Have used Hoppe's #9 for many years. Changed over to using Hoppe's Elite because of spray bottle and no odor. (I understand M-Pro 7 worked to develop Hoppe's Elite?)

Have an older revolver I purchased and it had lead build-up. After multiple cleanings with Elite I was still getting dirty patches. Last night I used the #9 and finally look to have removed the lead build-up.

Any opinions on which works the best ?

(I do use the M Pro-7 gun oil now which I like.)

VaTom

The old formula of Hoppes worked better than the stuff they sell now. For fast lead removal, invest in a Lewis Lead Remover. Brownells sells them. They are a fine mesh copper screen that will literally drag the lead out of the barrel. I wouldn't be without one.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

To remove lead from a barrel is simple , easy and cheap . Go the Ace Hdwe , Walmart , Kmart etc and get " Chore Boy " pure copper scouring pads . Cut a patch , wrap it around your bore brush and start scrubbing . On the first pass down the barrel you will feel the bore brush going very roughly . Usually within a couple of min's , or less you have pulled all the lead out and the bore is shiny clean . Do NOT buy a substitute to " Chore Boy " as most are made of steel with just a copper coating . Chore Boy is what the house wives have used for yrs to clean their copper cook ware w/o scratching it .

Funny you should bring this up. I have used MPro7 for several years, but last Friday, tried some Hoppes #9 after shooting a couple hundred rounds of lead reloads. Hoppes worked much better on the residue than MPro7 does. It feels slicker on the metal too. However, it does not do as well cleaning the carbon deposits on the cylinder face. But that is really not the issue. I may use it more often.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

The Lewis Lead Remover can't be beat! Followed up by a patch with J&B Non-Embedding Bore Cleaning Compound! (also available from Brownells, and Ebay).

I like the smell of the original Hoppes # 9.

On a side note, I had a bunch of sticky gook on a knife blade from cutting open a few boxes that were taped shut. Used one Q-tip dipped in Hoppes #9 and the sticky stuff literally rolled off the knife blade.

In GENERAL...... older products do work better just because the EPA, OSHA, DEC etc. was not all over them like today. Not saying that the less lethal and more environmentally friendly chemicals are a bad thing, but the old stuff definitely works better. Just use them wisely and preferably outdoors if possible.

That said....... for HEAVY Lead build up I would recommend using a Lewis Lead remover or the Lead-a-way cloth that can be cut into patches to fit any barrel or cylinder. As far as I am concerned, these two items will work better, faster and a lot more efficient than any chemical solvent I have ever tried.

While I do not use it much anymore, I still have a few bottles of good ole #9 on the shelf for a once in a while olfactory treat.

I've gone to MPro 7 for most cleaning. I never let my guns get dirty enough to see a difference. The Lewis Lead Remover gets the barrel as clean as the day it left the factory. I chuck a cleaning rod into my drill with a bronze brush for the chambers. Must faster than the lead Remover tool for each chamber.

But I always follow up with a pass of Hoppes #9. Guns just don't feel clean to me if I don't smell Hoppes.

Thanks to all for your responses. When Elite wasn't getting the job done I dug out my old bottle of #9 and went to work with a bore brush. Finally got a clean patch!!

+1
#9 could be used as cologne (real women can't resist it).
The elite, not so much...