I've used Hoppe's for longer than I can remember, back when I helped my Dad clean his hunting rifle. To this day, the smell of this solvent brings back the memory of my Dad who died almost 38 years ago (far too young). At the range today I ran into a guy cleaning his handguns with CLP who said that's all he ever uses now. It did seem a lot quicker to combine cleaning with lubricating, but I wonder how good a substitute it really is. I don't think I would change in any case, the Hoppe's induced memories are too good to give up.

You "can" use CLP as a cleaner, but a dedicated bore solvent is faster and does a much better job of removing fouling.
Also, CLP has no effect on copper fouling so if you shoot jacketed bullets you still need a bore solvent to deep clean.

While the "C" in CLP is usable as a field expedient cleaner, the real purpose of it is that it keeps carbon fouling soft and allows a moving action to sweep it out of the way of the parts, allowing the gun to continue to function longer.
As a "one product does it all" CLP is great which is why the military has used it for many years as a field issue product that will maintain a firearm without having to carry more than one bottle.

Hoppe's will do a faster job of removing carbon fouling and does remove copper fouling. For that reason, a dedicated bore solvent is a faster, superior cleaner for guns.

I use Hoppes for cleaning, and CLP for the L&P part.

Like tom327 I use both. Hoppe's to clean then CLP to lube. Like you I have very fond memories of the smell of the barracks on rifle cleaning day. Boy does that smell bring back some pleasant memories. Just another pleasure to be had cleaning your weapons. Enjoy the memories of you Dad!

I use Ed's Red as a general purpose cleaner. I will use Sweat's 7.62 to remove copper fouling and CLP as a protectant / rust inhibitor.

i use hoppes to clean. CLP to protect the metal and hoppes oil or Riggs gun grease for lubing.
I also have a can of Amsoil MP in my range bag for others to use at the range.

As the d man said above.

Just about any petroleum based clean oils will remove fouling. But there are better products for each function and use than CLPs.

Keep in mind though that some ingredients are not the same in Hoppes 9 now versus the old Hoppes formulas. But it still works.

Why rush it? Why clean & lube at the same time just to save a little time? Savor it. Cleaning the guns is part of the pleasure for me. The smell has memories for me too -- I've suggested it would make a good cologne if they could figure out how to do it.

Bore and charge holes get Hoppes. The whole revolver gets CLP.

Works like a charm...

I use Hoppe's as a cleaner, Rem Oil on the oil points and CLP as a final wipe down or after I handle a "clean" gun for finger prints and the like. I also keep a microfiber rag with CLP in a zip lock bag in my range bag.

It's great stuff but not a "do all" solvent, in my opinion anyway.

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paws for friendship

If ya read an old bottle label , Hoppe's was originally meant for corrosive primers. Worked good on copper fouling too , probably , 50-60 years ago. There's better copper fouling solvents and methods today.

But I too feel gun cleaning is so much better with that unmistakeable aroma!

It takes me back to cleaning my first .22. When ya used nothing but Hoppe's No.9!


CLP stands for Cleaner , Lubricant and Preservative. It does 3 thing OK , but none outstanding. It's a trade off. It was adopted by the military because it fills several rolls.Todays firearms (M-9/M-11s, M-16/M-4s) don't use corrosive primers , chrome-lined bores don't hold copper fouling like bare steel , and they are fairly complex mechanisms with small parts made from aluminum and steel , which need a different type of lubricant than the old all-steel 1911s , Garands and M-14s.


BTW/FWIW; I use Sweet's 7.62 solvent for any surplus ammo with known or questionable primers.

I use CLP on ALL my guns. This includes crome and none crome barrels and with foreign corrosive milsurp ammo. Never had a problem. Winters here are cold and wet and summers humid. Have never had rust issues ....IF cleaned proper

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Mmmm...Hoppe's#9

I used to use Hoppe's #9 for aftershave lotion. Still dab a little behind my ears before I go out.

Not really. But I still think the stuff is great. I use it in the bore and the charge holes, lube the key points and the bore (very lightly) with Rem-Oil, and wipe the gun all over with a silicone-impregnated cloth, the Birchwood Casey version.

It's not just nostalgia, though that's part of it: Hoppe's is a tried-and-true product that has served me well for sixty years. I like stuff that I know works--can't afford to experiment anymore.

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Oh well, what the hell.

CLP does a great job of softening/removing light rust on guns and knives. For me it does a great job of preventing rust. I live on the water in Fl. and steel can rust in a day. Hoppe's seems overpriced and for a specific purpose only so I've never used it? My guns and knives are clean and rust free.

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S&W, Simply the Best!

Wheelman, I've been telling my better half for years that someone should make a Hoppes #9 air freshener. My wish has finally been granted. Too funny.

Have to ask, is it real and where did yu get it?

A mix of 50-50 ATF & K2,, Works great and cheap too ; )
Y/D

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GOD/GUNS/GUTS>GET EM ALL

Maybe Hoppe's will come out with a perfume for women. I use CLP bc Hamerli said to use it on the one I had. Used Hoppe's for years before CLP and will eventually go back to it. Love the gun smell it has. Larry

It's the real deal. Hoppe's site.

Hoppe's 9 - The Gun Care People

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CSM, U S Army(Ret) 1963-1990

Like most old timers here Hoppes reins supreme, it's been an excellent product for over 100 years (could be wrong but close). The stuff still works great and the aroma is pure nostagia.

I still like Hoppes No 9 for cleaning and I use Break Free CLP for lube.

Have to go back to Vito's original post. As a young shooter trained by my Dad (gone now these 28 years) I was in charge of cleaning the guns when we returned from shooting/hunting. Hoppes #9 was what he used growing up and it's what I used. I still use Hoppes #9 and the smell always harkens me back to those special days spent with my Dad. So I've got to admit that the nostalgia factor is a strong part of why I still use it. I do however use CLP for general surface lubrication. A good friend who was an armorer for the LAPD put me on to CLP, years ago, as it was what they used as a general lubricant on department firearms.

By the way got a great chuckle out of the perfume/air freshener comments as a young counter clerk at a local gun store asked me, when I was purchasing some Hoppes #9, did I plan on using it for perfume (he apparently did not think it of much use as a bore cleaner) to which I responded with a smile "Something like that...".

Pete