Ok, what's the deal with gun cleaners?

Millie

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Just cleaned 2 of the guns, and the cleaner is all over the bag I sealed it in! This is the CLP. I've also used the Hoppe's, but it ended up leaking all over the bag too. (Not to mention, I hate the way Hoppe's smells.) I'm not playing catch with these bottles, but you can't keep them upright all the time, so they need to be able to be on an angle and NOT LEAK! Lol.
Do you experienced gun people know of a cleaner/lube that is thicker and might not escape from it's container?
Thanks for any solutions you may have.
 
Get a grip @Millie. Seriously, my jar always ends up upside down and never leaks. Maybe you just gotta tighten the lid better. ;)

Some of us love that smell. It makes me happy ‘cause it reminds me of watching my dad clean guns when I was a tyke. :)

EB31EAA5-F72F-4E53-A16E-487C44488E4B.jpeg
 
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The best advice I have is...
expect them to leak, and store accordingly.
Well, thanks! Lol.
Then they'll have to stay on a perfectly even surface, not go in the range bag, not go for a ride in the car in the range bag....no problem really. (I don't know why, but I thought I might need to clean a gun while not at home....)
 
Get a grip @Millie. Seriously, my jar always ends up upside down and never leaks. Maybe you just gotta tighten the lid better.

Some of us love that smell. It makes me happy ‘cause it reminds me of watching my dad clean guns when I was a tyke. :)

View attachment 89317
I like the milder smell of the clp. And the Hoppe's lid is as tight as I could get it. Weak hands? Lol.
We never had guns when I was younger, so it's nice that the gun oil/cleaner brings back good memories for you.
 
Sit them on their bottoms and they won't leak. Maybe use a shelf, bench or table. Make a dedicatedmgun cleaning space.
They were on their bottoms...mostly! And yes, I'm getting the idea that they'll have to stay home from now on.
 
They were on their bottoms...mostly! And yes, I'm getting the idea that they'll have to stay home from now on.

I have a bottle of Lucas oil with a needle and cap. It'hasn't leaked in my range bag. Maybe buy some smaller, good bottles for the bag, and just pour your favored cleaner/lube into them. I think youmcan but the little bottles on Brownells or Midway.
 
I have a bottle of Lucas oil with a needle and cap. It'hasn't leaked in my range bag. Maybe buy some smaller, good bottles for the bag, and just pour your favored cleaner/lube into them. I think youmcan but the little bottles on Brownells or Midway.
Thanks!
 
They were on their bottoms...mostly! And yes, I'm getting the idea that they'll have to stay home from now on.
I shoot about 1000 rounds a month. Less than some, more than some. The only thing I take to the range is a bottle of gun oil since I shoot 1911's and like to lube them before a range session or match. Most plastic striker fire guns (which I carry daily) are more tolerant to run with less frequent lubrication.
I clean them all at home.
 
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That's about all Hoppes is good for.... spilling all over the dang place and stinking it up.
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When it isn't leaking all over it is an ok cleaner as well.

On your range trips I can't really think of an immediate need for it. Yes your pistol will be dirty from your practice rounds but you don't have to clean it asap. I'd leave it at home and out of your range bag. Then when home, break it out, mop up all the spilled hoppes, and give the pistol a cleaning if you wish. :)

I like a combo of aerosol CLP and non-chlorinated brake cleaner for cleaning. soak with CLP scrub the stubborn areas with a plastic or brass brush and blow clean with the brake cleaner. Everyone has their own cleaner combo method. Find what works for your pistol and go with it.
 
I shoot about 1000 rounds a month. Less than some, more than many. The only thing I take to the range is a bottle of gun oil since I shoot 1911's and like to lube them before a range session or match. Most plastic striker fire guns are more tolerant to run with less frequent lubrication.
I clean them all at home.
What oil do you take with you?
I think the Sig has some plastic, the bottom half is very light once I take it apart, but I want it to be happy.
 
That's about all Hoppes is good for.... spilling all over the dang place and stinking it up.
.
.
.
.
When it isn't leaking all over it is an ok cleaner as well.

On your range trips I can't really think of an immediate need for it. Yes your pistol will be dirty from your practice rounds but you don't have to clean it asap. I'd leave it at home and out of your range bag. Then when home, break it out, mop up all the spilled hoppes, and give the pistol a cleaning if you wish. :)

I like a combo of aerosol CLP and non-chlorinated brake cleaner for cleaning. soak with CLP scrub the stubborn areas with a plastic or brass brush and blow clean with the brake cleaner. Everyone has their own cleaner combo method. Find what works for your pistol and go with it.
Yes, this is me trying to find the perfect way for my gun! Lol.
At least this time it only took me a couple of minutes to get the slide off the Sig, unlike last time....
 
What oil do you take with you?
I think the Sig has some plastic, the bottom half is very light once I take it apart, but I want it to be happy.
Anything that I can secure in my range bag. @CZfool68 mentioned Lucas. I think that's what I carry because of how well the container is sealed more than how good it is. I lube my guns after cleaning with Mobile 1, so the Lucas is just used at the range.
 
I have a bottle of Lucas oil with a needle and cap. It'hasn't leaked in my range bag. Maybe buy some smaller, good bottles for the bag, and just pour your favored cleaner/lube into them. I think youmcan but the little bottles on Brownells or Midway.
Indeed. These arrived from Amazon this afternoon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FBW576M
 
Anything that I can secure in my range bag. @CZfool68 mentioned Lucas. I think that's what I carry because of how well the container is sealed more than how good it is. I lube my guns after cleaning with Mobile 1, so the Lucas is just used at the range.

Yep. Don't need much as the range unless you are breaking in a new gun that is a little high mainten. I carry the little bottle of Lucas in case I shoot a bunch. Plus it is likely I have at least one relatively new, unbroken inngun with me. :D
 
Yep. Don't need much as the range unless you are breaking in a new gun that is a little high mainten. I carry the little bottle of Lucas in case I shoot a bunch. Plus it is likely I have at least one relatively new, unbroken inngun with me. :D
Well, I think my gun is still being broken in, as I have no idea what the previous owner did with it. And I've read that my gun can be finicky, though it seems very nice to me! As far as rounds shot in it, I must be inching near 400 maybe? 500? That's not a lot.
 
Well, I think my gun is still being broken in, as I have no idea what the previous owner did with it. And I've read that my gun can be finicky, though it seems very nice to me! As far as rounds shot in it, I must be inching near 400 maybe? 500? That's not a lot.
Which gun? Some run fine out of the box, some require many more rounds to break in.
 
Millie, the asking "which oil is best" is akin to asking "which is better, ford, chevy, or Toyota" There are more answers than all our combined fingers. Recommendations you will have many, but if you switch oils, please strip the old stuff off to avoid issues between the oils. I learned the hard way that some oils when combined don't react well and can gum up. Now, if I change oils on a gun, I strip the gun clean with non-chlorinated brake cleaner and then apply the new oil. If you have a polymer pistol keep the brake cleaner off the plastic as a precaution.

I could tell you what oil I use (G96) but it may not work best for you in your opinion. :) ya just have to try a couple until you are comfortable with one.

edit: G36 to G96
 
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Millie, the asking "which oil is best" is akin to asking "which is better, ford, chevy, or Toyota" There are more answers than all our combined fingers. Recommendations you will have many, but if you switch oils, please strip the old stuff off to avoid issues between the oils. I learned the hard way that some oils when combined don't react well and can gum up. Now, if I change oils on a gun, I strip the gun clean with non-chlorinated brake cleaner and then apply the new oil.

I could tell you what oil I use (G36) but it may not work best for you in your opinion. :) ya just have to try a couple until you are comfortable with one.

Well based on numbers, stats and facts it is Toyota. But feelz get in the way and peeps want their big screen display and 'murica. :D
 
Millie, the asking "which oil is best" is akin to asking "which is better, ford, chevy, or Toyota" There are more answers than all our combined fingers. Recommendations you will have many, but if you switch oils, please strip the old stuff off to avoid issues between the oils. I learned the hard way that some oils when combined don't react well and can gum up. Now, if I change oils on a gun, I strip the gun clean with non-chlorinated brake cleaner and then apply the new oil. If you have a polymer pistol keep the brake cleaner off the plastic as a precaution.

I could tell you what oil I use (G96) but it may not work best for you in your opinion. :) ya just have to try a couple until you are comfortable with one.

edit: G36 to G96
I can see that like the holster thing, I'm probably going to end up with a "drawer full" of gun cleaners/oils/lubes of various sorts!
 
I'm probably going to end up with a "drawer full" of gun cleaners/oils/lubes of various sorts!
That’s when you’ll know you’re serious about shooting. :D
 
That’s when you’ll know you’re serious about shooting. :D
But I already knew....lol. The day I went to the range by myself and got in the "shooting bubble", I knew. I don't want a bunch of cleaners all over the place.
 
I can see that like the holster thing, I'm probably going to end up with a "drawer full" of gun cleaners/oils/lubes of various sorts!
That’s when you’ll know you’re serious about shooting. :D

Yup. Most are good, some are just better. You just take your "extras" and hand them to your new friend that you introduced to shooting. Keeps the shelf clean for more ammo :)
 
I don’t take cleaners to the range, only a small 1/2oz dropper style bottle with a twist cap, like what comes in a Mil cleaning kit. I fill that with CLP or synthetic oil.
Everything else remains on a shelf at home.
 
Mille, and anyone else that’s kinda new at this, please be careful with dispensers with needles. When I use them I lay them sideways on the bench, not on their bottoms. Have to deal with them rolling a bit. The problem with having them with the bottom down is that the needle up. The point is too small for your eye to recognize, so when you bend down to look at a small piece you may jab yourself in the face or eye.

I’ve never done it, or even seen it, but lots of machinists swear by bent tip needle dispensers for this very reason.

I carry a pen-sized needle tip Oiler with med weight oil in my bag. It comes with a good cap. I maybe fill it once a year.
 
Had the tiny bottle leak in my off the shelf cleaning kit that was in the closet, did not leak out of the plastic case.
I now put the bottle inside a zip bag just in case, most likely I did not snug it up or it was cross threaded.

I put Mobil One in a pen oiler and use old Rx bottle to hold it in.

https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Tools-15200-Precision-Oiler/dp/B01CNZ1QHU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543737559&sr=8-2&keywords=Titan+Tools+15200&th=1

I have one of those, love the idea but it leaks even with stuff as thick as permatex assembly lube, funny that amazon shows t with kroil cause that’d be a complete mess.

Not as cool, but I’ve got a few of these https://www.amazon.com/Refillable-N...id=1543743669&sr=1-6&keywords=Precision+Oiler
 
They were on their bottoms...mostly! And yes, I'm getting the idea that they'll have to stay home from now on.

I keep anything in a bottle on a shelf at home. The only thing I take to the range with the cleaning kit is a aerosol canister of CLP.


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