Gun cleaning products

[MikeyCNY]

Time for the age-old question... what do you use to clean and lubricate your firearms?

Since I first got into guns, I was a believer in FrogLube, and I do still use it. It seems to do a really job at both cleaning carbon off and making the gun actions nice and slick. However, as my collection has grown over the years, I'm starting to find that FrogLube is too expensive. I have very little on hand, so if I have to suddenly clean a lot of parts I'll run out. The price has doubled or tripled since I first got it (should have stocked up but at the time I didn't have many firearms).. Also apparently you can't use it along with regular oil-based lubes because it "dissolves" the oil.. haven't tried myself but that's what some sites say.

I prefer "non-hazardous" cleaning products, since I usually get hungry when I'm cleaning, and while I do wash my hands there's always that chance... Otis seems to have a new "bio-based" product, can't find much information/reviews on it though.

I have Hoppes #9 for 'emergencies' but find the scent too strong.

I've thought about picking a new product and testing it on a single firearm to see how it fares before buying a large amount. Just wondering what everyone prefers.

 

[togmaster]

Balistol for cleaning and Mobil 1 for lube.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Mobil One for both cleaning and lube.

Mobil One as Gun Oil

 

[ManrisFrack]

I'm using Shooter's Choice for the chamber and bore first. Then I'll follow with FrogLube for everything. I like the paste because you can put it where you want it and as you spread it, your body heat will be enough to make it flow a little.

Froglube won't touch the copper fouling so that's the reason for Shooter's Choice.

I've picked up some Balistol mostly for the muzzleloader. Froglube on that one seems to drastically lower point of impact for clean bore shots.

 

[Criticalt]

A quart of 5w30 Mobil One is cheap and will last you a decade.

 

[Snappo]

Time for the age-old question... what do you use to clean and lubricate your firearms?

I started a zillion years ago with Hoppes #9, which was the defacto standard. A decade or so ago I graduated to Remoil and Browning Oil. Last year I moved up to G96.

 

[RandallOfLegend]

Ballistol and Hoppes #9 are what I "stock". I generally use liquid Ballistol dispensed from a lab wash bottle. Cuts down on the fumes. I occasionally use whatever lube I happen upon when I am in the mood (LSA-0158, Rem Oil, CLP, Mobil 1).

 

[Snappo]

Ballistol and Hoppes #9 are what I "stock". I generally use liquid Ballistol dispensed from a lab wash bottle. Cuts down on the fumes. I occasionally use whatever lube I happen upon when I am in the mood (LSA-0158, Rem Oil, CLP, Mobil 1).

Some gun store owner told me that G96 was the all-in-one high technology deal. So far so good. I hated doing the Hoppes #9 to clean, then drying everything with patches, then going to the Rem Oil. The idea of one-stop-shopping really appealed to me. I also just gave up on rods and brushes and went to the boresnakes. I soak the front and the brush area and leave the other 90% dry and run through like 3 times.

 

[cedmer]

Synthetic motor oil 0w40 both cleaning & lub

 

[Bananabandit]

I get Hoppes 9 by the gallon. Honestly forgot what I used for lube..since I mainly shoot Glocks and pump shotguns. I need to clean out my cleaning stuff. I'll post back in a few months.

 

[Catskillkid]

Right now I use Hoppes but when I run out I'm going to try some different products. Ballistol and Froglube have always intrigued me.

 

[Greywolf224]

As covered in another thread, I dont clean them but maybe once a year. Hate it. But when I do a shot of carb cleaner for my stainless guns followed by Synthetic motor oil.
Still have my bottle of hopps #9 thats over 20 yrs old that I bought at Jamesway.

 

[Darth]

Ballistol.

Nothing else.

 

[BerettaGuy]

QMax20 Period!

 

[Depick]

Ballistol and elbow grease

 

[Acer-m14]

I stick to the old hopp's #9 .. i like the smell ... and so does the friends wife hehehe ..... next cleaning time i'm geting a sexy hug .. LOL

 

[mosquito]

I use Inox MX-3 oil and Inox Mx-6 grease! I also use Mil-comm MC 25 cleaner!

Skeeter

 

[MilesTeg]

I use hopps with sewing machine oil. I'm looking to upgrade too. I was really looking hard at fireclean but after more research I'm not sure that's a good option either.

Side bar topic/question. What tools does everyone use for cleaning. Like special cloths brushes patches etc.

 

[Darth]

Toothbrushes, cleaning rod (1 piece carbon fiber. 1 for rifle, one for pistol), bore snakes and patches.

 

[dwa12479]

I use Ballistol for anything and everything. And it leaves my reloading room smelling nice.

 

[RandallOfLegend]

I use hopps with sewing machine oil. I'm looking to upgrade too. I was really looking hard at fireclean but after more research I'm not sure that's a good option either.

Side bar topic/question. What tools does everyone use for cleaning. Like special cloths brushes patches etc.

Fireclean is likely just Canola oil. Some good info online about the topic.

Why sewing machine oil?

 

[MilesTeg]

Fireclean is likely just Canola oil. Some good info online about the topic.

Why sewing machine oil?

Ya that's what I just found out about fireclean. Until today I only happened on the positive articles so I was believing this was the next revolution. After doing a few hours of reading on fireclean I don't know what I believe. So I'm still at loss on what to try next.

As far as the sewing machine oil. The reason I use it is because that's what my father used. It works well not great as a lube. It really doesn't clean and I have had some rust issues. In all fairness the rust issues might be the matte finish guns. It's only surface rust and wipes clean. When I was younger it wasn't a big deal. Now I have a full time job a side home business wife house and baby I find myself not remembering to wipe down my guns every month. This is what is pushing me to seek something better than what I'm currently using.

 

[mickw]

Ballistol...and Ballistol alone. It works like charm...

 

[Marine Cpl]

As far as tools go, I just use a boresnake, toothbrush, and a rag. Since I have started using Mobil One, the toothbrush doesn't get really used as much as before. It's mostly a wipedown.

 

[minderasr]

Ballistol for cleaning everything, lubricating Glocks and rifles. A combination of Wilson Combat Ultima-lube II and TW25B for lubricating the 1911s.

 

[NYGuns]

I use Ballistol for cleaning, Hopps for lubricating.

 

[Cleck]

Mobil1 5w30 oil for lube, brake cleaner, and ram rodz for the pistols. I need a better cleaner for the AR's

 

[Phauxtoe]

CLP and Wilson COmbat Ultralube for 1911 rails

 

[Prudii]

Hopps #9 and Mobile 1. I've got a CF rod and patches. I need to pickup some ballistol.

 

[redtail]

Nobody uses the old Hoppes/Kroil 50/50 mix for cleaning besides me ?
Mobil1 for lube here too.

Penetrating-Lubricating Oils