9 VS. 40

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eddiememphis

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No, not another pointless caliber debate.

Hoppes #9 versus WD-40!

The sense of smell is closely linked to memory.

I was cleaning a gun today.

The smell of Hoppes #9 evoked many memories, mostly from when I was a little kid and learning about guns. It always makes me think of Dad's 30.06.

Spraying WD-40 into a rag to do a final wipe on the firearm brought back other gun and non-gun related memories, such as when I worked at a jet ski shop and we would spray the electronics with Water Displacement formula 40 to try to keep them working while doused.

What memories instantly pop into your head when you catch a whiff of either or both?
 
WD40 is a water displacement cleaner. It does have lubricating and cleaning qualities but if you leave it on a gun it will gum up. Far from the best as a solvent. Did has decent rust prevention qualities.

Hoppes No. 9 is a solvent. That's it.
 
Neither for me. WD-40 has plenty of uses around the house for me. On a gun isn't one of them. And I cannot stand the smell of Hoppes 9.
 
The smell full of memories for me is BreakFree CLP.
On guns, cars, or any random squeak around the house, Breakfree was my dads go-to.
I still have a partial gallon of the original formula that I use sometimes. It's great stuff, but I tire of shaking it.... so I get lazy and use Tri-Flow
 
The first gun I bought actually recommended BreakFree CLP in the manual. I never really cared for the smell, but I have used a lot of it over the years...
 
No, not another pointless caliber debate.

Hoppes #9 versus WD-40!

OK. You got me. Click bait.


What memories instantly pop into your head when you catch a whiff of either or both?

The memory that the smell of Hoppes No. 9 evokes is that of my early years in firearms, age 10 or so, when I didn't know better to not use Hoppes products (or, really, when Hoppes was all we had at Mall-Warts.) Thankfully, those days are gone, and there are many products that are much better, such as BreakFree CLP and Birchwood Casey. I can't believe Hoppes is still in business.

The memory that the smell of WD-40 evokes is that of my early years of turning a wrench, late teens, early twenties, when I didn't know better to not use WD-40 (or, really, when WD-40 was all we had at Mall-Warts.) Thankfully, those days are gone, and there are many products that are much better, such as AeroKroil and LPS. I can't believe WD-40 is still in business.
 
WD40 reminds me of bicycles as I used to always have a can around my house growing up and I had a couple different bikes and that's what I used on the chains and gears.

I've always like the smell of Hoppes, smells like Kero to me. I know full well there is better stuff but I use it because I bought it cheap and it does what it's supposed to do. I would never dream of using anything from Hoppes aside from their solvent. The solvent is great, but the lube is low quality garbage.
 
WD-40 is primarily kerosene. It's not an oil or lubricant. Applied to bearings it washes the oil and grease off. It's also volatile - it evaporates. As a final application on a firearm, it doesn't protect long term.

It has its place in the shop - I use it - but you need to know when and where to use it.

If I'm cleaning a gun and need an aerosol spray to clean deep down in the works I use Remoil. It has the cleaning and lubrication properties I expect. For a final application of an oil on a firearm, I use a quality gun oil, which for me lately has been Lucas Gun Oil.
 
Smell is the strongest thing that hits us and triggers memories. They found that out (I think) when digging into PTSD not too long ago. I can tell you yea, more then sound or seeing something, but sound can do it too.

Not related to gunz, but the smell of a rotting dead deer, or any other larger critter will really send my brain into overload.

As to gun smells, I enjoy the smell of Hoppes I bought some of the "elite" I think, and while it is a "better" cleaner, just does not have the same smell.

All the smells around guns send me to different places, the smell of a newly opened thing of powder, the guns seem to have a smell themselves. Old cars have a smell.

Smells and memories go hand in hand, enjoy them.
 
Smell huh - well, Ballistol is what I use the most.

It can be described in a lot of ways - dirty socks, cat vomit, outhouse, pig farm.....those are a bit extreme.

& yes great misdirection on the thread title!
 
The "aroma" of Hoppe's No.9 takes me back to those times when my brother and I use to clean our guns after a trip to the indoor range we use to frequent. Me being the wheel gun enthusiast and him being a semi-auto pistol aficionado, well it didn't take me long to figure out that he could tear down and clean 2 or 3 of his pistols before I could scrub-out and finish up one of my revolvers!

This revelation would later appear to be the beginning of my path to the "Dark Side" of self-loading pistols!
 
To answer your actual question, WD-40 smell brings to mind working in the garage at my parents’ home as a kid. And my own now. I love it; I could live out there.
 
When it comes to ammo prices I scratch my head, yeah 9mm is the cheap ammo but I'm not letting that be my deciding factor in caliber choice.

I like .380 for pocket carry and .40 for a belt gun, in either category the 9mm would be a distant second because it doesn't come in a "real" pocket gun and I want at least a 180gr bullet from a belt gun.
Any time now. Yup.

Hope that makes sense, I only read the first word of your post. :D
 
WD-40 is a poor choice for gun cleaning. CLP or 1/2 dozen others are superior. I’ve used Hoppes #9 for 60 years (the original formula was fantastic) it is my go to solvent. CLP, Remoil, kroil, Ballistol are good for lube and rust prevention.
 
It happens every time.

I ask what memories does the smell of WD-40 evoke and a quarter of the responses are- WD-40 sucks and it is the worst thing ever. The company should be bankrupt and anyone who likes the color blue is a dolt.

Apparently, if any firearm is placed within a 37 foot radius of the vile liquid, it will be rendered unusable. Continued exposure and not only will the gun melt, but the next seven generations of your family will be born with low IQ's, flippers, or both.
 
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