Local shop's demo on lead buildup flipped my view on solvent choice

A gunsmith near me did a free clinic showing what different solvents do to fouling over time. I always grabbed whatever was cheap, but seeing the crud left behind by some brands convinced me to pay more for quality. Which solvent do you find works best for heavy lead without harming the barrel?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_mason2d ago

Tried a budget cleaner once and it was a total waste. Made the barrel look worse. Now I stick with Hoppe's No. 9 too, cleans heavy lead right out.

bethw253d ago

Speaking of making a mess, I became my own cautionary tale using a bargain brand that just smeared everything. After a few range trips my barrel looked worse, completely gunked up. I finally listened to an old timer and switched to Hoppe's No. 9, and the difference was night and day. It took that heavy lead out without a fight, and now I just look like a normal amount of clumsy.