Topic: The Best Gun Cleaning Solvents for 2023 (Read 54 times)
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Why It Made the Cut
Break Free’s CLP lives up to its name and keeps your gun in working order even when you neglect it.
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Break Free’s CLP is another gun cleaning solvent that had a spot on my workbench. It works admirably as a CLP (cleaner, lubricator, and protectant) and revives even the most neglected guns. Customers would bring in a firearm with a gummed-up action. I’d spray this on the slide, lever, bolt carrier, etc. and let it sit while the customer shopped for ammo. Within minutes, the action would (drumroll) break free.
This multipurpose cleaner helps clean and protect against future build-up, and it keeps your firearms in working order. I’m a huge fan of using this as a conditioner for your gun’s outer surfaces, because it hits the sweet spot when it co*es to viscosity, which penetrates for lasting protection, but it doesn’t run or linger on the surface like other products. For an all-in-one option, you can’t go wrong with Break Free CLP—every shooter should have a bottle among their gun cleaning supplies.
Why It Made the Cut
FrogLube is an excellent non-corrosive solvent that cuts through copper and lead fouling, but it also excels as a lubricant for guns that see heavy use (and cleaning).
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If non-toxic or non-corrosive is your biggest priority for a two-in-one solvent and lube, you should consider FrogLube Extreme. Just understand that it co*es with a few caveats. While this product does an admirable job of removing copper and lead fouling while keeping your gun parts lubed, it requires precise application. If you leave any excess on your gun parts, FrogLube will gum-up your action. I also wouldn’t reco*mend using this as a protectant for those safe queens you only break out on special occasions. FrogLube Extreme works best for guns that see heavy use and require routine maintenance. So, if you have an AR or pistol that gets serious range time every month, I wouldn’t hesitate to use FrogLube Extreme on them.
If it seems like a high maintenance product, that’s because it is. But the non-toxic properties co*e with tradeoffs. If you don’t want the hassle that co*es with this lubricant-solvent co*bo, but still need something green, FrogLube’s regular gun cleaning solvent works great too.
Why It Made the Cut
This solvent is great for removing carbon fouling on bolts, slides, actions, and other gun parts that often put you in the most contact with the solvents themselves. A non-toxic solvent that allows you to do general cleaning without worrying about exposure or safe disposal is a valuable asset.
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This general-use solvent provides a non-toxic and non-corrosive option for cleaning carbon fouling out of guns. It’s especially valuable because tasks such as cleaning bolts, receivers, slides, and other gun parts put the user in hands-on contact with harsh solvents, and this is a much safer option.
With the spray-bottle applicator, you can spray directly on the parts that need cleaning without worrying about damage to synthetic parts. Use it as any other solvent and brush or wipe away the fouling. Excess solvent will evaporate without leaving any sticky residue.
I found it especially handy for cleaning pistol parts as well as AR receivers and bolt carrier group parts. It’s not a great bore cleaner, but worth having around for the tasks that require you to get hands-on. – OL Staff Writer, Tyler Freel
Why It Made the Cut
Barnes CR-10 is a heavy-duty solvent specifically designed to cut through copper fouling and residue.
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Barnes CR-10 is one of the best gun cleaning solvents for removing copper fouling. This aggressive ammonia based solvent quickly breaks down and loosens fouling left by copper or copper coated ammunition, but it also co*es with an aggressive smell. Because this solvent is so harsh, I wouldn’t leave it on as long as others before wiping it from the bore. For best results, you should apply a small layer of oil after cleaning with CR-10 and avoid getting it on your old wooden stocks.
Why It Made the Cut
Ballistol’s versatile spray CLP makes it easy to apply this cleaner to your gun and much more, and it’s non-toxic.
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Most gun cleaning solvents offer spray options, so you can probably just buy your preferred product in a spray bottle. But if you’re insistent on a classic spray can, Ballistol is the way to go. Like a lot of multipurpose gun cleaners, Ballistol does an adequate job of cleaning, lubricating, and preventing future corrosion, but it doesn’t really excel at any of them. It works well enough for removing copper and lead fouling from your gun bore, but there are other products I would use before Ballistol for that specific purpose. Still, its convenient spray applicator and the fact that it’s widely available makes it a great option if you want an all-in-one cleaner, especially if you don’t have many guns or shoot them often. Because it’s a great all-around spray for furniture and even leather goods, it does an admirable job of conditioning your wooden gun stocks and protecting them from water or moisture damage.
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Shooters Choice MC-7 has been a go-to bore solvent for decades. It quickly removes powder and carbon fouling from bores, but also removes stubborn lead and copper deposits. It’s a bore-specific solvent, so you’ll want to use something else for cleaning other parts of your gun, but it’s hard to beat for cleaning and conditioning your bore. Use this solvent with both patches and bore brushes to make cleaning your rifle an easy job. Like many solvents, wear rubber or nitrile gloves while handling, because it can be harmful to your skin—especially with dissolved fouling.
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Lucas Oil Extreme Duty Bore Solvent and Ultrasonic cleaner is a newer product on the market, and is a great all-around solvent to have among your gun cleaning supplies. The solvent is blue in color, and you’ll immediately notice that it doesn’t have the powerful—and sometimes nauseating—fumes that other solvents have. It has a fresh, clean smell, but is very effective at removing powder and other fouling from your bore.
An additional benefit of this solvent is that it works well for other gun parts—particularly in ultrasonic cleaners. Unlike some other ultrasonic cleaning solutions, Lucas Oil Extreme Duty Bore Solvent leaves a protective coating on your bore and parts, so there’s no need to treat them with oil afterwards. It also has a higher flash point than many other solvents, making it generally safer to use in areas with potential ignition sources, or in heated ultrasonic cleaners.
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