What are your favorite bore cleaners out there? I've tried a few, but some seem to do a better job than others. Let's discuss the products that really help keep barrels clean without damaging them.
Top Picks for Bore Cleaners That Actually Work
- Thread starter Alan
- Start date
TriumphMan
Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2025
- Messages
- 15
Depends on whether you're talking of liquid or brass snake bore cleaners. For liquid I still use old reliable Hoppes #9. To back that up I use a "bore snake" if I have one in that caliber or a aluminum or brass rod/brushes with lots of over and over to get the bore the way I want. With the use of both they haven't let me down, but I also don't use all cast lead ammos either. Brass jacketed or lead tipped ammos like for 30-30, or full FMJ/hollow point ammos don't leave all the crud that full lead ammos can, so don't require as long/harsh cleaners/desolvers.
Now with older guns like BP, then there's a religious cleaning procedure to keep a gun's barrel in pristine/shooting condition over time.
Now with older guns like BP, then there's a religious cleaning procedure to keep a gun's barrel in pristine/shooting condition over time.
Bobcat
Active member
It's entirely dependent on what I'm cleaning but in general for center fire rifles I use Butches Bore Shine and then a damp patch with Hoppes #9 for storage. In rimfires I use a 50/50 mix of Shooters Choice and Kroil. I use Slip 2000 for carbon generally but in severe cases I use JB Bore Cleaner.
These are just my personal favorites. What I consider far more important is the way you clean the bore. A good cleaning rod and a good bore guide are paramount. This last statement is not just my opinion, it's fact. As a working gunsmith, I saw far more guns damaged by improper cleaning than almost any other reason.
These are just my personal favorites. What I consider far more important is the way you clean the bore. A good cleaning rod and a good bore guide are paramount. This last statement is not just my opinion, it's fact. As a working gunsmith, I saw far more guns damaged by improper cleaning than almost any other reason.
Icemanxxxv
Member
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2025
- Messages
- 5
Balistol if you can stand the odor. I put that Sh*t on everything. I clean all my Traditional Muzzleloaders and modern guns with it. Its a time proven CLP. THE Germans developed it 100 years ago and its still around for a reason.
Longcarbine
Member
I pretty much stick with Hoppe's for my rimfires and Balistol for my centerfires. The Balistol seems to clean the copper fouling better.
mjshell
Member
I rarely clean mine throughly. I'm not shooting lead only bullets, just copper plated Shoot a lot from the bench. I will run a patch through to remove powder residue with Eez X.
When I start to loose accuracy I'll clean them with Barnes C10. I never use a brush, just patches.
When I start to loose accuracy I'll clean them with Barnes C10. I never use a brush, just patches.
