Will Hoppe's #9 actually remove copper fouling?

[The Bushmaster]

Whaddya mean Hoppe's #9 Benchrest copper solvent smells bad. I use it behind my ears and the ladies love it.

I've been using Hoppe's #9 Benchrest for over 20 years. I've tried other products (Sweets, Butch's and others). I keep coming back to Hoppe's...

 

[ArtP]

Some time ago I gave up on Hoppe's to remove copper. I would use Hoppe's then some JB bore paste once every 500 rounds or so.

Butches bore cleaner, if used frequently enough, will remove copper with only patches. After a longer session, a brush is necessary.

It's ammonia that reacts with copper. I'd think if you can't smell ammonia in your solvent, it's not going to be good at removing copper.

 

[Still Shooting]

Lately I've started running a series of patches. First, I run 2 patches thru the bore with Hoppe's #9. I let it sit 5-10 minutes, then run a brush 2-4 times. Next come more patches, until the powder stops coming out.

I then give the bore 2 patches with Butch's Bore Shine, and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

Next come 2 passes with the bore brush, patches 'til no more green, and another swab with Hoppe's #9 to get out the Bore Shine residue.

Then dry patches until they come out clean, a light coat of Kroil on another patch, and 2 or 3 dry patches so there's just a little Kroil left in the bore. The bores look great, copper all comes out, and the rifles shoot like new.

I clean after about 50 rds, or if I'm going to store the rifle for more than a month or so.

 

[trex1310]

I don't know about copper fouling, but it's a great aftershave.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Whaddya mean Hoppe's #9 Benchrest copper solvent smells bad. I use it behind my ears and the ladies love it.

I've been using Hoppe's #9 Benchrest for over 20 years. I've tried other products (Sweets, Butch's and others). I keep coming back to Hoppe's...

I've been using for over 2 decades as well. Works better than anything. But it Stinx! Not Shooter's Choice stench, mind you, but certainly not cologne. I'll stick to Drakkar for that thanks.

 

[zeke]

"How exactly are you guys plugging the rifles up and letting this stuff sit? Sorry, I just get a little scared about shoving something into the end of my barrel"

For soaking with # 9 ,I do not plug up and fill the barrel. Just a cardboard box with v's cut into ends. Run a soaked patch through it, and let rifle sit so barrel has slight decline. Put old pie plate below end of barrel. Maybe run a clean soaked patch throughg every couple hours. Watch the copper run to end of barrel and out into pie plate. Save the KG12 for the serious stuff.

Gravity and patience can occasionally pay off and reduce cleaning effort. Have been using Hoppes #9 for over 40 years, and it seems alot stronger than it used to be.

 

[redneck2]

I use Wipe-Out foaming cleaner. You can clean with anything like #9 as long as you want. After you are done, shoot Wipe-Out in the bore, let it sit for the recommended time, then run a couple of patches thru. They'll come out filthy.

I gave away all my other cleaners after using Wipe-Out. Shoot the foam in, swipe with a a couple of patches, and you're totally clean.

FWIW...nobody has talked about cleaning rods and guides. You should never use anything other than coated rods. Aluminum rods pick up grit that grinds on the barrel if the rod bows.

Always clean from the breech if possible and always use a rod guide to help keep the rod from bowing into the rifling.