but I know theres better stuff out there....I been looking at Ballistol, M pro 7, Gunzilla and others not sure what to get....

I use hoppes 9 and break free. Of course I still love good old gun scrubber!

I've been cleaning with Hoppes 9 solvent since I started shooting. It's like tradition now.. There may be something else that works better, but Hoppes has never performed badly for me, so I see no reason to fix what isn't broken!

That being said, I've heard good things about ballistol.

Hoppes has been doing it right for decades and I have yet to find a cleaner that does it any better. They offer a copper and lead cleaning version. I have a couple of others on hand, but I ALWAYS finish with a pass of Hoppes #9. Guns just dont feel clean to me unless they smell like Hoppes!

I always use synthetic-safe Gun Scrubber. Nothing particularly special about it, but it does the job as well as any.

Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner from your local auto parts store is exactly the same thing only much cheaper.

__________________
Armatissimi e liberissimi

After cleaning with either Hoppes 9 or Hoppes elite I spray gun scrubber (made by Birchwood Casey) to rinse the cleaner and dirt away. A shot of compressed air evaporates the gun scrubber then lube. 15 minutes. on an M&P 9, 40, 45.

I use Balistol primarily, but use Hoppes to clean rifled barrels.

What you have is just fine.

Most of this "miracle" stuff like Frog Lube, is nothing but snake oil JUNK.

Just Clean good and lube with a good oil like ..........

here we go. Hang on everyone. Get your popcorn popping.

Hoppe's has worked well for me since 1956. There is no "better stuff out there."

__________________
USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I like the "snake oil junk"


Use whatever you think is the best for your gun, & stick with it!

+1 for Ballistol. I love that stuff

I love the Gunzilla. I think it works great as a CLP.

Gun cleaner is like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder. Only you can make that distinction from experience.

ahhhhh love the smell of HOPPIES....

My most used cleaner and lubricators are Breakfree, Ballistol, and Prolix.

For serious barrel cleaning I use Shooters Choice, and J&B Bore paste thinned out a little with Prolix.

I am also on the Hoppes, CLP and Gun Scrubber band wagon. Does great for 95%+ of what you need done.

I have used Hoppes 9 since the 50's and have been trying some of the new stuff to scrub the slide...like others have said whatever works best for you

__________________
carpe diem
one day at a time

I am a big fan of M-PRO 7 cleaner and oil. Their cleaner has no odor and can be used indoors with no danger. All their products are non toxic.

I like to clean with Hoppes and finish up with Ballistol. Both are fantastic products.

Just put it in the dishwasher (behind the plates when your wife/significant other isn't looking) Yea, that'll work.

__________________
Minimize the variables

OP, your decision tree about which product to choose is:

1. Do you want an all-in-one CLP product (e.g. Ballistol) or do you want separate cleaner and lubrication products (e.g. Mil-comm, Mpro-7).

2. If you want a separate cleaner do you want it to be water-based (e.g. Mil-comm cleaner) or solvent based (e.g. Mpro-7 cleaner). Solvent based cleaners leave a residue that should be cleaned off with alcohol before applying lubricant. Water based cleaners are needed when shooting corrosive ammo which is one of the reasons why military organizations use Mil-comm.

3. If you want a separate cleaner do you want it to be toxic and smelly (e.g. Hoppes 9) or non-toxic?

4. Will the gun be used in a high salt environment such as IWB carry during the summer months or near the ocean? If so, you want to consider CLP products like Eezox or CorrosionX regardless if your gun has a stainless slide.

I have a shelf full of everything and like CLP or Balistol for some things but have discovered the foaming bore cleaners like Gunslick are really good for copper removal and I get to avoid the ammonia based products. I also have an ultra sonic cleaner that works wonders on AR bolts and pistol barrels and brass too.

Here is a great podcast interview with an expert in firearms lubrication. For pistols he recommends the light application of a light viscosity grease on the gun slide and other parts that wear together. Of course, never apply grease to the inside of the barrel.

Podcast ? Ballistic Radio Episode 29 ? September 22, 2013 | Ballistic Radio

I'm a fan of Tetra cleaning products.
Worked very well so far for me....and the smell won't clear the room.

I learned to clean my handguns using Hoppes #9 and Hoppes Oil. I have since switched to Hoppe's Elite, so I can clean at home without disturbing the family's olfactory nerves. At least once a year, I clean using my old original routine with #9, just because.

There are a ton of products out there, and if you try a bunch, you will ultimately find what you like for yourself.

- Hoppes 9 to clean the barrel, slide, and inside polymer
- Hoppes Oil to lube the barrel
- Tetra Gun Grease for lube points on the slide
- Hoppes Silicone Rag on the exterior slide when done

Breakfree CLP was good as an all-in-one but left the firearm too oily for my taste, so I decided to try dedicated cleaners and settled on that.

I use Hoppes and clean my guns at my garage workbench. The smell remains in the garage for days and my wife actually loves it. I should probably worry because she also likes the smell of gasoline, paint thinner and most glues. Maybe I should get her into a substance abuse program. I have to admit though that I also like the smell of Hoppes.

Scent does make a difference. I use a product called Firepower FP-10. It's a cleaner lube and works great for me. Plus it smells right.
It's the same with leatherwork, there are different products used for finishing leather and they gotta smell right and do the job.
I gotta admit that sometimes while sittin' on the sofa, I'm sniffin' my guns and holsters.

__________________
Keep on Chooglin'

My wife (of 10 months) was out shopping when I got home from the range and I decided to clean my guns on the kitchen table (on a cleaning mat of course). When she arrived home sooner than I expected, I was scrambling to get out of her way and apologized for "stinking up" her kitchen. She about floored me when she said she really liked the smell of the cleaning solution (Hoppes 9) and to take my time! She also likes the smell of gasoline and other cleaning solvents. It looks like I may have found my perfect match!

Is Ballistol similar to Breakfree CLP? Can't find Ballistol anywhere around me. Someone recommended "Simple Green"....anyone tried that? I don't care for the taste myslef!

__________________
9/40FS, 9c, 9 Shield, MP22

I am not familiar with Breakfree, but know a little about Ballistoll. It was developed by the Germans at the turn of the century. It is still imported, that's why its hard to find. If you go to there website Home » Ballistol go to the "contact us" page & at the bottom right corner click "find a dealer". I used to use this stuff all the time until I discovered Frog Lube

You can get Ballistol on Amazon....

I use M Pro 7 for cleaning and Hoppes Elite Gun Oil for lubrication.....

Pretty sure Midway sells the Ballistol products. I use Hoppes for the bores and Mil-comm cleaner and their lubes for the rest of the gun. I finish with a hopes silicone wipe down of the exterior metal.

Snake oil, aka Froglube, user here.

Quite a few people satisfied with it, it appears.

How satisfied are you with Froglube? (2014)

Been using Hoppes for cleaning for 60 years. Hoppes oil and Mil-Comm TR25 grease on the slide.

Seems to work.

__________________
State of Jefferson
Jim

Gunzilla works great and you won't get fumigated. Mirachem Gun De-greaser also works great without the harmful odor.

For me, Hoppes No. 9 for cleaning my revolvers and most rifles, followed by Hoppes oil where appropriate. Semis I also clean with Hoppes, but lube with Slip 2000 with Slip 2000 grease on the rails. I use Breakfree to clean my ARs, just because I find it easier to use on out-of-the-way places, but use the Slip 2000 grease on the BCG races and cam and a healthy dose of Slip 2000 oil on the bolt itself.

Weapon Shield for me. Works great and no bad odor.

After a little solvent it's Ballistol all the way for me. Great on metal plus it's fine for the wood. I like wood !

.02

David

ps -- ok, a little Hoppes on the slide rails !

I personally have never bought into the one for everything type of cleaner,lubricant, and protectent type of products. My favorite bore cleaner is "Ed's Red" home made brew. Formula is equal parts Dexron ATF, mineral spirtits (paint thinner), and deodorized kerosene. I mix mine up a quart or half gallon at a time. Doesn't smell bad and works for most types of gun cleaning chores. Dirt cheap compared to most commercial products but used by many where price is no object such as various military marksmanship units. For heavy oil lubrication I like Corrosion-X. Also works great for long term or humid condition rust protection. For less demanding lubrication chores I have used various products with good success; ballistol, MP7, or Hoppes benchrest gun oil to name a few. I have found Valvoline semi synthetic power steering fluid to be an excellent firearms lubricant. IMHO equal or better than the above mentioned lubes. It also costs by the quart what most gun lubes set you back for 4 oz. Good luck with whatever you decide to use. Lots out there to choose from.....

We switched to Froglube and have no problems. Easy cleaned up after qualification shoots.

I love Hoppes always have and always will.If it works why change.

Congratulations on your first shooting experience!

But better stuff out there? Really? Sorry, but I have to disagree (again). I've been using Hoppe's since 1969. That's 45 years. I haven't felt the need to look for anything better. Why get on the merry-go-round of trying first one product, then another and another and another? And frankly, I've never understood this thing (a trend? a fad?) of using automotive cleaning products on guns. I've waxed every car I've ever owned. I've never waxed a pistol or revolver. Never. And mag wheel polish to clean the bore and chambers? No, just no. My gun barrels are steel, not aluminum.

When reading these discussions on clean-with-this and clean-with-that, I sometimes have to smile. Seriously, this has been talked about so much I often feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.

I suppose everyone has their favorites, every product has its adherents. I guess I'm no different, but there's nothing but Hoppe's in my gun cleaning kit. If I live another five years, I'll be able to say I've been using it for half a century. I reckon I'm set in my ways.

The other stuff will cost more, but are they better? Not really, don't buy into the hype. Hoppe's hasn't been around all these years because it doesn't work. There are no miracle ingredients that will magically clean, lube and protect. ATF, mineral spirits and kerosene will do just as good. I fell into that "must be new wonder product out there " trap when I was young and tried them all....guess what, not much new under the sun. Save your money and at least try the Hoppe's. #9 cleaner and thier low odor lube still come up as best in my book. And kerosene still works too. Great for soaking rusty things in.
Gary

While some of these wonder products are hard to find, Hoppe's 9 is available at every Wally World. GARY

Hoppe's No. 9 smells like bananas.

I love bananas.

If you're really fond of the smell. Amazon.com: Hoppe's 9 Air Freshener 3 Pack: Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XKOYHFmUL.@@AMEPARAM@@41XKOYHFmUL.

Hoppe's #9, M Pro 7 Hoppe's Elite. Depends on you, where you live, how often you shoot, just as long as you keep it clean, it will run. Try one or two and see what you like.

__________________
SEMPER FI

For deep cleaning I use Hoppe's #9. And follow it up with FireClean.

FIREClean | Home