[Steve F]

Howdy all,

Is there any problem leaving your rifle/pistol barrels with a coating of Hoppes #9 on them?I just did this to all my firearms just a few days ago and someone mentioned that might be a problem because of the ammonia in it.Now I'm worried:( Thanks in advance:o

[bountyhunter]

There are currently two Hoppes #9 formulas being sold: the "copper solvent" has a ton of ammonia, and the older formula has very little. I am not sure I would leave any cleaning agent in a barrel for days. I soak barrels in Kroil for days, but it is pure pentrating oil and can't harm steel.

[Steve F]

Thanks bountyhunter,OK,for clarification,it wasn't the copper version,but I can't get home fast enough from work today so I can remedy what I have done here:banghead: I sure hope there will be no damage,it's probably been like 72 hours:what: Is the fix just to patch it out and re-oil with plain old Remington gun oil?

[JackM]

I've used Hoppes #9 for about 40 years now and itt hasn't hurt a barrel yet. Your chances of getting your first shot on center is much better with Hoppes in the barrel is much better than with oil. The small amount of ammonia may loosen up some copper, so you may get a green patch after leaving it in for a couple of weeks.

Bye
Jack

[dfariswheel]

I'm not sure about the copper-type Hoppe's solvent, but the old standard type can be left in the bore indefinitely.

The old type had a preservative oil as one of the ingredients, and it would actually protect the bore.

In the days before the new copper solvents, we routinely plugged the chambers of firearms, filled the bore with Hoppe's and let them soak for days.

An old timer I knew never oiled his bores. He said that the Hoppe's would continue to bring fouling out of the pores of the metal, so he just left it in there.

He did this since the 1920's and his bores were 100% when he died in the 80's.

I believe the bottle says it's OK to leave it in.

[Steve F]

Dang:cool: I feel better now;) Thanks all!

[bountyhunter]

for clarification,it wasn't the copper version,but I can't get home fast enough from work today so I can remedy what I have done here You could not possibly have damaged anything just from a few days of exposure. Even the high-ammonia stuff is disputed as to how and whether it actually damages a barrel. There is some evidence the ammonia will form ammonia salts that get into the microscopic pores of the barrel and corrode it over time (if they come in contact with water vapor from the air). Bottom line, if you use ammoniated cleaners, just run the bore with good oil on patch to drive out all of the cleaner.

[Standing Wolf]

I've been soaking revolver cylinders and semi-automatic slides and barrels in Hoppe's No. 9 for decades without encountering any problems. I typically let them soak overnight and finish cleaning them the next day. I doubt No. 9 would do as good a job of protecting a gun against corrosion as oil, but am very sure it won't cause any harm—unless the firearm is nickel-plated. I've heard the ammonia can seep under nickel plating and loosen the copper beneath it. I've never encountered that problem; then again, I own only a single nickel-plated gun, and probably don't take it to the range twice every five years.

[JohnBT]

"An old timer I knew never oiled his bores."

I never did either from the late 50s to sometime in the in 90s. Using #9 was just the way I was raised and there's no telling how long the real old guys had been doing it.

Oil always somehow seems to turn into a gummy mess in my guns. These days I use a light coat of RIG(of course I have a safe in a dark damp unfinished basement.)

John

[mete]

Ammonia compounds can cause cracking in brass ( stress corrosion cracking) so keep those cleaners away from brass.

[Jim K]

Ammonia attacks copper, which is what makes it good for removing copper fouling. But that also means it attacks brass and, if it can reach it, the copper undercladding on nickel plated guns. (Nickel will not plate to steel, so copper is applied first and the nickel plated to it.)

Jim

[1911Tuner]

I do a lot of centerfire rifle shooting, and have to also do a lot of
copper removal from the bores. I use Shooter's Choice copper solvent
for the clean up, Hoppes #9 Nitro Solvent, and dry patch. Then,
just to make sure it's really clean, I run a patch wet with Hoppes Copper
Solvent through the bore and hang the rifle upside down. I've left it
in for as long a 3 days without any harm.

I wouldn't advise leaving the high ammonia content chemicals in the
bore for very long though...Sweet's or Shooter's Choice...Even Butch's
Bore Shine has a bit too much for a 24-hour soak IMO, but Hoppes
Nitro Solvent and Copper Solvent are fine.

There will always be a place for Hoppes Nitro Solvent on my bench. It
just smells right...

Luck!

Tuner

[HankB]

I'm not home right now so I can't check it, but doesn't the label on Hoppe's #9 Copper Solvent say it's OK to leave it in the bore? :confused:

[bountyhunter]

I don't think so. Not the formula that's loaded up with ammonia.