Hoppes Elite vs. Hoppes #9

[Michael Courtney]

In the middle of giving all my firearms their annual cleaning when I ran low on Hoppes #9 Powder Solvent and Hoppes #9 Copper Solvent. When I hit the sporting goods store to buy more, the Hoppes Elite equivalent products caught my eye. They claim to work more quickly, have no petroleum distillates or amonia, and are relatively safer to use and scent free. So I bought a bottle of the Hoppes Elite Gun Cleaner and the Hoppes Elite Copper Terminator.

My main motive in rifle cleaning it to retain and restore accuracy, so my focus is on the bore. (A toothbrush and action cleaner take care of everything else.) So for years I've done the usual: wet patch, 100 strokes with wet bore brush, dry patch, wet patch/ repeat until clean routine with the Hoppes #9 powder and copper solvents. This works well and has always restored accuracy, but it sure takes a lot of iterations some times.

So has anyone tried the Elite versions of the Hoppes cleaners? Will it save me time or is it just marketing hype? Or am I the guinea pig here who is trying the Hoppes Elite products first? (At least they didn't call them "tactical").

Michael Courtney

 

[blackhawk2000]

It's the same thing as MPro 7 from what I understand. I bought some of the gel stuff. I never really used it on anything really dirty, except for a blown out sewer pipe M44. Didn't get it clean, but I guess nothing really can. My AR would be a good test bed to see how it works, but so far, I've only used Breakfree CLP on that. It definately won't stink up the place like #9, but #9 really only bothers my wife. I think it should come in cologne form

http://www.mp7.com/

 

[30Cal]

Haven't tried the Elite stuff, but I'm not unhappy with standard #9. I'm a big fan of letting the solvent do the work--minimizes my opportunities to damage the bore with a cleaning rod. I wet the bore and brush 10-20x, then wet patch it again and let it set at least 15 minutes, but usually 6-24 hours before going back with dry/wet patch cycles (again, 6-24 hours each).

Don't ever dip a bronze brush into your solvent bottle--copper solvent can only dissolve so much copper, so you shouldn't wear it out by feeding it brushes before it even gets into the barrel.

Ty

 

[SwampWolf]

100 strokes? I must be pretty remiss in my barrel cleaning endeavors! Unless the tube is really dirty, I guess I'm more of a soaker, then a stroker. I've always had this nagging worry about over-doing things. To the point, I've used both Hoppe's renditions and I honestly couldn't tell any difference-though there may well be. I like Hoppe's BenchRest the best.

 

[Logan5]

I've been using the Elite #9 equivalent alongside the regular #9, and as far as I can tell they're about the same in terms of cleaning effectiveness. The difference with the Elite is mainly that it seems to not evaporate as quickly and soak into your hands, lungs, and general area where you're cleaning your guns. Also, handy spray bottle.

 

[TheotherMikeG]

Blackhawk2000...

Getcha some Sweets 7.62 Solvent for that M44. It'll eat through that old corrosive copper that never seems to leave the barrel of a Mosin.

The smell of Hoppe's #9 still comforts me.

 

[Kamicosmos]

Hm. I'd be interested in trying it for the No Scent part. I like the scent of #9 as much as the next gun nut, but I have a habit of cleaning guns while sitting infront of the computer or tv, and having those areas of the house smelling like solvents, well....no scent would be nice.

Does the elite stuff come in a regular bottle like #9? or only the pump?

 

[Technosavant]

I have started using the Elite gun cleaning instead of #9- I liked #9, but the wife wasn't thrilled with the smell (it IS rather persistent). It cleans every bit as well, but I am still getting used to the pump spray. The price isn't all that enjoyable either, but it works pretty well.