Will it harm a barrel to Leave Hoppe's 9 in the bore? After I clean my rifles with Hoppe's 9 using a boresnake I usually just leave the Hoppe's 9 in the barrel. Will it protect the bore? I have heard that solvents can harm a bore is this true?
Hoppe's 9
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Jonny V
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Been using #9 since I was a kid and have never thought to leave it in the barrel. I always wipe it out and then use an oily patch. A solvent would evaporate and probably not protect the barrel. If you were using CLP, you could leave it in the barrel.
Carter
Member
According to my rifle's manual solvents will harm the chromed barrel. I've never thought of leaving it in the barrel on any rifle though.
Hoppe's 9 powder solvent. Part of what is says on the back of the Jar "saturate a patch with HOPPE's No. 9 and push through slowly so as to anoint all the bore, to prevent RUST".
I always thought it would protect the barrel also so I never worried about removing it from the bore. If I was putting the rifle away for several months I would run a pach of oil down the barrel, but if I was going to shoot it again in a couple of weeks I would just run the HOPPE'S and leave it at that.
Then I heard that solvent could harm the barrel. I don't know how or why I am just wondering if that is true?
I always thought it would protect the barrel also so I never worried about removing it from the bore. If I was putting the rifle away for several months I would run a pach of oil down the barrel, but if I was going to shoot it again in a couple of weeks I would just run the HOPPE'S and leave it at that.
Then I heard that solvent could harm the barrel. I don't know how or why I am just wondering if that is true?
HOWARD J
Member
I use Hoppes 9 solvent to clean the barrel. I wipe it out.
Then I use Beechwood Casey Barricade ( rust stopper) .
I have left guns in my safe for over 2 years using Barricade with NO rust in or outside.
Then I use Beechwood Casey Barricade ( rust stopper) .
I have left guns in my safe for over 2 years using Barricade with NO rust in or outside.
possum
Member
i would not leave a solvent of any type in a barrel. If for some reason my guns were going to be stored and or put away for a long time, i would run an oily patch through the barrel to protect the inside of the barrel while it was being stored. however i would ensure that the barrel was dry prior to shooting it the next time.
okiewita40
Member
Have used Hoppes #9 for a long time. The longest I have ever left in the bore was over night. That was just to help cut some copper fouling. Afterward just ran a few dry patches to dry the bore and lubed with CLP. When I was the amorer for my dept. that was all we used was Hoppes #9 solvent and CLP. And the dept. never had a problem with any weapon because of it. This includes handguns, rifles and shotguns.
I know there are those out there that say product X works better but experience is what it is. And my experience tells me that this combination works just fine.
I know there are those out there that say product X works better but experience is what it is. And my experience tells me that this combination works just fine.
Jenrick
Member
Hoppe's isn't going to hurt your barrel. It isn't going to work that great as a rust preventative either. Then again neither is CLP. A good oil will do a much better job. For cost I highly recommend plain old 10w-40w or the like. Regardless of it's lubricating ability compared to modern gun oils, it certainly will prevent rust from forming. A quart should last you a very long time.
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Col. Plink
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A clean but un-oiled barrel may rust faster than a dirty one. Solvents dry quickly and the metal is bare to pick up moisture. Oil those babies!
JohnBT
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The original forumla #9 (with cancer causing nitrobezene) will not harm the bore of a rifle or shotgun. I know because that's all I ever left in a bore for about 30 years ('55 to '85 or so.) Heck, I used to wipe down the outside of the gun with the stuff if I didn't have any oil.
I still have some of those guns, too. They're fine.
I once tried using my mother's Singer Sewing Machine oil, but that must be the thinnest, runniest stuff ever invented.
I still have some of those guns, too. They're fine.
I once tried using my mother's Singer Sewing Machine oil, but that must be the thinnest, runniest stuff ever invented.
ol' scratch
Member
Hoppies won't hurt it. For oil, I use Mobile One Synthetic. I like 15w 50. It works well, stays where I want it to and is cheap. What I do like about it is that it doesn't run out of the gun and collect in the holster like some other oils have been known to do. Heat doesn't effect it.
I believe that any copper solvent will ruin a chrome lined bore if the chrome is composed of copper/nickle/chrome layers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_plating
I have no idea if barrel chrome is composed of these layers, but I do not want to find out by having the chrome peal out. I have used solvents such as Hoppe's/Shooters Choice in chrome lined bores but I don't let the stuff sit long, and I get it out quickly. I prefer using GI bore cleaner, which is not a copper solvent, in chrome lined barrels.
I don't know if Hoppe's powder solvent will cause problems if left long. I left the stuff in a National Ordnance barrel, it pitted, but at the time I did not know anything about cleaning or storage, and it could have been due to the local salt air environment.
Just wipe any powder solvent out and follow up with an oily patch.
amlevin
Member
+1 on the Mobil 1. Nice thing about it is that I don't have to buy any gun oil. When I change oil in my truck, I just take the bottles I have emptied in the truck and let them drain the last few drops into a pan. Every oil change gives me about half a year's supply of oil for all my guns.
As a bonus, my AR-15's which I've used Mobil 1 exclusively on, show no wear and carbon buildup is easy to remove. Motor Oils are formulated to prevent rust and keep carbon from building up in engines. Someone once described a Semi-Auto as a "One Cylinder Internal Explosion Motor".
Hoppes is fine for cleaning and when it dries it does leave a slight film from the small amount of oil it contains but for me, it's not enough for rust protection, long term. On that note, another way to keep rust from forming in a bore is to shoot more often
As a bonus, my AR-15's which I've used Mobil 1 exclusively on, show no wear and carbon buildup is easy to remove. Motor Oils are formulated to prevent rust and keep carbon from building up in engines. Someone once described a Semi-Auto as a "One Cylinder Internal Explosion Motor".
Hoppes is fine for cleaning and when it dries it does leave a slight film from the small amount of oil it contains but for me, it's not enough for rust protection, long term. On that note, another way to keep rust from forming in a bore is to shoot more often
W L Johnson
Member
I've been leaving in the barrel for over 30 years now, never had a problem, and that includes gun that have been siting untouched for years.
I've never had a problem simply using gun oil. But I read about a test using nails and a salt water spray. The winners were EESOX, CLR, Kroil, and Hoppe's 9 in that order. Oil was down on the list. This says nothing about any damage they may do to chrome, and some of these are quite toxic. I can't defend it because I know little about it, just what the test results showed. (BTW, the EESOX never showed any corrosion so it was unknown how long it would protect.)
Also, it's my understanding that a dirty barrel will rust sooner because the dirt absorbs moisture and holds it against the metal, for what that's worth.
Also, it's my understanding that a dirty barrel will rust sooner because the dirt absorbs moisture and holds it against the metal, for what that's worth.
dfariswheel
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The chrome as used in gun bores is industrial hard chrome.
This is very different than decorative "bumper chrome".
It doesn't have a copper under-plate.
Hard chrome is plated directly to the steel in a special process and actually bonds into the steel.
I don't know of any standard bore solvent that will harm a chrome bore, certainly not Hoppe's.
This is very different than decorative "bumper chrome".
It doesn't have a copper under-plate.
Hard chrome is plated directly to the steel in a special process and actually bonds into the steel.
I don't know of any standard bore solvent that will harm a chrome bore, certainly not Hoppe's.
We're not talking about copper solvent, we're talking about powder solvent. However, the MSDS sheet for Hoppes #9 does list <10% Ammonium hydroxide (same as ammonia), which will dissolve copper. It is present in the powder solvent to dissolve copper fouling on a small scale, and it is also an effective solvent for a lot of hydrocarbon compounds. I've little doubt that when designing a chrome process for a gun barrel, the engineers are aware that copper solvents are likely to be used.
I consider this sort of subject to be just more of the usual fretting like that of leaving springs compressed for long periods.
KBintheSLC
Member
The only downside to leaving it in there for long periods is that you might develop greenish copper byproducts or oxides from the remaining copper residue. I doubt these will harm a hard chrome barrel, but they could theoretically scratch a standard bore. I usually let the Hoppe's soak in for 15-20 minutes, scrub with a brush, and run dry patches to clean it out. I think oil is better as a protective element than solvent. A light coat in the bore for storage...
wriggly
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I have guns that are over 35 years old, that I never oil after cleaning with Hoppes #9. I dont leave them soaked with it, I always run dry patches through the bore to dry it before putting up the firearm in question.
Hoppes doesnt smell the same anymore.....anyone else notice? I used to love it, was tempted to use it as aftershave Not anymore, it does not smell as good.
Hoppes doesnt smell the same anymore.....anyone else notice? I used to love it, was tempted to use it as aftershave
Not anymore, it does not smell as good.yeah, it used to be more oily or something....now its like they snuck some floor wax or bug spray in there. i am passing this along because it's freakin' hillarious...........
http://www.hoppes.com/products/ca_air_freshener.html
http://www.hoppes.com/products/ca_air_freshener.html
stchman
Member
Hoppe's #9 is a powder solvent, not a lubricant. #9 does a great job of cleaning and a lousy job of lubricating.
I use #9 to clean the bores, after clean my bores I use brake cleaner to flush them out, dry patches to remove all the loosened dirt, and either Rem-Oil or Hoppe's Elite oil for the bore.
While I don't believe #9 will harm your bore, it is not the best thing to used to protect the bore.
I use #9 to clean the bores, after clean my bores I use brake cleaner to flush them out, dry patches to remove all the loosened dirt, and either Rem-Oil or Hoppe's Elite oil for the bore.
While I don't believe #9 will harm your bore, it is not the best thing to used to protect the bore.
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