Old Grumpy
Member
I'm interested in what you have had good luck with. For years I used Hoppe's #9 and had acceptable results. Last time the bottle ran dry I picked up another brand to try. There are thousands on the market with each one claiming to be the best.
Last time I used the cleaning kit I was not happy with the amount of dirt seemingly left after numerous patches had been run through the bore. I had shot several hundred rounds using various charges of 2400, W231, Titegroup, and Unique. The charges went from extra light to some real magnum rounds. So the pistols were very dirty and had lots of carbon built up. I would dip a patch into the solvent cap to soak up some cleaner. I would then run the patch into the bore very slowly. The first patch turned almost black. The bore was then scrubbed with a copper/bronze bore brush. Lastly a second clean patch was run into the bore with a little more cleaner on it. I then take clean dry patches and run them through the bore, hopefully until they come out clean. problem was they were still coming out "dirty" after more than 10 dry patches.
Upon observation the patches did not show any flakes or solids, just a "dirty stain". I believe the solvent/cleaner was just not cutting the grime.
What are the better solvents out there? I shoot mostly cast loads but I do use enough jacketed rounds to use a copper cleaner every now and then.
Will I get better performance out of a solvent/cleaner only or should I look for a cleaner/lubricant? I lubricate my weapons with high quality lubricants so having a cleaner with lubricating properties is not a requirement.
Am I expecting too much from my cleaner? Should it take a dozen patches or more to get one to come out clean (after a bore brush and solvent soaked patch)?
Grumpy
Last time I used the cleaning kit I was not happy with the amount of dirt seemingly left after numerous patches had been run through the bore. I had shot several hundred rounds using various charges of 2400, W231, Titegroup, and Unique. The charges went from extra light to some real magnum rounds. So the pistols were very dirty and had lots of carbon built up. I would dip a patch into the solvent cap to soak up some cleaner. I would then run the patch into the bore very slowly. The first patch turned almost black. The bore was then scrubbed with a copper/bronze bore brush. Lastly a second clean patch was run into the bore with a little more cleaner on it. I then take clean dry patches and run them through the bore, hopefully until they come out clean. problem was they were still coming out "dirty" after more than 10 dry patches.
Upon observation the patches did not show any flakes or solids, just a "dirty stain". I believe the solvent/cleaner was just not cutting the grime.
What are the better solvents out there? I shoot mostly cast loads but I do use enough jacketed rounds to use a copper cleaner every now and then.
Will I get better performance out of a solvent/cleaner only or should I look for a cleaner/lubricant? I lubricate my weapons with high quality lubricants so having a cleaner with lubricating properties is not a requirement.
Am I expecting too much from my cleaner? Should it take a dozen patches or more to get one to come out clean (after a bore brush and solvent soaked patch)?
Grumpy