Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
...is Hoppes 9 still the best way to clean and oil?
I've been using Hoppe's No. 9 about four decades now. It does a fine job of cleaning, but isn't a lubricant. It definitely should not be used on nickel-plated guns.
All the modern cleaning solutions are pretty good, and most of them don't smell as noticeably as Hoppe's No. 9. I believe all the oils and greases are pretty good, too. I'm still using Rem Oil after all these years, but won't try to tell you it's better than some other brand.
I can tell you I left a thumb print on the barrel of my pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 27-2 by touching it as I was putting it away after a thorough cleaning. Lesson learned the hard way: invest in silicone-treated cloths and handle guns with care after cleaning.