nerd-with-a-gun
Member
Which is better for gun cleaning? Or does each have it's own place?
Break-Free or Hoppes #9 ?
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franconialocal
Member
Do a search. IMHO this topic has been totally beaten to death...and then some.
nerd-with-a-gun
Member
I just did a search on break free or hoppes and didn't find anything relavent.
mljdeckard
Member
Hoppe's #9 is a bore solvent. It is made specifically to dissolve residue from the inside of the barrel. It is NOT a lubricant. When I use it, I make sure it is removed completely before I add anything else.
Break free is the military's CLP, for clean, lube, and protect. It does an .....ok job at all three. What we use it for in the army for cleaning specifically, if you have a dirty rifle, soak the guts in the stuff and let it sit overnight, it does a good job of drawing out carbon from the metal. But, if you say it's clean to turn it in, and then add CLP again, it will KEEP pulling dirt from everywhere in the rifle, you will never get it to stay clean. It's best as a lubricant, I used it for a long time after I got out of the army.
Now I use gunscrubber to remove carbon from non-plastic guns, when I feel that the bore needs cleaning I use Hoppe's, and I use Mobil 1 5w30 full synthetic for lube.
Break free is the military's CLP, for clean, lube, and protect. It does an .....ok job at all three. What we use it for in the army for cleaning specifically, if you have a dirty rifle, soak the guts in the stuff and let it sit overnight, it does a good job of drawing out carbon from the metal. But, if you say it's clean to turn it in, and then add CLP again, it will KEEP pulling dirt from everywhere in the rifle, you will never get it to stay clean. It's best as a lubricant, I used it for a long time after I got out of the army.
Now I use gunscrubber to remove carbon from non-plastic guns, when I feel that the bore needs cleaning I use Hoppe's, and I use Mobil 1 5w30 full synthetic for lube.
REAPER4206969
Member
Both.
nerd-with-a-gun
Member
Thanks, I will use both. Being a relative gun newbie I appreciate all of the help I can get from this forum.
I am a total newb myself, only been shooting and cleaning for about 3 years and more liesurely than I'd like too. I love to clean 'em almost as much as I like to shoot 'em, and I'm always looking for better ways to do both. 
Right now I use Break Free on all my pistols, plastic and metal. I like the ease of use and that I can safely apply it to everything and then just scrub, wipe, lube. A few days ago I bought Gunscrubber for my SP101 and 1911 and have yet to use it. The carbon build up on my SP101 in particular kills me, and I've been using wadding polish lately on it but it makes me really nausious... 
Always looking for better products...
Right now I use Break Free on all my pistols, plastic and metal. I like the ease of use and that I can safely apply it to everything and then just scrub, wipe, lube. A few days ago I bought Gunscrubber for my SP101 and 1911 and have yet to use it. The carbon build up on my SP101 in particular kills me, and I've been using wadding polish lately on it but it makes me really nausious... Always looking for better products... Hatterasguy
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I have had good luck with both brands. #9 is a bore cleaner, Break Free cleans everything else.
Dip your patch's in #9 and run them through the barrel.
Dip your patch's in #9 and run them through the barrel.
CLP does a very poor job of dissolving built up crud in the bbl. That is what a good quality solvent is for, ie. (Butches bore shine, Sweets, etc) As far as a final wipe down before storage, thats as far as I trust CLP such as Breakfree. Hoppes is OK for a solvent in a pinch, but there are much better alternatives.
Try removing copper fouling with breakfree and you will see why a true solvent is recommended.
Try removing copper fouling with breakfree and you will see why a true solvent is recommended.
The Bushmaster
Member
Hoppe's #9 is a trade name and the three best products by them is #9 Nitro Solvent, #9 Gun Lubricant and #9 Benchrest Copper Solvent. All are good products and far surpass brake free (which is a automotive product). Hoppe's have been around for a long time and are a "proven" gun cleaning supplier...
I use Hoppe s 9 eversince i got into guns. The ones back in the 90s smelled horrible. The ones today are a different formula for some reason, i guess they made some changes .
Lately i made the Ed's Red formula which is so simple. A home brew bore cleaner is the way to go . It lubricates the bore and cleans it as well . To cut corrosive effects from surplus ammo, use the water first and followed with Hoppes 9 or Ed's Red. Problem solved. The secret is not to overdo the cleaning or the brush / rod will ruin the rifling faster. As long its clean and lubricated, its good for the next range session.
Lately i made the Ed's Red formula which is so simple. A home brew bore cleaner is the way to go . It lubricates the bore and cleans it as well . To cut corrosive effects from surplus ammo, use the water first and followed with Hoppes 9 or Ed's Red. Problem solved. The secret is not to overdo the cleaning or the brush / rod will ruin the rifling faster. As long its clean and lubricated, its good for the next range session.
mcdonl
Member
OP - I use #9 because the chicks dig the smell.
Also, I learned that by doing an advanced google search with thehighroad.org as the domain you get better results then the on-board search tools. I have been spanked by the net nannies for not searching before too. Nothing personal.
Also, I learned that by doing an advanced google search with thehighroad.org as the domain you get better results then the on-board search tools. I have been spanked by the net nannies for not searching before too. Nothing personal.
HoosierQ
Member
I don't think Break Free is an automotive product. Are we confusing the often recommended brake cleaner for removing grease and oil prior to finishing and other tasks?
Break Free is good but some times you need something like Hoppes to get the grunge out. Let's say you clean your guns often, you'd probably do just fine with Break Free. Cleaning an old, dirty gun, might do better with Hoppes or other solvents.
Break Free is good but some times you need something like Hoppes to get the grunge out. Let's say you clean your guns often, you'd probably do just fine with Break Free. Cleaning an old, dirty gun, might do better with Hoppes or other solvents.
Butch bore shine and sweets are hard core copper removers, and I don't use them on a regular basis (after every shooting session). Hoppes will remove copper, you just have to let it sit a bit inside the bore. It's not as aggressive as the others (butch or Sweet), but I don't need the really harsh and aggressive cleaners on a regular basis.
Hoppes can (and should) be used to clean all parts of the gun, not just the bore.
But whatever works....I guess it really doesn't matter. As long as it get clean.
Hoppes can (and should) be used to clean all parts of the gun, not just the bore.
But whatever works....I guess it really doesn't matter. As long as it get clean.
DMK
Member
I use Hoppe's #9 as a solvent to clean the bore and action, then follow up with BreakFree CLP as gun oil.
Brake cleaner works well as a Gunscrubber substitute.
Brake cleaner works well as a Gunscrubber substitute.
CamoCustom
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HEY! I wear rubber gloves while cleaning! Just because human hand pores are little doesnt mean that your hands cant get messed up! I use the purple/blue nitrile powder free gloves....
CLP and Hoppes#9 for me too! I also use hoppes#9 oil for my hockey skate bearings, and the CLP for the exterior of the bearings as a rust inhibitor
CLP and Hoppes#9 for me too! I also use hoppes#9 oil for my hockey skate bearings, and the CLP for the exterior of the bearings as a rust inhibitor
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