Lots of tips/info on cleaning products, but most of them seem to be tipped towards keeping existing gun clean. In other words, focused on carbon or copper and the like.

What's your best recommendation for cleaning a factory new gun of the manufacturers grease... Break Free? Something else?

Thanks!

I know a lot of people who use solvents (like mineral spirits). Anything intended to break down grease should work. Myself, I've never used anything other than my normal Hoppe's #9 or Hoppe's Elite. Both have worked well for me. Products like Break Free and Ballistol would probably work...but perhaps may take more time and/or scrubbing...depending on where the grease is and what type it is.

I use the same stuff as I do for regular cleaning. CLP or Hopes

Old, "Number 9" and an M-16 "GI Tooth Brush"

mb

Any gun cleaner should be just fine. I like a good clp like break free.

MPro7 cleaner and their other products, for new and used, are all you need to maintain your guns. Check out their web site for additional information. Great products and recommend them to my students.

Nick

__________________
NRA Instructor\GCA Gunsmith

Clp break free

Last new one I bought (about a month ago) I removed the striker from the slide and put the whole slide into my ultrasonic cleaner for half an hour. The thick grease was only on the slide. The lower cleaned up with my normal stuff.

Fireclean, both for initial clean out and regular maintenance.

__________________
Take your time, fast. J.Hughes

If there's a lot of packing grease... You don't need to soak/drench the gun to clean it. You can get a majority of the grease out using and old rag, and a bunch of the Cheapest Q-Tips you can find, then once you have it down to a manageable amount of grease, use any of the products mentioned above.

I spray the slide with brake cleaner. Less than $3 at Wally World. Or you could purchase a can of some official gun cleaner for 3 times the price for the same results. Sanitary in 5 seconds. I try not to spray the plastic lower with this stuff. GARY

CLP cleans just about anything and is also safe to clean just about anything. It's a win-win.

A new gun gets a quick de-gunk of any heavy grease that would hinder operation. After it's first range trip it gets a thorough cleaning to remove any grease that was missed.

Another vote for Hoppes #9.

Mil-comm Mc25 Firearm Cleaner/degreaser....this stuff works great for removing oil and grease. Non-toxic and little to no odor. I use it on all of my new guns to strip the packing oil/grease off before re-lubing/oiling.

Since you are talking about cleaning. What is everyone's opinion on using WD-40 for light cleaning before putting it in the safe?? It works real good for me but I don't know long term issues, the can does list firearms in the safe to use on information. Scott

I haven't used WD-40 on firearms in years. It cleans ok, but I found that my stored guns would rust in the humidity of Louisiana after a short time when only WD-40 was used. It works good for dispersing water off a wet gun, but doesn't do well as a protectant.

Wd-40 dries out and gunks things up.Its good for displacing moisture,oiling squeaky hinges and loosening sticky locks.

For cleaning, new or "enjoyed" guns I have always used Hoppe's. It has always worked for me and I have had zero issues with it.

Go to auto parts store and get carburetor cleaner, break pad cleaner, any type auto parts cleaner, acetone, lacquer thinner or deoderized mineral spirits.... all work great and cost so much less than specialized gun cleaner/ degreasers .
WD40 isn't the best for storage, it will evaporate fairly quickly, use something that will hang onto the surface. Wax works...Mother's makes a pure carnuba car wax that makes them look good and doesn't go anywhere. Actually any good wax will do , I've used Johnson's Paste Wax with success .
Gary

Whatever you normally use for light duty cleaning. It's not packed in 50yo cosmoline or anything.

I've been using Hoppes #9 & Rem-oil for years & never had any issue's with my guns..

I also use Break Free CLP for everything. I have a couple of padlocks that kept freezing up in the winter & just plain hard to open in the warm months. I squirted a little CLP in them & haven't had a problem through early last fall all through this winter.

I came back from the range last Thursday & using just CLP it took only 8 minutes to clean the entire pistol thoroughly enough that a cleaning patch came out white both from the barrel as well as the frame & slide. But I cheated a bit. After taking the barrel out I squirted the CLP down the tube & let it sit until I had a snack & drew a cup of coffee & had a dip in my mouth. Bore brush, two passes with the patches & the barrel was clean. I also cleaned the factory grease out with nothing but Break Free CLP. That took less than 5 minutes. My M&P40C didn't have much factory grease at all. It was just about dry.

Is there a better cleaner/lube? There always is. I've heard good things about FrogLube & FireClean. Hoppe's #9 always worked in the past. Synthetic 10W30 motor oil is a good lube I've heard.

__________________
Former USN, Retired US Army

The first thing that comes to mind by using wax is the gun smoking during firing, burning the wax off. I have never used wax so I may be wrong. Scott

I've never owned a weapon that a bottle of Hoppes and a can of CLP wouldn't dress up real nice.

NC

I think he was talking about long term storage. Which when you think about it isn't a bad idea. Wouldn't work for me, I use mine too often.

Thanks for the suggestions. Can't wait to get me dirty and the new gun clean!

Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner from your local auto parts store. Completely safe for plastics. Removes grease, oil and dirt.

__________________
Armatissimi e liberissimi

Does anyone here use Frog Lube?

If you REALLY want to degrease it, use non chlorinated brake cleaner. You probably shouldn't though. That's some serious ****. Use CLP. For cleaning lubing and protecting. That's what it stands for. Honestly, you can use spit to clean it, as long as its wet and gets the packing grease off. Ballistol works wonders for everything. I mean EVERYTHING.

For new gun, Gun Scrubber (expensive, but effective) then complete relube with CLP and grease. For cleanup after shooting, CLP, Hoppes #9 and grease.

Balistol works for me.

Thank you one and all for taking time out of your day to give me your advice. It looks like the nod is going to the old school Hoppes #9 is the way to go. Scott

Eezox Best product there is cleans and lubricates but surface remains dry.

I regularly use carb cleaner to hose out my SP2022 and it hasn't fazed the polymer. I spray, scrub, re-spray and then blow it out with my air compressor, oil and grease. Done.