I've used Frog Lube a lot and am intimately familiar with its application.
How long does it last? Well, that's a loaded question. That will depend on use of course. If you're storing a gun, it will last many years. Just warm it up (place it in the sun) and wipe it all over. It will protect from rust as good or better than most other products.
When shooting, I've gone as far as 1,000 rounds without adding more and without loss of lubrication. How do I know? Because I could still see it on the gun.
Is it better than Hoppes? Better is an ambiguous term. Still, I like it better for two reasons. First, it's easier to clean up. Since it's non toxic, I don't worry about getting it on anything. My hands don't react to it at all and it smells good. The wife doesn't complain. Happy wife, happy life. That should be enough.
Secondly, it doesn't attract dirt or get all over your stuff. If applied properly, you stay clean too. Oil can get on things and stain them or ruin them. Frog Lube will not drip or run where it's not wanted.
To apply is easy. Start, by warming your gun with a hair dryer or just setting it in the sun for a while. Then liberally apply Frog Lube to anywhere you think you need lube. Let sit for 5 minutes. Now take a rag and wipe everything off that you can see. This sounds counter intuitive, but it really does work. You've left behind a very thin film of lube that is plenty. More than that can actually be too much for some guns.
After shooting you'll find your gun is much easier to clean. Use the liquid stuff and just put it on like normal, but remember to let it sit for 5 minutes or so and wipe it off. Seriously, it should seem like your not using enough. I can tell you that after many thousands of rounds, I have perfect confidence in Frog Lube and the method of application I just described.
