Another solvent question... for revolvers

FLChinook · January 12, 2013, 12:04 AM

I've just started collecting revolvers and I haven't given much thought to cleaning them. I just Googled the matter and was aghast to find just about everyone advises cleaning a revolver after every use. That's no problem when I just use one gun but when I take three or four, the cleanup time could eclipse the range time...

I clean my long guns in my cabin (where my wife banned the operation due to the vast number of odors involved with all the solvents. I must confess to have tried just about every solvent made and have even combined some in the search for the perfect solution.

Which brings me to my question. If I'm going to be allowed to bring my revolver cleaning back into the house where it will be so much more convenient and where it might actually get done, I need to find an almost odorless solvent that can be used by itself and that will get the bulk of the gunk off. It needs to be TOTALLY harmless to bluing. I grew up with Hoppe's No. 9 but while I love the smell, my wife does not. What's recommended?

Hammerhead · January 12, 2013, 12:11 AM

I use FP-10 for cleaning and oiling my revolvers. No odors.

4 Paws · January 12, 2013, 12:26 AM

I would think CLP would fit the bill.

FLChinook · January 12, 2013, 12:35 AM

What's the difference between Shooters's Choice FP-10 and CLP?

Hammerhead · January 12, 2013, 12:36 AM

I think they are very similar.

FLChinook · January 12, 2013, 04:31 AM

The description of FP-10 says it's a lubricant. Is it that good a cleaner? As good as Hoppe's #9...

**Mike Irwin** · January 12, 2013, 09:52 AM

Give the Mrs. nose plugs.

As an experiment a few years ago I fired nearly 5,000 lead handloads through my S&W Model 19 without cleaning.

Was still working fine when I finally broke down to peer pressure and cleaned it.

SgtLumpy · January 12, 2013, 09:55 AM

I've used nothing more than Break Free CLP for decades. No Hoppes, no nuthin' else. No odor.

Sgt Lumpy - n0eq

Gdawgs · January 12, 2013, 10:02 AM

I don't fully clean mine after every range trip either. But I always wipe mine down after every time I handle them(blue ones anyway, not stainless) because I have sweaty hands and they rust if I put them away without a wipedown. Rem-Oil in the aerosol can works great. It's a two in one, a lubricant and it contains cleaning solvents, so it easily removes the powder residue. Quick wipe down, no powder residue, no rust, and it doesn't smell.

bds32 · January 12, 2013, 10:22 AM

If you like Hoppe's, convince the wife to go shopping during gun cleaning time. Then clean up and spray some air freshner. Dump your used patches, Q tips, and other materials in the outside trash. Store your gun cleaning kit in the garage. Run a fan and open windows if necessary.

I lay down protective material, then my towels, clean with Hoppe's 9, then clean with lysol wipes just to get everything up. No complaints from the wife.

Gdawgs · January 12, 2013, 10:26 AM

Or you could try cleaning with Butch's Bore Shine a couple times, which has got to be the stinkiest stuff on the planet. She will think the Hoppes #9 is an expensive French perfume after that.

wogpotter · January 12, 2013, 11:15 AM

M-pro 7 is my choice.
Low odor, can be applied & left in to work, without you scrubbing the chemical does the work, not your elbow grease, then removed, minimising work effort & removes copper (most modern cleaners don't). Come in 3 versions powder cleaner that removes some copper, copper cleaner, a much stronger version, but still safe to leave in & low smell, & a lubricant to finish off & protect from corrosion.
Process takes 10 mins a gun, go do something else, 5 minutes a gun to wipe out & oil.

jmortimer · January 12, 2013, 11:24 AM

Most probably clean every time but many do not including a professional exhibition shooter I know of. The world will not stop turning if you don't. Check out Ballistol, Frog Lube or Gunzilla. All non-toxic CLPs, with Ballistol being the original CLP. They all work well and I can't pick a favorite. Hickock 45 really gave Ballistol a second wind which is a good thing as it is a great product.

GP100man · January 12, 2013, 02:18 PM

For a qwik clean I use G-96 (it has a vinilla smell) but for a deep cleen I use ED`s RED (keroseene smell) I do a once a yr. tear down to clean it all to the metal & take measurements for wear monitoring.

Very little grease (I like the synthetics ,no runnin when hot & no stiffinin when cold)& oil & a dry lube when possible so it does`nt attract dirt,carbon lint, hair & anything else that it may come in contact with !

For extended blue gun storage they get Dextron III ATF.

**JohnKSa** · January 12, 2013, 02:23 PM

Hoppes Elite Guncleaner and MPro-7 cleaner are both very good cleaners with very minimal odor. My wife has trouble with strong solvent odors and there have been zero complaints about these two productss. I've been very happy with their performance.

There are also some very low odor lubricants out there. Dillon Snake Oil has virtually no smell, but it may not provide much corrosion protection. Lubriplate FMO-350 AW is supposed to be very good in terms of corrosion protection and it has no detectable odor. You can buy it from a small company called Lubrikit who sells it along with another Lubriplate product, a light grease which also has little or no odor.

Carne Frio · January 12, 2013, 02:42 PM

I'm now using Gunzilla. It doesn't stink up the
place and is non toxic. It also works very well.

http://www.gunzilla.us/

Hammerhead · January 12, 2013, 02:55 PM

Quote:

The description of FP-10 says it's a lubricant. Is it that good a cleaner? As good as Hoppe's #9...

It is not a copper solvent like #9, but it cleans up anything else.

Duke City Six · January 12, 2013, 09:54 PM

Another vote for Gunzilla. Non-toxic, low odor and very effective.

FLChinook · January 12, 2013, 10:26 PM

When I looked up Gunzilla, I found the following TLF link:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265198

It looks pretty good.

FLChinook · January 12, 2013, 10:39 PM

Is there any difference in the actual product between:

Gunzilla 8 oz Pump Spray BC-10 and
GUNZILLA 4OZ TWIST TOP?

bedbugbilly · January 13, 2013, 11:16 AM

Or . . . you could strike a deal with the wife . . . no more odors from solvents if she let's you put 'em in the dishwasher when the dishes get done?

I've always used Hoppes but I have to agree with you on the odor end of it . . . fortunately I have room in the basement that I can do it in that is ventilated. I'll have to try some of the things mentioned here . . . an old dog can learn new tricks!

pittspilot · January 13, 2013, 10:22 PM

Another fan of Mpro7. Works very well and no smell.

FLChinook · January 13, 2013, 11:35 PM

I should have made this a poll. Here's the primary responses to date:

FP-10 (1)
Break Free CLP (1)
Rem Oil Aerosol (surface cleaning only) (1)
M-Pro 7 (3)
Gunzilla (3)
G-96 (1)
Hoppes Elite (1)

Everyone has their favorites and my experience is that most shooters can agree more religion and politics than about gun cleaning solvents

I'm leaning toward Gunzilla as it might be more gentle on blued surfaces... but that's just a thought

**JohnKSa** · January 13, 2013, 11:45 PM

Hoppes Elite Guncleaner and MPro-7 are so much alike that I can't tell any difference and some claim that they're basically the same product with very minor differences. That's why I usually mention them in the same breath.

FLChinook · January 14, 2013, 06:02 PM

The description of Hoppe's Elite at Brownells says it "Will remove oil-based stock finishes." Hmmmm.. I don't see the same caveat with M-Pro7 but are they really the same?

BTW, I'm kind of down on Gunzilla solely because I tried to call them with a question and got voicemail (and no reply yet). It must be a pretty small operation...

January 12, 2013, 12:04 AM	#1
FLChinook Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 284	Another solvent question... for revolvers I've just started collecting revolvers and I haven't given much thought to cleaning them. I just Googled the matter and was aghast to find just about everyone advises cleaning a revolver after every use. That's no problem when I just use one gun but when I take three or four, the cleanup time could eclipse the range time... I clean my long guns in my cabin (where my wife banned the operation due to the vast number of odors involved with all the solvents. I must confess to have tried just about every solvent made and have even combined some in the search for the perfect solution. Which brings me to my question. If I'm going to be allowed to bring my revolver cleaning back into the house where it will be so much more convenient and where it might actually get done, I need to find an almost odorless solvent that can be used by itself and that will get the bulk of the gunk off. It needs to be TOTALLY harmless to bluing. I grew up with Hoppe's No. 9 but while I love the smell, my wife does not. What's recommended?

January 12, 2013, 09:52 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,097	Give the Mrs. nose plugs. As an experiment a few years ago I fired nearly 5,000 lead handloads through my S&W Model 19 without cleaning. Was still working fine when I finally broke down to peer pressure and cleaned it. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 12, 2013, 11:15 AM	#12
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 2,058	M-pro 7 is my choice. Low odor, can be applied & left in to work, without you scrubbing the chemical does the work, not your elbow grease, then removed, minimising work effort & removes copper (most modern cleaners don't). Come in 3 versions powder cleaner that removes some copper, copper cleaner, a much stronger version, but still safe to leave in & low smell, & a lubricant to finish off & protect from corrosion. Process takes 10 mins a gun, go do something else, 5 minutes a gun to wipe out & oil. __________________ Allan Quartermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

January 12, 2013, 02:18 PM	#14
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,776	For a qwik clean I use G-96 (it has a vinilla smell) but for a deep cleen I use ED`s RED (keroseene smell) I do a once a yr. tear down to clean it all to the metal & take measurements for wear monitoring. Very little grease (I like the synthetics ,no runnin when hot & no stiffinin when cold)& oil & a dry lube when possible so it does`nt attract dirt,carbon lint, hair & anything else that it may come in contact with ! For extended blue gun storage they get Dextron III ATF. __________________ GP100man

January 12, 2013, 02:23 PM	#15
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 16,749	Hoppes Elite Guncleaner and MPro-7 cleaner are both very good cleaners with very minimal odor. My wife has trouble with strong solvent odors and there have been zero complaints about these two productss. I've been very happy with their performance. There are also some very low odor lubricants out there. Dillon Snake Oil has virtually no smell, but it may not provide much corrosion protection. Lubriplate FMO-350 AW is supposed to be very good in terms of corrosion protection and it has no detectable odor. You can buy it from a small company called Lubrikit who sells it along with another Lubriplate product, a light grease which also has little or no odor. __________________ Did you know that there is a TEXAS State Rifle Association? Check out Black Bear Flashlights.

January 12, 2013, 12:11 AM	#2
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,178	I use FP-10 for cleaning and oiling my revolvers. No odors.

January 12, 2013, 12:26 AM	#3
4 Paws Member Join Date: August 17, 2012 Posts: 41	I would think CLP would fit the bill.

January 12, 2013, 12:35 AM	#4
FLChinook Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 284	What's the difference between Shooters's Choice FP-10 and CLP?

January 12, 2013, 12:36 AM	#5
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,178	I think they are very similar.

January 12, 2013, 04:31 AM	#6
FLChinook Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 284	The description of FP-10 says it's a lubricant. Is it that good a cleaner? As good as Hoppe's #9...

January 12, 2013, 09:55 AM	#8
SgtLumpy Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2013 Posts: 147	I've used nothing more than Break Free CLP for decades. No Hoppes, no nuthin' else. No odor. Sgt Lumpy - n0eq

January 12, 2013, 10:02 AM	#9
Gdawgs Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: Hutchinson, MN Posts: 453	I don't fully clean mine after every range trip either. But I always wipe mine down after every time I handle them(blue ones anyway, not stainless) because I have sweaty hands and they rust if I put them away without a wipedown. Rem-Oil in the aerosol can works great. It's a two in one, a lubricant and it contains cleaning solvents, so it easily removes the powder residue. Quick wipe down, no powder residue, no rust, and it doesn't smell.

January 12, 2013, 10:22 AM	#10
bds32 Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 481	If you like Hoppe's, convince the wife to go shopping during gun cleaning time. Then clean up and spray some air freshner. Dump your used patches, Q tips, and other materials in the outside trash. Store your gun cleaning kit in the garage. Run a fan and open windows if necessary. I lay down protective material, then my towels, clean with Hoppe's 9, then clean with lysol wipes just to get everything up. No complaints from the wife.

January 12, 2013, 10:26 AM	#11
Gdawgs Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: Hutchinson, MN Posts: 453	Or you could try cleaning with Butch's Bore Shine a couple times, which has got to be the stinkiest stuff on the planet. She will think the Hoppes #9 is an expensive French perfume after that.

January 12, 2013, 11:24 AM	#13
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,765	Most probably clean every time but many do not including a professional exhibition shooter I know of. The world will not stop turning if you don't. Check out Ballistol, Frog Lube or Gunzilla. All non-toxic CLPs, with Ballistol being the original CLP. They all work well and I can't pick a favorite. Hickock 45 really gave Ballistol a second wind which is a good thing as it is a great product.

January 12, 2013, 02:42 PM	#16
Carne Frio Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2008 Location: Near Fairbanks Alaska Posts: 669	I'm now using Gunzilla. It doesn't stink up the place and is non toxic. It also works very well. http://www.gunzilla.us/

January 12, 2013, 09:54 PM	#18
Duke City Six Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 264	Another vote for Gunzilla. Non-toxic, low odor and very effective.

January 12, 2013, 10:26 PM	#19
FLChinook Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 284	When I looked up Gunzilla, I found the following TLF link: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265198 It looks pretty good.

January 12, 2013, 10:39 PM	#20
FLChinook Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 284	Is there any difference in the actual product between: Gunzilla 8 oz Pump Spray BC-10 and GUNZILLA 4OZ TWIST TOP?

January 13, 2013, 11:16 AM	#21
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 1,317	Or . . . you could strike a deal with the wife . . . no more odors from solvents if she let's you put 'em in the dishwasher when the dishes get done? I've always used Hoppes but I have to agree with you on the odor end of it . . . fortunately I have room in the basement that I can do it in that is ventilated. I'll have to try some of the things mentioned here . . . an old dog can learn new tricks! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

January 13, 2013, 10:22 PM	#22
pittspilot Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2000 Location: The Freedom of AZ Posts: 281	Another fan of Mpro7. Works very well and no smell. __________________ "Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities...Because it is the quality that guarantees all others" Winston S. Churchill "The American Republic is finished when the Congress realizes that it can bribe the people with the peoples money" De Touqueville

January 13, 2013, 11:35 PM	#23
FLChinook Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 284	Summary I should have made this a poll. Here's the primary responses to date: FP-10 (1) Break Free CLP (1) Rem Oil Aerosol (surface cleaning only) (1) M-Pro 7 (3) Gunzilla (3) G-96 (1) Hoppes Elite (1) Everyone has their favorites and my experience is that most shooters can agree more religion and politics than about gun cleaning solvents I'm leaning toward Gunzilla as it might be more gentle on blued surfaces... but that's just a thought

January 13, 2013, 11:45 PM	#24
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 16,749	Hoppes Elite Guncleaner and MPro-7 are so much alike that I can't tell any difference and some claim that they're basically the same product with very minor differences. That's why I usually mention them in the same breath. __________________ Did you know that there is a TEXAS State Rifle Association? Check out Black Bear Flashlights.

January 14, 2013, 06:02 PM	#25
FLChinook Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 284	The description of Hoppe's Elite at Brownells says it "Will remove oil-based stock finishes." Hmmmm.. I don't see the same caveat with M-Pro7 but are they really the same? BTW, I'm kind of down on Gunzilla solely because I tried to call them with a question and got voicemail (and no reply yet). It must be a pretty small operation...