Bore Cleaners

[hackberry]

Anybody have any suggestions for a bore cleaner besides Hoppe's # 9? I have used Hoppes for years, but I was wondering if there was something else out there that you guys like. I have never tried stuff like CLP or Breakfree or any of those. I'm just a Hoppes/Rem Oil guy. I don't suppose there is anything more efficient than Hoppes, but sometimes I get tired of pulling patches through waiting for a clean one. I am a little OCD about a dirty bore.

[kmckinnon]

Goid question hackberry. After reading internet claims and reviews and watching utube videos I still wonder what's best. I suspect the answer is "It depends."

I began to look at bore cleaners when I began using my AR15. Cleaning its chamber and bore is a bigger project than cleaning my Shield 9. Right now I'm using Hoppe's or Breakfree CLP on both.

[Stumpkiller]

I've been very happy with Barnes CR-10.

Copper fouling turns the patch blue. Alternate patches and nylon brushes until the patches are not turning blue, then oil with a protectant like B-C Barricade.


For anything with lead contacting the bore I use Shooter's Choice and every so often J-B Paste.

[ShooterGranny]

I keep an impregnated lead removal cloth and cut small bore size patches to use after I've used the Hoppes. It never ceases to amaze me how much black "stuff" is removed by those patches, but I do wind up with a very bright and shiny barrel bore, and then I run a lightly oiled patch through as a final step. That's the only way I can get that ring inside the barrel really clean.

NOTE: Be extremely careful with those lead removal cloths because they will remove bluing in one wipe! And wash your hands very thoroughly after using them.

[OldVet]

Last time I cleaned a bore, he screamed like banshee and swore he'd never annoy me again.

[John W in SC]

For general cleaning I use home-brew Ed's Red minus the acetone, plus a bit of elbow grease. For a carbon scraper I use a case from a rifle cartridge, with the mouth flattened. Dewey rods.

John W in SC

[LimaCharlie]

I use M-Pro 7 products. They also make the Hoppe's Elite products.

http://www.mpro7.com/
http://www.hoppes.com/hoppes-elite

[elmacgyver0]

Lately I have been using Kroil.
But I do have a lifetimes supply of military bore cleaner.
I follow that with LSA Weapons Oil.

[Stripesdude]

I made some Ed’s Red once. It’s kerosene, automatic trans fluid, mineral spirits, and acetone. It seems to work better than anything store bought, but it will eat plastic if left on it for too long.

[ctr]

Been using Hoppes for nearly 50 years. Rem Oil for over 30. Use on everything but frontstuffers. See no reason to change.