Is Breakfree CLP only suitable for AR, or suitable for any firearms?

[ShootAndHunt]

I heard lots of recommendations about using Breakfree CLP to clean the AR, and when I use it on my Bushmaster, I found it is very wonderful: I don't need to use solvent then oil anymore, just one time wipe and the job is done. The effect is also impressive, it seems the CLP lubricate the rifle very nicely, the action is much smoother.

Then I am thinking of using the CLP on all my other firearms: AK, SKS, and several bolt action rifles. However, I never see somebody use CLP on these rifles, is there a reason? Could I safely use CLP on all my firearms? or CLP is just designed for a specific type of guns?

Some one also said that one should never apply CLP to certain parts of the gun, such as the barrel and gas tube, because the Teflon inside the CLP might not be good at these places, is this true?

Thanks,

 

[Onmilo]

CLP is fine for all firearm applications.
I prefer M-Pro 7 CLP to Break Free CLP because the M-Pro stuff isn't as toxic but both will work fine.

 

[Mulliga]

Some one also said that one should never apply CLP to certain parts of the gun, such as the barrel and gas tube, because the Teflon inside the CLP might not be good at these places, is this true?

No. CLP works fine practically everywhere. That said, never clean the gas tube on your AR - and clean the carrier key carefully.

EDIT: Okay, there might be some finishes I don't know about that might be harmed by CLP somehow...I've just never run into them.

 

[Chipperman]

I clean all of my firearms with CLP.
Never had any problems with it.
Fine on metal, polymer, wood.

 

[GlocksRock]

"That said, never clean the gas tube on your AR - and clean the carrier key carefully."

Could you please explain to me why there is a need to carefully clean the carrier key? I'm new to AR's and don't fully understand this.

 

[Houndawg]

The carrier key gets nasty. The gas tube stays relatively clean because the gas pressure blows the soot out of it, only to get collected in the carrier key, at the base of the bolt recess in the carrier, and on the bolt behind the gas rings. This is why many people say that the AR15/M16 "sh?ts where it eats".

After a shooting session run a solvent wet pipe cleaner in and out of the carrier key. Notice how black it is. If you push the pipe cleaner far enough in, it will come out of the gas port in the bolt recess and you'll probably see a glob of carbon getting pushed out by it. If you don't clean out the carrier key, it'll eventually get clogged up and the rifle will malfunction.

Speaking of Teflon, it has no practical use in lubricants. It was originally added as part of the PTFE craze started by Slick 50, who started putting small amounts of PTFE in their wonder-oil to get people to buy it. I don't think Break-Free uses it in their CLP anymore.

 

[Sistema1927]

Use it everywhere, and when you are done, make sure to put a dab behind your ears and on your wrists. It drives the chicks wild!

 

[Chris Pinkleton]

Just make sure to keep it away from some plastics -- I uglified the outer casing of the scope on my grampa's old .22 pretty bad with a sloppy application of CLP. It made the plastic turn white and bubble up.

Works fine on my Glock, though.

 

[chevrofreak]

Breakfree isnt suitable for use on any firearm.

 

[campergeek]

I bought a small can of Breakfree CLP a few months back to add to my cleaning supplies. I got to liking the stuff so much that it ran out quickly and I now use a big can. I generally use it for cleaning all actions (except the SKS) and for wiping down the metal after cleaning. Bores still get solvent.

Today I found yet another new use when I winterized my outboard (1967 Merc 200 - runs like a top). Once I had the internals taken care of I prepared to wipe all external surfaces down with a thin coat of oil. Looking around, I didn't have any 3-in-1 or light oil on hand, but I noticed the can of Breakfree on the workbench. Now the old outboard is showroom clean & shiny, thanks to a Breakfree wipedown.

 

[shoobe01]

Some people are worried about teflon streaking in the barrels of precision rifles. This kills accuracy, somehow. I have no idea if this is true or not, but as its more or less impossible to get the teflon out of a barrel I never let CLP touch my PSS. But I use it everywhere you ought to (ie, not the gas system) on my various autoloading devices.

 

[SteelyDan]

Sistema, if you think the babes like BreakFree, try putting a little Hoppes behind your ears...

On a more substantive level, no, CLP is not the best choice for cleaning, lubricating, or protecting. But for one item that does all three, it's pretty darn good. If the SHTF, I'd grab my little 4-oz. bottle of BreakFree and be happy to have it. In any other scenario, I'd use other stuff for my guns, except that I do use the CLP for my AR, just because, um, I do.

 

[ShootAndHunt]

I generally use it for cleaning all actions (except the SKS)

Why not SKS? too cheap for using the expensive CLP on it?

 

[c_yeager]

If your lazy (like me) or cheap (also like me) you will get a whole lot of mileage out of CLP. Its not the BEST at anything really. But, it does an adequate job of just about everything. You could get by for a long time with CLP as the only chemical in your bag. If you have the coin or have really high standards you could buy seperate products for each cleaning/protecting/lubricating task you have and do MUCH better than CLP. Personally, with the exception of getting lead out of a barrel I have never felt the NEED to buy anything else.*



*this is only since i have decided that i don't care to have the cylinder face of my revolvers all nice and shiny. CLP is NOT up to that task.

 

[MrMurphy]

CLP is the cleaning equivalent of duct tape. Not the best at any one thing but quite useful for nearly everything.

Black Talon rounds were black because of a Teflon coating to aid lubrication and feeding. Teflon won't hurt your bore. It's slippery, that's all.

I've used up like five cans of CLP on M16s and AR's, another can on several AKs, and probably three cans on all my other guns. Never had a problem.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

The issue with Teflon/PTFEs in CLP was that in high heat, the breakdown of PTFE creates a caustic by-product that can etch the rifling. It isn't a huge issue; but it was enough that the military no longer uses CLP with PTFE (Breakfree stopped offering it to the public as well around 1998).

So unless you have some six year old cans of Breakfree lying around (I know I do actually), don't worry about it.

Like the others sais, Breakfree is a so-so solvent, a decent lubricant, and an excellent protective coating. Other specialized products can usually outperform it on one of those three; but few do so well at all three.

I've been using Breakfree since 1988 on all my guns with no trouble at all. It will work just fine. I recently switched to SLIP 2000 Gun Lubricant (actually a CLP product) though because I have found it better than Breakfree on all counts.

 

[campergeek]

Why not SKS? too cheap for using the expensive CLP on it?

One of the first things I learned about breakfree was that it has a tendency to get everywhere - and that the greasy film left behind is very persistent (something I consider a good thing in most cases). However, when I got my SKS I read up on all of the conventional wisdom, including that the firing pin should not be lubricated. I try to keep the pin on mine clean & dry, and keep the breakfree can - or any other lubricant - a safe distance away.

Okay, maybe saying I don't use breakfree on the SKS isn't entirely true now that I really consider it. I'll wipe the outside of the bolt with my trusty oily rag, which is pretty well saturated with breakfree by now, but I won't spray the stuff on directly.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Breakfree is so-so, but it tends to get mix with the carbon and get gummy after awhile. I prefer using Mobil 1. It keeps the carbon fouling in suspension.

 

[artherd]

I have heard the same thing with regards to CLP down the bore of a precision rifle. Infact, I use nothing but a brush down my precision (ie, sub 1 MOA) rifle.

I use TW-25B on most of my guns now (very nice dry lube that picks up nearly nothing.) Never down the bore, as I belive it does contain powered PTFE.

 

[870]

I like MrMurphy's comparison of CLP to duct tape.

I use it for all my guns and love it.

Last year while drilling a hole I realized that I didn't have any cutting oil handy, so I grabbed the CLP and it worked beautifully. I have found another use.

870

 

[chevrofreak]

RileyMc, I too use Mobil-1 on many of my firearms. I've found that Mobil-1 will also remove more dirt from my bore than Break Free will.

 

[Lucky]

Thanks for the tip on Slip 2000. Bartholomew do you know if there is any point in getting the EWL version?

 

[Jackal]

Hell, I use it as after shave....

 

[Dr. Dickie]

CLP is outstanding as a protectant. I usually scrub with ATF, rinse with WD-40 (just as a cheap organic solvent), apply a final spray of CLP to clean off the WD-40 and protect the surfaces, then grease what needs lubrication.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Thanks for the tip on Slip 2000. Bartholomew do you know if there is any point in getting the EWL version?

I haven't used that version. My understanding is that while it exceeds the requirements for CLP on the LP part, it doesn't remove at least 80% of the fouling (the requirement for the C part) consistently.

One thing I have noticed with the SLIP 2000 is that you need a heavier application of the Gun Lubricant product to get the same use you would with Breakfree CLP. It lubricates just great initially; but it doesn't seem to last as long in use. It also works better when applied to a clean surface with no lubricant on it than it does if you apply it over CLP or some other product.

My records for use are 800rds in a day with Breakfree, 420 rounds in a day (started short stroking due to fouling at this point until more lube was added) with SLIP2000 in a rifle that had been using Breakfree, and 596 rounds over two weeks in a rifle that saw nothing but SLIP 2000 (still running fine when I finally cleaned and relubed it after the second range trip).

One nice advantage to the SLIP2000 though is easy clean up. Carbon wipes right off most surfaces and it doesn't leave a ton of crud/baked on crud behind like Breakfree.