"I don't like Hoppes #9" and other unpopular cleaning opinions.
- Thread starter stevekl
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Agree with DagoRed and Sniper5.
Just the smell of Hoppes makes me think of cold, silent, mornings, whispered conversations and the never-to-be-forgotten sound of bolts closing on brass, in real steel guns. The days when firearm parts moved with a quiet sliding sound followed by a reassuring solid click and the evening cleaning meant the smell of Hoppes..
Just the smell of Hoppes makes me think of cold, silent, mornings, whispered conversations and the never-to-be-forgotten sound of bolts closing on brass, in real steel guns. The days when firearm parts moved with a quiet sliding sound followed by a reassuring solid click and the evening cleaning meant the smell of Hoppes..
Deltaboy1984
Member
Hoppes #9 will be cleaning guns when the young man who started this thread is dead and Gone.
Reminds me of evenings enjoying the warmth of home, with maybe a hot chocolate, cleaning my Dads and my shotgun after we spent the day in a duck blind. Still today when I am out early enough on a cool fall morning to see the sun rise, I get taken back to those days. All the money in the world can't give me a happier or better time in life.
fireman 9731
Member
After reading all of these posts I have come to the conclusion that people only use Hoppes because they think it smells good.
ROBBY.1911
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compared to brake cleaner, carb cleaner is greasy.
c919
Member
Lately I have really come to enjoy the use of GunScrubber and Mobil 1 in my firearms.
However, I still really like Hoppes for the bore.
And the smell ain't that bad.
Hell. In my family, when a boy turns 16 he has to takes a shot of flamin Hoppes before he is considered a man.
However, I still really like Hoppes for the bore.
And the smell ain't that bad.
Hell. In my family, when a boy turns 16 he has to takes a shot of flamin Hoppes before he is considered a man.
musick
Member
While I wouldnt use Hoppes as a cologne, the smell is not that bad (use a fan), it works great and is cheap. It has (in part) kept all my arms in tip-top shape. I will continue to use it a solvent and Pennzoil Platinum motor oil as a lube. Cheap and effective combo IMO.
I do have a problem with Hoppes.
If you don't get enough of it out of the bore, it will drain down into the action when you put the gun in a safe. This is especially true for break-action shotguns.
I do use Hoppes, but I use a lot of things, including CLP, Outers Foaming Bore Cleaner, Brakleen, Shooter's Choice Shotgun and Choke Tube Cleaner, and a few other things I can't think of right now.
Brake cleaner is fine if you have only the metal parts of a gun, and they're really gummed up. You can avoid disassembling a receiver, for example.
However, you don't want it anywhere near paint, wood, or plastic of any kind.
If you don't get enough of it out of the bore, it will drain down into the action when you put the gun in a safe. This is especially true for break-action shotguns.
I do use Hoppes, but I use a lot of things, including CLP, Outers Foaming Bore Cleaner, Brakleen, Shooter's Choice Shotgun and Choke Tube Cleaner, and a few other things I can't think of right now.
Brake cleaner is fine if you have only the metal parts of a gun, and they're really gummed up. You can avoid disassembling a receiver, for example.
However, you don't want it anywhere near paint, wood, or plastic of any kind.
So here's what I do:
step 1) Buy a can of harsh ass brake cleaner from Autozone or Walmart or wherever.
2) Spray the gun parts with the harsh ass brake cleaner. This will destroy and humiliate any lubricant, powder residue, dirt, grit, grease, or anything.
3) Apply your lubricant of choice.
The problem with your cleaning regimen is it won't remove all carbon, lead, or copper fouling on the firearm. You need something like Hoppe's to do this.
step 1) Buy a can of harsh ass brake cleaner from Autozone or Walmart or wherever.
2) Spray the gun parts with the harsh ass brake cleaner. This will destroy and humiliate any lubricant, powder residue, dirt, grit, grease, or anything.
3) Apply your lubricant of choice.
The problem with your cleaning regimen is it won't remove all carbon, lead, or copper fouling on the firearm. You need something like Hoppe's to do this.
jerkface11
Member
Pour it out and replace it with Sweets.
EvanWilliams
member
Growing up I thought guns smelled that way on their own. I guess every gun I ever handled as a kid had been cleaned with #9!!!
That Birchwood Casey bore scrubber stuff is the same thing as brake parts cleaner. I have used it on guns for years. I soak in hoppe's and then scrub then get rid of it all with brake parts cleaner. Then I add Rem Oil.
You walk into some gun shops in Ala and ask for anything other than Hoppes or Break Free CLP you get funny looks.
That Birchwood Casey bore scrubber stuff is the same thing as brake parts cleaner. I have used it on guns for years. I soak in hoppe's and then scrub then get rid of it all with brake parts cleaner. Then I add Rem Oil.
You walk into some gun shops in Ala and ask for anything other than Hoppes or Break Free CLP you get funny looks.
coloradokevin
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I love this thread!
I can see both sides of this issue:
1) I grew up with Hoppes, and it really does have the nostalgia aspect going for it every time I smell the stuff.
2) I hate that it leaves an oily-ish residue when I clean.
3) I hate that my hands smell for days after I clean with it!
4) It seems to work well enough, and I don't mind the smell normally (though the description of the smell provided by the OP made me laugh).
I can see both sides of this issue:
1) I grew up with Hoppes, and it really does have the nostalgia aspect going for it every time I smell the stuff.
2) I hate that it leaves an oily-ish residue when I clean.
3) I hate that my hands smell for days after I clean with it!
4) It seems to work well enough, and I don't mind the smell normally (though the description of the smell provided by the OP made me laugh).
I'm a traditional non-conformist
I clean the bore with iced tea in the summer, hot black coffee in the winter.
When I'm done I drink Hoppe's #9 iced or hot, depending upon the season.
Brake cleaner (and spray carb cleaner) is more common in the shooting sports than you may realize. Millions of shooters use it.
But it doesn't clean copper fouling, so you might consider a copper cleaner (Barnes CR-10, Copper Klenz, Rem 40-X, etc.) then flush it with your brake cleaner to get it all clean and dry, then oil it.
I clean the bore with iced tea in the summer, hot black coffee in the winter.
When I'm done I drink Hoppe's #9 iced or hot, depending upon the season.
Brake cleaner (and spray carb cleaner) is more common in the shooting sports than you may realize. Millions of shooters use it.
But it doesn't clean copper fouling, so you might consider a copper cleaner (Barnes CR-10, Copper Klenz, Rem 40-X, etc.) then flush it with your brake cleaner to get it all clean and dry, then oil it.
"Boretech Eliminator" for normal cleaning of guns firing jacketed bullets.
"KG12" for really stubborn cases of copper fouling.
"Lewis Lead Remover" for lead fouled barrels followed by "Boretech Eliminator".
"Eezox" for general lube, storage and corrosion protection.
"Weaponshield" as a gun oil.
Do a Google and check out these products, they are light years ahead of anything else I have used over the past 50 years.
"KG12" for really stubborn cases of copper fouling.
"Lewis Lead Remover" for lead fouled barrels followed by "Boretech Eliminator".
"Eezox" for general lube, storage and corrosion protection.
"Weaponshield" as a gun oil.
Do a Google and check out these products, they are light years ahead of anything else I have used over the past 50 years.
counterclockwise
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I only drink it with a dash of vermouth and a jigger of vodka, shaken not stirred.
travellingJeff
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- Feb 5, 2007
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The gentleman in the AGI videos, I forget his name, recommends on the M1 Garand using Simple Green (or Extreme Simple Green) to degunk the oxidized cosmoline. Works for me.
After that, I use Tetra Lube, which doesn't smell bad and is a grease not an oil. Works for me as well.
After that, I use Tetra Lube, which doesn't smell bad and is a grease not an oil. Works for me as well.
stillaftermath
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- Jul 18, 2009
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I was baptized in the stuff, I think. I built sand castles from Hodgdon as a toddler, and was slathered in cosmoline if it looked like rain out.Indiandave, when I first read your post I could have sworn I read
"I cleaned my first kid with Hoppe's 9,".... funny things just the thought of the stuff does to some folks.
I turned out fine. Rust-free with a silky finish and smooth action.
searcher451
Member
You don't like Hoppe's No. 9?
You think that it smells bad?
Blasphemy. UnAmerican.
Not only is it time-tested, not only does it work great, but you also can use it as an aftershave lotion.
You think that it smells bad?
Blasphemy. UnAmerican.
Not only is it time-tested, not only does it work great, but you also can use it as an aftershave lotion.
THE DARK KNIGHT
Member
I clean my guns with WD-40, Dish rags, and bore snake
xmanpike
Member
I have recently been using Hoppe's Elite Bore Gel. No smell, and the best cleaner I have used hands down. Takes copper out better than anything else I've used. Then I use #9 and then lightly run a patch of CLP or Hoppes Elite Gun Oil down the barrel, always to wipe clean before shooting.
Even though I have switched I still take a tsp of Hoppes #9 in the morning and at bed time just so it oozes out of my pores throughout the day.
Even though I have switched I still take a tsp of Hoppes #9 in the morning and at bed time just so it oozes out of my pores throughout the day.
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