Favorite gun cleaning solution

There are dozens on the market and everyone has their own favorite.
There is no "best" or generally agreed upon favorite.

You just buy one and try it. If it works and you like it, you're done.

It sounds like you have all you need. FWIW, I've found Ed's Red to work very well, getting match barrels squeaky clean.

Ed's Red works very well. I use synthetic ATF instead Dexron II.

I mix my "Ed's Red" with diesel fuel, ATF fluid, KOIL and Hoppes # 9. I tried it in my sonic cleaner with temp set to 100 F and it really cleans them up, inside and out. I would like one of the really big ones but the cost is too high for me.

+5 on Ed's Red. Just seems to work.
Stu

I've always used a soaking and scrubbing in mineral spirits, followed by a good spray down with brake cleaner.
Followed by a wipe down and lube with a thin oil where ever it's needed.
Seems to do a very good job.
A test on plastic and similar materials is always a good idea to avoid damage.
So far there's only been one gun that's suffered.
No harm, just dulled the finish on one part some.

If you are mixing up Ed's Red you are ahead of most. Good stuff. I made up a batch 3 years ago and am still using it. When it's used up I'll make some more.

Good stuff.

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I do not use anything unless I need something in the worst way. By that time nothing works. I purchased three 10 inch chucks, one an A10 W/S, another was a Cushman and the other was a Buck. I purchase the chucks from an iron and metal yard in Yonkers NY from a 55 gal barrel full of chucks and water. I do not believe the chucks had ever been oiled and or lubed.

Nothing worked, I have two of the chucks apart, the third will have to wait.

F. Guffey

Favorite gun cleaning solution (?)

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My all time absolute favorite is very hot soapy (Dawn Dishwashing Liquid preferred) water with clean hot water rinse. Haven't found anything that beats it.

Gun care ...

Right now, I'm rocking some liquid Froglube CLP, www.froglube.com .
I've used it on my firearms with + results since 05/2014. It's designed-developed by a US Navy specwar veteran. Froglube is safe, non toxic, easy to use, long lasting. It's not cheap but you only need a small amount.

I also use Ballistol. It's handy for the range or in the field(hunting, fishing, camping). Like Froglube, it's CFC free, non toxic, has no fumes or strong odors. I've cleaned weapons and gear with Ballistol since 1997 with + results.
It can be hard to get in some locations. I found a local source but it's online too: Brownells.com MidwayUSA.com .

I'd add that Ballistol offers wipes/packets too but these small wipes can have a lot of Ballistol, .
If you want to wipe off a pistol at a gun range or do a quick cleaning of a hunting rifle, the wipes might be a lot. The gun could slip or slide out if you use excessive amounts of Ballistol.

Other gun care brands I'd check or try out include: Gunzilla, Eezox, LPX/Mpro7, Slip2000, Weaponshield, Rand CLP.
For my gun barrels I now use Hoppes synethic #9, but I might try Fireclean or Breakthrough Clean solvent. Breakthrough Clean gets a lot of + reviews online.

You know, I really don't worry about any gun whose owner is concerned about getting it clean. He will find a way.

It's those folks who want to do the minimum maintenance who I don't ever want to buy from. Lousy English, but I think you get the drift.

Ed's Red, Hoppe's, Ballistol, Frog Lube, Kroil, Breakfree, etc. etc. Use 'em all, use 'em frequently and thoroughly, and good on you. Clean your guns, check them for rust often, fondle them, love them. You know you did good when the patches come out clean.

Screw the guys who don't worry about cleaning them at all.

i like kroil better than hoppes. i think it cleans faster.
i use wd40 in a pinch.
i've used break free to flood the gun when everything is so disgusting the gun needs complete disassembly, like after using thunderbolts. that works but it leaves too much oil.

Xylene.

True. Ed's Red is the cats meow.

I've used everything from Hoppe's #9, to Eezox and the stuff that came with my cleaning kit, some kind of gun "conditioning" oil. Right now I'm using CLP and I'm happy with it. It does the job of cleaning and leaving a light coat on parts that need it. After an extended romance with various greases, I've been using Gun Butter to finish on all my pistols and everything seems to work fine. It makes cleaning the gun easier too. KISS.

About once a year I use JB Bore Compound & Kroil, and Bore Tech CU2 copper remover, and when I clean during the year I use Hoppes #9 & Kroil.

why hoppes plus kroil? i thot they did the same thing?

"Xylene". Seriously? I used to work with Xylene and it is VERY nasty stuff and complete overkill for gun cleaning. So is brake cleaner and carb cleaner. I have used nothing but military spec CLP for 30 years and it does a very good job. It will not cut copper fouling though - for that I use Sweet's 7.62 solvent.

susie, what you said makes a lot of sense. I could stop using the Hoppes and use Kroil with the brass brushes and it would do the same thing. I like to leave Kroil in the bore because it may loosen any remaining carbon buildup.

Drail, I'm not so sure about using Sweets. The maker of Douglas barrels won't honor any warranty work if Sweets has been used. That doesn't say much for the product.

Prolix... (For clean and lube)

And Hoppes #9 as needed

Neither bother wood, plastic or rubber when wiped away properly

KG-1
after many, many,... many years I find that nothing compares
to it in cleaning out a barrel.

Now if you have real copper problems, finish by swabbing some
KG-12 down the bore and letting it sit for 3-5 minutes.
Dry patch it and you're done.
No scrubbing.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1078310377/kg-kg-1-carbon-remover




ps: Neither of them smell or eat your floor finish.
Consider them both to be Wife "pre-approved"

Pro Shot 1 Step - it doe snot have a strong odor - hard to find tho...

Ed's Red all the way. Been using it for years. I leave out the Acetone, it's primary function is to dissolve plastic wad residue in shotguns and I have too many polymer pistols to take that chance. Stuff works like nobody's business.