Hello everyone. I own one gun, a Ruger SR9c. Stainless slide, plastic frame, talon stick on grips. I live in an apartment with a wonderful wife and child. I do not have a dedicated place to go to clean my gun. I am looking for a simple and basic system that works. I am not trying to get into a cleaner and gun oil war. I would like a product that will not stink up the apartment with a migraine causing odor for my wife. I like the idea of a CLP type product. I am not interested in a product that wants you to heat up the gun to clean it (FrogLube for example). I want something that is easy to get locally or from Walmart rather than order from a small company online. I am considering Breakfree CLP, but I hear that it has a strong odor. What about Balistol (the hickok45 favorite)? Thanks for the help.
I would like gun cleaning advice please
- Thread starter s1mp13m4n
- Start date
Ballistol has a pretty strong smell but some find it pleasant. I do not.
Cleaners
Hoppes Elite Cleaner (standard, not foaming) and MPro-7 are good cleaning products with little or no odor. Gunslick, Outers and Break Free all make good foaming bore cleaners that work well and have very low odor.
Don't bother with the Hoppes Elite foaming bore cleaner--I don't know why, but it doesn't work well for me. Strange since I have had excellent luck with the standard Hoppes Elite Cleaner.
Remington Bore Cleaner (NOT REMOIL) is a good choice for removing stubborn deposits from bores. It has an odor but I wouldn't classify it as a strong or particularly offensive odor. Be sure to follow the instructions--if you don't shake it well and keep shaking it while you're using it, it won't work well. It uses a very mild abrasive that needs to be shaken into suspension so that you get a good dose of it on the cleaning patch.
Most of the good nitro solvents have pretty strong odors, but if you want something that is petroleum based and will still not stink up the place too badly, you might look at making a mix of something like GooGone and ATF. I'd mix it 50/50 or maybe shade the mix towards the GooGone side to keep it fairly thin. It probably won't perform as well as a typical nitro-solvent, but it should be decent.
I typically use a nitro solvent with a bore brush and then patch out the bore. Next I either use foaming bore cleaner or Hoppes Elite/MPro 7 and leave the bore wet for 10-15 minutes. Then I patch it out again and repeat the first step until I'm happy with the results. If I can't seem to get the bore clean after a few steps, I'll use the Remington Bore Cleaner, then a nitro solvent to get all the remaining grit out of the bore.
I try not to use the foaming bore cleaners or Hoppes Elite/MPro7 with a bore brush because those cleaners tend to have some adverse effect on brass/bronze/copper materials. So I use those cleaners with patches and use the nitro solvent with my bore brushes.
Lubrication
Lubrikit sells some gun lubrication products that are not only low odor but also food safe. They are made for use on food processing machinery and, by all accounts are a good choice for firearms since they provide good lubrication properties and excellent corrosion protection.
Dillon Precision sells a product they call Snake Oil. It has no odor that I can detect and is an excellent lubricant. I don't know anything about its corrosion preventive capabilities.
Cleaners
Hoppes Elite Cleaner (standard, not foaming) and MPro-7 are good cleaning products with little or no odor. Gunslick, Outers and Break Free all make good foaming bore cleaners that work well and have very low odor.
Don't bother with the Hoppes Elite foaming bore cleaner--I don't know why, but it doesn't work well for me. Strange since I have had excellent luck with the standard Hoppes Elite Cleaner.
Remington Bore Cleaner (NOT REMOIL) is a good choice for removing stubborn deposits from bores. It has an odor but I wouldn't classify it as a strong or particularly offensive odor. Be sure to follow the instructions--if you don't shake it well and keep shaking it while you're using it, it won't work well. It uses a very mild abrasive that needs to be shaken into suspension so that you get a good dose of it on the cleaning patch.
Most of the good nitro solvents have pretty strong odors, but if you want something that is petroleum based and will still not stink up the place too badly, you might look at making a mix of something like GooGone and ATF. I'd mix it 50/50 or maybe shade the mix towards the GooGone side to keep it fairly thin. It probably won't perform as well as a typical nitro-solvent, but it should be decent.
I typically use a nitro solvent with a bore brush and then patch out the bore. Next I either use foaming bore cleaner or Hoppes Elite/MPro 7 and leave the bore wet for 10-15 minutes. Then I patch it out again and repeat the first step until I'm happy with the results. If I can't seem to get the bore clean after a few steps, I'll use the Remington Bore Cleaner, then a nitro solvent to get all the remaining grit out of the bore.
I try not to use the foaming bore cleaners or Hoppes Elite/MPro7 with a bore brush because those cleaners tend to have some adverse effect on brass/bronze/copper materials. So I use those cleaners with patches and use the nitro solvent with my bore brushes.
Lubrication
Lubrikit sells some gun lubrication products that are not only low odor but also food safe. They are made for use on food processing machinery and, by all accounts are a good choice for firearms since they provide good lubrication properties and excellent corrosion protection.
Dillon Precision sells a product they call Snake Oil. It has no odor that I can detect and is an excellent lubricant. I don't know anything about its corrosion preventive capabilities.
FYI
Watch a few videos on the basic strip and then watch how to remove and take apart the firing pin/rod. Its packed with grease and metal flakes from the factory. Strip and clean it and you will improve your trigger pull. Just by cleaning my trigger group and rod/pin my SR9 has a trigger pull of 4.1 lbs with no mods or upgraded parts. I give the nod to seal1 as a factor in that because you no longer need to grease or oil your gun, as seal1 does it all.
Even if you dont use the seal1, strip the firing pin assembly down and clean. The trigger group could also use a good clean from the factory but watch the videos, there is a tiny rod you need to look out for
You dont need to heat the gun up every time for seal1. The first two or three times only need the gun warm.
Watch a few videos on the basic strip and then watch how to remove and take apart the firing pin/rod. Its packed with grease and metal flakes from the factory. Strip and clean it and you will improve your trigger pull. Just by cleaning my trigger group and rod/pin my SR9 has a trigger pull of 4.1 lbs with no mods or upgraded parts. I give the nod to seal1 as a factor in that because you no longer need to grease or oil your gun, as seal1 does it all.
Even if you dont use the seal1, strip the firing pin assembly down and clean. The trigger group could also use a good clean from the factory but watch the videos, there is a tiny rod you need to look out for
You dont need to heat the gun up every time for seal1. The first two or three times only need the gun warm.
i have been cleaning my guns with nothing but hoppes and rem oil for years now
hoppes #9 in the bore, rem oil sprayed heavily pretty much everywhere (i almost use this stuff like garden hose, just get everything dripping wet, its like $3 a can at walmart) wipe carbon and crud off with paper towels, and apply hoppes gun oil where necessary
i do this in my bedroom, or laundry room with the door closed and window open and none of my family notices the smell as long as i throw the used paper towels and patches in the outside trash can and give whatever i put the hoppes #9 in a good rinse in the sink
hoppes #9 in the bore, rem oil sprayed heavily pretty much everywhere (i almost use this stuff like garden hose, just get everything dripping wet, its like $3 a can at walmart) wipe carbon and crud off with paper towels, and apply hoppes gun oil where necessary
i do this in my bedroom, or laundry room with the door closed and window open and none of my family notices the smell as long as i throw the used paper towels and patches in the outside trash can and give whatever i put the hoppes #9 in a good rinse in the sink
I clean everything with Ed's Red and the wife doesn't complain about odors.
But then I don't complain when she uses hairspray, fingernail polish, or nail polish remover in the house either.
I use Breakfree LP (no "C") for lube. Tried cleaning with CLP a long time ago and didn't like it. It was like trying to clean a countertop with vegetable oil.
But then I don't complain when she uses hairspray, fingernail polish, or nail polish remover in the house either.
I use Breakfree LP (no "C") for lube. Tried cleaning with CLP a long time ago and didn't like it. It was like trying to clean a countertop with vegetable oil.
Safari Charlie's does it all: cleans, lubricates and protects while at the same time it has a nice citrus smell that does not linger.
http://www.superslickstuff.com/lubricant/Safari-Charlie-Gun-Lube.html
http://www.superslickstuff.com/lubricant/Safari-Charlie-Gun-Lube.html
KG-12 big bore. Almost no smell, cleans up brushes with tap water.
My second favorite cleaner but the other is a 2-soloution system so this is probably closer to your requirements.
Oil is separate, but that is so simple its a no-brainer just put a few drops on a mop & pass through the insides a couple of drips on the pivots & wipe down with a rag, done!
My second favorite cleaner but the other is a 2-soloution system so this is probably closer to your requirements.
Oil is separate, but that is so simple its a no-brainer just put a few drops on a mop & pass through the insides a couple of drips on the pivots & wipe down with a rag, done!
jaytothekizzay
New member
Hoppes#9 for the bore... Breakfree CLP for everything else. You can make things as complicated as you want... I like to keep it simple with these two low odor products. Should not take longer than 20 min to be very thorough. Every once in a while you can shoot out the frame and lower with Birchwood Casey gunscrubber (aerosol can). Just make sure you get the polymer safe version. Canned air from walmart comes in handy, but not necessary. All these products are available at walmart or gun shops.
buckhorn_cortez
New member
Gunzilla has no odor. In testing against my longtime bore cleaner of Shooter's Choice + Kroil, the Gunzilla cleaned the bore equally as well for fouling.
If you need to remove lead, mop the inside of the bore with Kroil, let the gun sit overnight, mop the bore the next day with Kroil and then brush the bore and the lead will come out.
KG12 (previously mentioned) has no odor and is the cleaner I use for copper removal.
Most all of the synthetic gun oils are odorless or nearly odorless including: Fire Clean, MPro7, and Slip 2000 EWL.
If you need to remove lead, mop the inside of the bore with Kroil, let the gun sit overnight, mop the bore the next day with Kroil and then brush the bore and the lead will come out.
KG12 (previously mentioned) has no odor and is the cleaner I use for copper removal.
Most all of the synthetic gun oils are odorless or nearly odorless including: Fire Clean, MPro7, and Slip 2000 EWL.
I keep it pretty simple:
I use a mix of 1/3 Mobil1 5w30 synthetic oil with 2/3 Break Free CLP. There's no excessive odor, and mixing in that consistency will make a lot of homemade CLP (saving you money) that will be effective in cleaning and lubing your guns.
Get out your CLP, patches, rod for the patches, your Q-tips, some paper towels, and a medium-sized towel you can fold over once and use as a barrier/surface to lay your gun parts on.
Get cleaning!
I use a mix of 1/3 Mobil1 5w30 synthetic oil with 2/3 Break Free CLP. There's no excessive odor, and mixing in that consistency will make a lot of homemade CLP (saving you money) that will be effective in cleaning and lubing your guns.
Get out your CLP, patches, rod for the patches, your Q-tips, some paper towels, and a medium-sized towel you can fold over once and use as a barrier/surface to lay your gun parts on.
Get cleaning!
Hoppes Elite Gun Cleaner and Elite Gun Oil. Both made with low odor technology and advertised as such.
The Gun Oil has a low odor and actually smells pleasant. I'm on my second bottle and like it. The cleaner I haven't tried yet, but will.
My wife has a nose like a bloodhound and if it smells "bad" it has to go out of the bedroom.
Thankfully I can't smell things as well and actually like the way a few things smell. Hoppes Original Bore Cleaner, WD40, Marvel Mystery Oil, but she doesn't....I know where you're coming from .
Gary
PS- you can get these at Wally-Mart or any sporting goods store.
The Gun Oil has a low odor and actually smells pleasant. I'm on my second bottle and like it. The cleaner I haven't tried yet, but will.
My wife has a nose like a bloodhound and if it smells "bad" it has to go out of the bedroom.
Thankfully I can't smell things as well and actually like the way a few things smell. Hoppes Original Bore Cleaner, WD40, Marvel Mystery Oil, but she doesn't....I know where you're coming from .
Gary
PS- you can get these at Wally-Mart or any sporting goods store.
Sounds like you both are blessed with fried scent receptors, no offense intended of course
.Ed's Red is fine if you don't mind your home smelling like the bowels of an aircraft carrier
.Granted, Ed's Red is one of the best cleaning and metal protection products I've ever used on my guns.
Hoppes #9 smells good to me (red neck cologne!), but my wife finds the smell overpowering, especially considering she can smell a mouse fart in Yankee stadium. Honestly I wouldn't want a smell that strong in my house either.
In my own experience, breakfree CLP isn't too bad, and it works as a decent all around cleaner and lubricant.
If you can't go outside, try using a fan as an exhaust to blow the fumes out a window. Then don't throw the patches or anything soaked in solvent into a trash bin kept inside. Wash off the bore brush and other tools after use. Then wash yourself--always a good idea particularly when you consider lead exposure.
It seems like the odor of solvent is worsened by the droplets flung by bore brushes. I'll run a patch through the bore and let it set for 15 minutes. That loosens up the fouling so I don't have to use the bore brush as much. There are ways to contain bore brushes and rags so they don't foul as much when they come out of the chamber or muzzle. Check out the Brownells catalog. That might provide some better solutions.
I'll apply gun oil with a large patch to the surface of guns and then wipe off the excess with a dry rag. Usually the rags don't smell that bad unless they become soaked. However, they can be washed and dried between uses.
It seems like the odor of solvent is worsened by the droplets flung by bore brushes. I'll run a patch through the bore and let it set for 15 minutes. That loosens up the fouling so I don't have to use the bore brush as much. There are ways to contain bore brushes and rags so they don't foul as much when they come out of the chamber or muzzle. Check out the Brownells catalog. That might provide some better solutions.
I'll apply gun oil with a large patch to the surface of guns and then wipe off the excess with a dry rag. Usually the rags don't smell that bad unless they become soaked. However, they can be washed and dried between uses.
Cleaning my pistols
First I have a range bag that holds my pistol or pistols that was purchased from Sports Academy for about $20.00. The front of the bag has a zip up portion when unzipped serves as a cleaning pad. It also has compartments that hold my MPRO 7 and MPRO oil (Walmart $9.95) Plus a bore snake cleaning devise (Walmart $14.00 for appropriate caliber) and a gun cleaning rod with appropriate tips (Walmart red aluminum tube with with copper rod segments and tips inside $8.00). I keep a handful of cotton swabs in there as well as cotton patches. A few wooden toothpicks tucked away for grime removal is cheap and effective too. I have expensive cleaning tables with high dollar rods and brushes etc. But I almost never use them anymore with this setup. It is portable, the chemicals don't smell, and it is very effective for quick cleaning or a complete stripping and thorough cleaning. I can place my gun bag on almost any surface and have everything I need for the job. I can clean my pistol while watching TV or go to the kitchen table or anywhere else that is convenient. Have Gun Will Travel - cleaned.
First I have a range bag that holds my pistol or pistols that was purchased from Sports Academy for about $20.00. The front of the bag has a zip up portion when unzipped serves as a cleaning pad. It also has compartments that hold my MPRO 7 and MPRO oil (Walmart $9.95) Plus a bore snake cleaning devise (Walmart $14.00 for appropriate caliber) and a gun cleaning rod with appropriate tips (Walmart red aluminum tube with with copper rod segments and tips inside $8.00). I keep a handful of cotton swabs in there as well as cotton patches. A few wooden toothpicks tucked away for grime removal is cheap and effective too. I have expensive cleaning tables with high dollar rods and brushes etc. But I almost never use them anymore with this setup. It is portable, the chemicals don't smell, and it is very effective for quick cleaning or a complete stripping and thorough cleaning. I can place my gun bag on almost any surface and have everything I need for the job. I can clean my pistol while watching TV or go to the kitchen table or anywhere else that is convenient. Have Gun Will Travel - cleaned.