Top Choices for Bore Cleaners: What Works Best?

[Alan]

I’ve been experimenting with different bore cleaners and I’m curious to hear what you all recommend. What products do you find remove copper and carbon buildup effectively without damaging the bore? Any horror stories with certain brands?

 

[Jawrell911]

Hoppe's No. 9 is still my go-to. Just don't let it sit for too long.

 

[blaze_rave]

I used to use Hoppes #9 for everything. It did the job, but honestly, it barely touches copper. I had my .308 rifle shooting at 1.5 MOA, and I figured that was just the best I could do. But then, I finally decided to give it a proper deep clean with Bore Tech. I was shocked by how much copper came out. I had no idea there was that much buildup in there.

You should try Bore Tech Eliminator

 

[ShtrRdy]

I adopted an approach my benchrest friends use. This is primarily for rifles.

1. Use Butches Bore Shine to get the powder fouling out. After a few wet patches I use a bronze brush to help loosen. Then dry out bore with dry patches.
2. Use Bore Tech Eliminator to get most of the copper out. I'll wet and nylon brush the bore, then dry patch and wet the bore again. I'll leave it like this for about 12 hours. When I come back run a dry patch through and evaluate. If it's very blue then repeat step 2.
3. Use Bore Tech Carbon Remover to lessen carbon build up. Similar to step 2, wet the bore then run a bronze brush a few times. Use two dry patches then wet the bore again and leave it set for around 12 hours. I like to do step 3 several times to really keep carbon build up to a minimum.
4. If you don't intend on using the firearm within a week dry the bore out and run an oil patch through the bore.

Before use, run several dry patches through the bore and then use a bore mop or smaller brush with a large patch wrapped around it to mop out the chamber. It's important to get any residue out of the chamber.

If the rifle is stored muzzle up I stuff a large patch into the chamber to catch any oil that runs down the bore.

For rifles I like to clean about every 100 rounds. This number isn't cast in stone and you're rifle will tell you when you've gone too far.