Best cleaning solvent for old collector's grade firearms?

[theinglebaby23]

I've been using Hoppe's 9 for cleaning. Seems like it breaks the crud up well, and leaves the metal protected. I've been happy with it, but just was curious to see what everyone else uses...

Rich

[Jason]

Break Free with CLP does not harm wood or plastic

[Dick Pumphrey]

#9

I like the #9 and have used it for years. It's good stuff and smells nice as well. It's also available in spray can for those hard to reach places.
Regards,
Dick

[leondes]

Hoppe's is good, also Breakfree and for some long term soaking I use Kroil and it is excellent for the purpose.

Regards, leon

[pitts duncan]

marvel mystery oil for me

[Jack T]

G96 Gun Treatment for me.

[Suber]

Birchwood/Casey Bore Scrubber is good stuff, I use it on all of my guns, old and new alike.

[phild]

I think some folks are getting the purpose of a solvent and an oil (or even various types of oils) confused and mixed up.

Hoppes bore cleaner is primarily just that...a bore solvent designed to remove powder fouling and copper traces in a bore. It can be used to clean gunk in general off and out of a firearm as well, but there are better and cheaper things to that job than a bore cleaner. Hoppes bore cleaner offers some protection against rust, but agian there are things a lot better.

Hoppes also makes a gun oil and tons of other gun cleaning items. Hoppes gun oil is ok and I would use over the solvent for rust prevention, but it is a long way down on my list of favorites.

If everyone experienced with firearms responded to the qestion "what is you favorite gun OIL" the massive assortment of responses would probably take 2 weeks to sort out!