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- Alfred Mendoza
- April 23, 2024
Keeping your gun free from dust, lead, abrasive debris, and corrosion will help increase your firearm’s accuracy, safety, and lifespan. However, most gun cleaning kits do not include a cleaning solvent, so you need to buy one separately.
Our team spent 24 hours looking for the best gun cleaning solvent to help you save time. Here’s the list.
- Natural and biodegradable
- Amazing lubricant
- Cleans well
- Safe for skin
- Ageless
- Decent cleaning kit
- Good scent
- Good for gun cleaning and maintenance
- Easy to use
- Simple yet effective
- Prevents dirt build-up
- Impressive cleaning solution
- Tried and tested
- Budget-friendly
- Multipurpose
Table of Contents
- 1 Top 10 Cleaning Solvents for Gun
- 1.1 1. Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil
- 1.2 2. Hoppe's No. 9 Gun Elite Gun Cleaning Kit
- 1.3 3. Break-Free CLP-2 Cleaner Lubricant Preservative
- 1.4 4. HOPPE'S No. 9 Synthetic Blend Lubricating Oil
- 1.5 5. Prom Hoppe's M-Pro 7 LPX Gun Oil
- 1.6 6. Hornady 99901 One Shot Gun Cleaner
- 1.7 7. Slip 2000 EWL
- 1.8 8. Pro-Shot Products - Zero Friction Needle Oiler
- 1.9 9. CLP by Sage & Braker
- 1.10 10. Lucas Gun Oil Original & Extreme Duty
- 2 Your Guide to Buying
- 3 Our Team's Selection Process
- 4 FAQs
- 5 What's Our Choice For The Best Gun Cleaning Solvent?
Top 10 Cleaning Solvents for Gun
1. Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil
Why We Picked It:
The Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil is a gun cleaning solvent safe for leather, wood, metal, and plastics. The gun cleaning oil does not contain harmful chemicals like carcinogens and is very eco-friendly.
The solvent is slightly alkaline that neutralizes skin oils and sweat, so it is also good for sensitive skin.
Who Should Use It:
The gun cleaner solvent is ideal for users who want an aerosol spray to protect and lubricate their guns.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Summary:
The gun cleaner spray from Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil is safe to use on different tools and guns. The bore cleaning solvent can protect and lubricate firearms to lengthen the lifespan and increase the gun’s reliability.
PROS
- Natural and biodegradable
- Amazing lubricant
- Cleans well
- Safe for skin
- Ageless
CONS
- The scent is slightly off
2. Hoppe's No. 9 Gun Elite Gun Cleaning Kit
Why We Picked It:
The gun cleaning kit from Hoppe’s can be a good choice for gun maintenance since it already includes a gun solvent. Hoppe’s No.9 Gun Elite Gun Cleaning Kit is a quick, easy and efficient cleaner to prevent rust, lead, and metal fouling.
Who Should Use It:
The gun cleaning kit is ideal for daily hunters to keep the gun in the best condition.
Summary:
Hoppe’s Elite gun cleaning kit consists of a cleaner solution, lubricating oil, precision lubricator, and cotton cleaning patches. Hoppe’s Elite gun cleaner is versatile because it cleans and protects the gun from any future damage.
PROS
- Decent cleaning kit
- Good scent
- Good for gun cleaning and maintenance
- Easy to use
- Simple yet effective
CONS
- Small sizes
- Bottles are prone to leak
3. Break-Free CLP-2 Cleaner Lubricant Preservative
Why We Picked It:
Break-Free CLP-2 Cleaner Lubricant Preservative is an impressive gun cleaner that can penetrate metal surfaces and remove dirt like copper fouling and carbon fouling. The lubricant reduces the adhesion of sand and other abrasives to avoid premature wear and failure.
Who Should Use It:
Break-Free’s gun cleaning solvent is ideal for the military, where guns are highly exposed to dirt and debris.
Summary:
The special formulation of the gun cleaning solvent from Break Free effectively removes residues produced by the guns. It has corrosion inhibitors that can prevent the build-up of rust on a metal surface.
PROS
- Prevents dirt build-up
- Impressive cleaning solution
- Tried and tested
- Budget-friendly
- Multipurpose
CONS
- Lubricants can improve
- Needs downtime
4. HOPPE'S No. 9 Synthetic Blend Lubricating Oil
Why We Picked It:
The Hoppe’s No. 9 lubricating oil is engineered to avoid moisture and corrosion on your gun. The gun cleaning lubricant offers superior lubrication and protection and helps reduce wear and tear caused by gun powder.
Who Should Use It:
The gun cleaner lubricant is ideal for modern firearm superior lubrication, especially in extreme environments and situations.
Summary:
The advanced oil from Hoppe’s No. 9 is designed to provide a barrier against corrosion and moisture. In addition, the gun lubricant also works great on different mechanisms such as fishing reels and multiple hand tools.
PROS
- Good and trustworthy gun oil
- Good value for money
- Versatile gun oil
- Works well
- Decent scent
CONS
- The bottle needs to upgrade
- It can be sticky at times
5. Prom Hoppe's M-Pro 7 LPX Gun Oil
Why We Picked It:
The Prom Hoppe’s M-Pro 7 LPX Gun Oil is an excellent lubricant that repels dirt and does not evaporate. The gun oil is excellent for long-term storage and provides impressive lubrication and protection on your firearms.
Who Should Use It:
Gun oils like Prom Hoppe’s M-Pro 7 LPX are best to use on military firearms.
Summary:
With Prom Hoppe’s M-Pro 7 LPX, you don’t have to worry about the dust and dirt build-up on your gun. When the gun oil is combined with high-quality synthetic oils, it gives a superior smooth performance.
PROS
- Works well on multiple guns
- Odorless
- Impressive gun oil
- Good for cleaning and lubricating
- Long-lasting
CONS
- Packaging needs improvement
- May create discoloration
6. Hornady 99901 One Shot Gun Cleaner
Why We Picked It:
If you need a thorough cleaning, the Hornady 99901 gun cleaner can be a good option. The gun cleaner spray cleans and lubricates without any oily mess. Aerosol sprays like Hornady 99901 can remove greases, old oils, and lead build-up on your firearm.
Who Should Use It:
The gun cleaning solvent is best for semi-auto handguns because it leaves a thin, dry lube impervious to heat.
Summary:
Hornady 99901’s prominent feature is the odorless and non-sticky after application. The dual-corrosion-resistant technology of the solvent will take care of the lead build-up on firearms.
PROS
- Aggressive cleaner
- Excellent lubrication and protection
- Breaks down carbon for proper cleaning
- Rust resistant
- Works as advertise
CONS
- Can be expensive
- Evaporates quickly
7. Slip 2000 EWL
Why We Picked It:
The Slip 2000 EWL helps protect your gun against corrosion and will not attract dust or any other build-up depending on your environment. Unlike other petroleum products, the Slip 2000 EWL is safe to use on different surfaces like metal, plastics, and wood.
Who Should Use It:
The Slip 2000 EWL is ideal for shooters who do not prefer a long clean-up time. The military can also use it.
Summary:
The Slip 2000 EWL is a non-hazardous chemical that can protect your firearms in any working environment. Unlike other traditional lubricants, Slip 2000 EWL stays wet five times longer, which reduces wear and tear even in regular cleaning.
PROS
- Low viscosity
- Effective
- Low cost
- It gives ease of cleaning
- Good lubrication and protectant
CONS
- Packaging needs improvement
- Bottle applicator can be better
8. Pro-Shot Products - Zero Friction Needle Oiler
Why We Picked It:
If you are looking for the best needle oiler on the market, you can consider the Pro-Shot Products that provide zero friction. With the Pro-Shot Needle Oiler, the traditional application allows you to reach the unreachable areas on your gun.
Who Should Use It:
The Pro-shot product is best for hunters who prefer protecting all the moving metal parts.
Summary:
The Pro-Shot Products Zero Friction Needle Oiler provides smooth performance and protection on your gun’s metal parts. The traditional application method of the gun cleaning oil prevents rust in extreme heat and cold.
PROS
- Great lube
- Handy and sturdy built
- Impressive applicator
- Odorless
- Heavy-duty needle
CONS
- It can be over your budget
- Viscosity should improve
9. CLP by Sage & Braker
Why We Picked It:
If you want a gun cleaning solvent that can clean, lubricate and protect simultaneously, the CLP by Sage & Breaker is on the list. The gun cleaning solvent is stored in a spray bottle that will help infiltrate every surface. It provides deep cleaning on carbon, copper, and lead fouling.
Who Should Use It:
This good cleaning solvent is best for the military because it provides smooth action and reliable performance.
Summary:
The CLP by Sage & Braker is a good gun cleaning solution that will help you lubricate, clean, and protect your firearm from dirt and fouling. Unlike other gun cleaning solvents, the CLP uses a highly penetrating solvent that leaves a non-stick coating.
PROS
- Usable for a long time
- Cleans effortlessly
- Convenient application
- Versatile
- Non-toxic
CONS
- Overpowering scent
- Not for heavy fouling
10. Lucas Gun Oil Original & Extreme Duty
Why We Picked It:
The gun grease from Lucas Gun Oil offers general lubrication for different shotguns, revolvers, and lever-action rifles. The best gun grease is blended with petroleum extracted additives to provide special lubricants that withstand high heat and friction.
Who Should Use It:
The Lucas Gun Oil is ideal for hunting firearms because it is odorless and environmentally friendly.
Summary:
With all the gun cleaning solvents on the market, the Lucas gun oil set could be a good deal because it is resistant to all weather types. It is odorless and can penetrate different components of the gun to ensure proper lubrication. With the use of the solvent, you can protect your gun from early wear and tear.
PROS
- Noticeable smoothness operation
- Works as advertised
- High-quality lubricant
- Nice deal
- Works well with multiple firearms
CONS
- The container is prone to leakage
- Sizes could be better
Your Guide to Buying
Effectiveness
When choosing the best gun cleaning solvents, they should be effective in cleaning, lubricating, and protecting your firearm. The use of effective solvent is important if you want to maintain a clean and reliable firearm.
A bore solvent that cannot penetrate well on the surface is hard to work with. Without the bore cleaner, it would be challenging to clean the gun. In addition, to make gun maintenance more effective, you can use a gun cleaning mat, bore snake, and bore cleaner.
Quantity
Checking out the quantity of the best gun cleaning solvents must be taken into consideration before buying one. There are solvents in small bottles that come very handy but cannot be enough for cleaning and creating a protective layer to prevent rust.
The best gun solvent must be sufficient for your scheduled cleaning sessions. There are different sizes of solvent available on the market that you can choose from. Some quantities can be handy but can be used once or twice.
Solvent Type
Liquid
Getting a liquid gun cleaning solvent is effective for removing residues inside your gun. When using the gun, it can attract dust, sand, dirt, and other debris. In addition, since the gun powder leaves residues like copper, lead and carbon, using a liquid type can help you dissolve it faster.
However, liquid solvent tends to leave a greasy residue when used too much.
Foam
Dealing with build-up and dirt residue can be stressful when cleaning guns. A spray-on foam can be easy to use and apply when removing residues from your last gun session. You can leave the foam and let it do the work.
Fortunately, this type of solvent is easier to apply compared to liquid solvents and is not messy to use.
CLP Cleaners
The CLP Cleaners are designed to clean, lubricate and protect weapons when cleaning them. Aside from cleaning the metal surface and lubricating it, it also creates a protective layer on the insides of your gun to avoid any rust build-up.
However, let us remind you that too much use of CLP gun cleaners may reduce the performance of your weapon.
Aerosol Spray
If you want excellent gun cleaners that can get in different components of your gun, getting an aerosol spray can be the best option. The elite gun cleaner is best in removing debris and build-up residues on gun cleaning mats and bore.
However, the easy operation of aerosol can be wasteful because the solvent particles can mix in the air.
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Firearm Type & Compatibility
The best gun cleaner must be compatible with cleaning different types of firearms. Fortunately, all gun cleaning solvents mentioned above are versatile and can be used in firearms, fishing reels, knives, and other mechanisms.
The solvent must be non-toxic and safe on different surfaces like metal, wood, and leather. Some solvents can cause discoloration and may affect the performance and reliability of your gun, so compatibility is important.
Fast Action & Potent Formula
The excellent viscosity of the best gun cleaner helps with the fast penetration of the solvent when cleaning the gun. The fast action solvent will help you save time and clean the bore easier if you are cleaning guns.
Since the best gun cleaner solvents are made from chemicals, the potent formula will help to break down dirt build-up inside the gun. However, the formula must be non-toxic and safe for your skin and environment.
Safety
There are two safety factors we want to take into consideration when buying a gun cleaning solvent. First, some solvents can contain harmful chemicals like carcinogens that can be very harmful to your health with too much exposure [1]. In addition, the bottle must come in a child-proof cap to avoid any untoward incidents.
On the other hand, the safety of your firearm should also be considered when doing maintenance. Before cleaning your gun, make sure that your gun is unloaded. In addition, the cleaning solvents can cause failure and discoloration when used too much.
Brand & Price
Different brands manufacture the best bore cleaner that any gun owner would want to use. The best gun cleaning solvents brands have built a reputation for spending more time shooting and less time cleaning.
However, another thing to consider is the price of a bottle because it can be expensive depending on its brand and size. While some gun owners prefer unbranded solvent, high-quality cleaners from branded manufacturers can be a good option at an affordable price.
Our Team's Selection Process
Overall Performance
Our team tested the best cleaning solvents if they could penetrate well on a very dirty bore. Since the goal is to keep the gun well maintained, the solvent must clean, protect and lubricate the bore to help with the firearm’s reliability.
Moreover, the cleaning solution should leave a protective layer for any rust build-up in case you want to store your guns.
Weapon Compatibility
We made sure that the selected gun cleaning solvents were compatible with the weapons you normally use. The gun cleaning solvent must protect the insides of the gun and not the other way around, so we checked for the chemicals included in the mixture.
In addition, the best gun cleaning solvent is an all-around cleaner that is compatible with guns, fishing reels, knives, and other mechanisms.
Product Quality
The cleaning solvent must provide impressive cleanliness, lubrication, and protection to the handgun. May it be a concealed carry handgun, hunting rifle, or pistol for self-defense, it must be kept well maintained to guarantee a long lifespan. Furthermore, the solvent must be safe to use for both the gun owner and the firearm.
FAQs
Yes, you can take your cleaning solvent when shooting outside since some bottles come in handy. Aside from using it for a gun, you can use it for any tool mechanism. However, since gun cleaning may take a lot of preparation and tools, it would be challenging to use it when shooting outside.
The Break-Free CLP-2 Cleaner Lubricant Preservative is the solvent that the military uses to clean their guns. The solvent is designed for the military to lubricate, clean, and protect the gun from heavy gun powder residues. The Break Free Cleaner is a breakthrough military-grade solvent.
Yes, gun bore cleaner is the same as solvent. It can clean fouling and dirt build-up from the bore and other firearm parts. It cleans, lubricates, and protects your bore from corrosion, carbon, and lead build-up.
What's Our Choice For The Best Gun Cleaning Solvent?
Our choice for the best gun cleaning solvent is the Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil. The formula of this solvent is best for the lubrication and protection of firearms. Since the solvent is biodegradable, cleaning guns with the Ballistol is safe and won’t harm the environment.
The Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil has a carbon and contamination management that can keep your firearm free from lead, dust, corrosion, and abrasive debris. In addition, the anti-wear additives of the solvent will give significant accuracy and lifespan to your firearm.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Our #1 Recommendation
Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil
- Eco-Friendly solvent
- Best value for money
- Safe on guns
- All-purpose cleaner
Even though the smell is quite strong, we wont trade Ballistol with any other cleaning solvent