Cleaning and Maintenance

[VegasGeorge]

I've gone through a number of different routines and products when it comes to keeping my pistol cleaned and lubricated.

Until recently, I was cleaning with Gun Scrubber and Hoppe's, then lubricating with Hoppe's oil. I used Hoppe's solvent and a brass brush in the barrel, following up with a light coat of oil and wipe down.

The other day I was reading in another forum about a product called Break Free CLP. Members there were raving about it. I noticed that it had U.S. and NATO Mil Specs. The idea is that it is a cleaning agent, and a lubricant all in one. It is supposed to be a one application, do it all product for the entire gun. I saw it at Bass Pro, and I bought myself a can to try out.

I always clean and lubricate after every shooting day. So, on Saturday when I came home from the range, I field stripped and cleaned my shotgun and my pistol. I only used the Break Free CLP, and I used it on everything. It seemed to work as advertised. It cut through and removed the powder residue and old oil, and left a nice light coat of new lubricant on everything. I liked using it. I bought the aerosol can, and it was a lot easier than fumbling around with several bottles of Hoppe's. However, next time I think I'll buy the pump spray bottle instead of the aerosol can. The propellant in the aerosol causes a bit of foaming that makes it difficult to see what's happening, and I may have used more product than necessary.

See: http://www.break-free.com/?location=/products/index.asp

[Bill of Rights]

Hi George, and thanks for the review. I've heard about Break Free, but I've not tried it. Like you, I clean after probably 98% of my shooting days, and was using Hoppes, both solvent and oil, but the solvent bottle that came in my cleaning kit for my .22 was an aerosol and Uncle Mike's doesn't make that in any larger size, so I looked for something else, finding Gun Scrubber (synthetic safe). So far, it's worked well for me, but I'll give Break Free CLP a try when this runs out.

Thanks again for the suggestion and the review!

Blessings,
M

[Stubob]

http://www.sweetshooter.com/

This looked like it was a great product. Some of our guys have some and will be testing. I am going to buy some and test it my self. It looks like you can recycle the oil and cleaning. The guy at the booth was very good and knew what he was talking about.

We will get a review posted later.........

[hpj3]

OK - what happens if/when the SHTF and all the "good stuff" isn't available? (a qualifier here - I have a couple of drawers full of it and use it). But what to do if you're stuck somewhere you don't have it?

The alternative: HOT soapy water, clear water, and transmission fluid and a toothbrush. Use the toothbrush and the hot soapy water to scrub the dirt, clear water to rinse. (The hot water will evaporate quickly). Then transmission fluid - probably the best lube existing today. You can get enough off the transmission dipstick to do any gun.

Not saying that all the products out there are useless - they all have a place - just that sometimes we forget to keep a backup in mind. :idea:

Howard

[Stubob]

I am going to try that. Go to the range, tear down a gun and give it a shot...That is good back up information.

Any Cleaning tips would be helpful! - It seems I have learned most of mine through mistakes over the years.

[nodaywithout]

i have never heard of using transmission oil for your firearm and as a former transmission tech i can tell you from experience it is SLICK, boarax is the best stuff to get it off of the floor and you.

I am interested in how well that works, i will have to give it a try this weekend when i go to the range

[hpj3]

Just remember to use it sparingly...

Howard

[duc_fan]

My first rifle was/is a Bushmaster XM-15 E2S A2 Shorty AK Carbine (AR-15 knockoff, A2 upper, 14.5" bbl + pinned and welded AK-style muzzlebrake). The Bushy manual says to use CLP. Apparently this is the same thing the Armed Forces use.

After ~1000 rounds, with a cleaning using CLP every couple hundred, the Bushmaster still looks beautiful inside. A friend of mine who has his own Bushy was looking at mine and said it didn't look like it had 1000 rounds through it.

One thing to note, though: I typically clean the internals using an aerosol carburetor cleaner (can be found at any auto parts store). I find it's especially effective at getting soot off the gas mechanism parts. I then scrub everything with a CLP-soaked shotgun bore rag until everything's spotless, then use my finger and apply a light coating of CLP to all non-working internal surfaces as a protectant, and a liberal amount to all working surfaces as a lube. I also run a Boresnake through the barrel, with CLP on the brush portion, and the tail wetted with a little CLP to leave behind a protectant coating in the bore. My gun oozes a little oil around the receiver when in storage, but living in the great wet Pacific NW, I'd rather not have the steel internals rusting.

Yes, I am a little anal-retentive when it comes to cleaning. :lol: But I've never had a FTF from any issues with the rifle itself (I did have one bad mag - first gun, wasn't smart, bought a cheap tin mag with really bad feed lips - got rid of it, and no problems with any other mags).

[CA CCWInstructor]

Ask any soldier coming back from the sandbox how CLP is costing lives.

It gums them up and makes the M4, inoperable.

[duc_fan]

Ask any soldier coming back from the sandbox how CLP is costing lives.

It gums them up and makes the M4 inoperable.

Duly noted. I've obviously never had my AR out in a true operational environment, so I have no idea how CLP would perform under duress.

Have the soldiers you talked to tried anything else, and what did they find that works? I would really hate to get stuck out in the boonies and find out too late that my rifle wasn't gonna work with the cleaner/lube I had in it.

[CA CCWInstructor]

They can only use what is issued when they are deployed. When that is not the case they use MPro-7 or Shooters Choice.

[Tanzer]

I like to use conventional methods, but I have experimented in "unconventional" situations;
hpj3 stated;
The alternative: HOT soapy water, clear water, and transmission fluid and a toothbrush
nodaywithout replied;
I am interested in how well that works, i will have to give it a try this weekend when i go to the range
Not bad, but consider this;
SYNTHETIC motor oil. No detergent properties and no petroleum. It tends to stay where you want it, and wipe off where you don't. Tranny fluid might find its way into your holster and give you that "zebra" effect.
Just my two cents. I've always liked Eezox, but it's hard to find around here.

[mp3mogul]

The CLP has been around for YEARS and YEARS, just not so long ago it came into the civilian market. I used this stuff in the Marines in the 70's.

Anyway, yes it's an all in one. But remember guys (and gals), RemOil is also and all in one.

I have tried both. However, I still like to take my brass brush, dip it in Hoppe's and run it through my barrells a few times. Next I spray my RemOil through the barrell and clean with patches. I use the RemOil on every other part of the guns and then lubricate them with it.

I have done the same with CLP, they both are excellent cleaners/lubricants.