Cleaning Products

[JoeMal]

So lets get a nice thread going of popular products to use when cleaning our precious babies

Is there a particular lubricant or brush type you like to use? Do you use different products on different guns? I usually just wipe mine down well with oil and clean the barrel with a brush, nothing special...but I know there are some pretty particular(and pricey) products out there. I wasn't sure if anyone was into them?

 

[stevelyn]

For a thorough cleaning, I don't think there is a better product for the job than MPro-7/Hoppe's Elite. I use it for cleaning everything, barrel, bolt, receiver etc. Only thing is it strips everything off right down into the pores of the metal so you have to make sure you relube and recoat all the parts before reassembling the gun. I use Break-Free CLP for lube and Bullfrog for corrosion protection.

 

[moooose102]

i have tried a ton of stuff, but i keep ending up back with hoppes #9 bench rest copper solvent. i may not need the copper solvent all of the time, but it does the job, and isn't that what really counts!?

 

[Winston_Smith]

I use Dewey tools, Hoppes, Eezox, and Sweets 7.62 Cu Solvent.

 

[Deanimator]

Bore Cleaner - Shooter's Choice powder solvent
Lube/Rust Prevention - Clenzoil
Brush - GI "toothbrush"
Patches - GI cloth patches
Cleaning rod - Dewey coated cleaning rod
Bore Brushes - Bulk brass brushes from the gunshow

 

[EvanWilliams]

Hoppes # 9. Strip the residue off with brake parts cleaner. Spray with Rem Oil.

 

[41022collector]

Bore Cleaner - Kroil Bulk in a Ultrasonic parts cleaner (best cleaning investment I ever made)
Lube/Rust Prevention - Sili-Kroil for light wet lube and over all protect Breakfree CLST
Brush - Shotgun 10 gage brush on the mag tube and electric tooth brush on all else
Patches - Custom muslin patches I make from bulk material
Cleaning rod - Teflon coated brass with a bore guide.
Bore Brushes - Shotgun Bronze bristle, Rifle SS Tornado, .22cal rifle and pistol 22 bronze, various pistols Huricane Tenex with bronze tips.

There is a sale of aero kroil going on right now. Two cans for $12 + S&H. Here is the link

http://www.kanolabs.com/google/

 

[Gun Slinger]

My "favorites"-

Cleaner/Degreaser: Shooter's Choice "Polymer Safe" Degreaser or Birchwood Casey "Synthetic Safe" Gunscrubber

Bore Cleaner/Copper Solvent: Hoppe's #9

Lubricant: Mobil 1 20w50 VTWIN

 

[something vague]

Wow, I'm amazed at how many Mobil #1 fans there are out there for gun lube. I use the stuff for my reloading press ram but have not tried it on the gun. Seems like it would make a mess as it is a bit runny for parts that need lube.

I use Break Free CLP, Tetra Gun Grease, Sweats 7.62 Cu. Solvent, Hoppe's BR #9 Cu. Solvent, Lewis Lead Remover, Lead Free cloth (to remove carbon stains on revolver cylinder) and some other stuff. I'm kind of anal when it comes to cleaning.

 

[Larry Burchfield]

Cleaners

I use shooters choice and kroil in a 50/50 mix for bore cleaner. Mobile 0w30 or 5w30 oil according to the temp. High temp grease on my rifle bolts. Either brake cleaner or carb cleaner to wash everything down with. Lighter fluid to wash and lube my triggers.
Two things of CAUTION is never leave sweets 7.62 in your barrel for more than 15 minutes and when you do wash the bore with carb/brake cleane.
And never use a teflon oil in your guns bore.
These are just some things I've learned over the years the hard way.
Larry Burchfield
SEABEES/VIETNAM/67/68/69
DAV:banghead:

 

[prickett]

I'm a convert from Ed's Red to Hoppe's Elite. That stuff really ROCKS!

Have been using Weapon Shield as a lube. It leave the action slippery smooth. And, over time, becomes even more so.

 

[seanie!]

I just use the plain old Hoppes #9 cleaning kit. The only additions I've made to it are brass brushes, a dental pick and mirror, and a bore snake(I know). I also occasionally use Weapon Wipes cleaning/lubing wipes.

 

[vettester2]

I use Amsoil full synthetic 5W20 oil !

 

[Paul D Hunter]

I have got to admit I fall for all the sales hoopla for gun cleaning products, JB Bore Paste, Kroil Oil, Rem Clean and Rem Oil, Butch's, Sweets, Breakfree, CLP products, two kinds of Hoppe's [regular and benchrest], SLP Carbon Cutter, Montana Xtreme, Smith and Wesson foam, foamy bore cleaners, electric lead and copper removers [the lead one is really spectacular if you ever buy someone else's lead bullet rifle] the whole nine yards . . . they all work, none of them have ever melted a single rifle. If you don't follow the directions, maybe you COULD melt a rifle with all of them, but I doubt it. I will be using the ones I have accumulated for a decade

 

[Gun Slinger]

Wow, I'm amazed at how many Mobil #1 fans there are out there for gun lube. I use the stuff for my reloading press ram but have not tried it on the gun. Seems like it would make a mess as it is a bit runny for parts that need lube.

Viscosity (or "runniness" if you want ) is dependent upon which oil weight you select.

For example, a 0w20 will be much thinner (~40-55 cSt @ 100F) than a 10w40 (~80-95 cSt @ 100F) which in turn will be much thinner than a 20w50 (~135-150 cSt @ 100F).

How well the oil retains its viscosity over a specified temperature range is determined by its Viscosity Index (VI). The higher the "VI", the less it will "thin" at higher temperatures.

As a "general" frame of reference, many "gun-specific" oils have a viscosity of 35-55 cSt @ 100F which is approximately (~) "equivalent" to a 0w20.

A little "experimenting", if you are so inclined, can help you find the right brand (M1 ain't the only game out there!) and "thickness" for you.

 

[avan47]

MPro-7/Hoppe's Elite for me. It really is odorless as well as biodegradeable and non toxic. It's also the best cleaning product I have ever used on my guns. For rifles, I use a good stainless steel one piece cleaning rod. The carbon fiber rods that are now available are probably just as good if not better. I also like the brass cleaning jags with the spear tips for holding the patches. Bore Tech is one excellent brand for rifle jags. Pro-Shot is the brand I use for pistol cleaning jags. I buy white (or light colored) cotten flannel by the yard and cut my own cleaning patches.