Hoppes #9 and nickel barrels

[tommygun]

I just got a new Optima with a nickel barrel and am wondering if running Hoppes #9 thru the bore to clean it after shooting will damage it. Seems I heard somewhere that it is hard on nickel. Your thoughts?

[aceoky]

It's usually a bad idea to use ANY petroleum based products on a ML..reason? They cause the fouling to get"hard" and will affect accuracy over time(also they cause it to be next to impossible to really clean) Use a ML cleaning product and bore butter and that's all you should ever need, and I don't think they would harm the nickle (two birds with one stone)??? Black powder is different than smokeless powder and the fouling is also different; on a brand new (you haven't fired it yet) gun I use rubbing alcohol to clean the "grease" they pack them with, then use bore butter to coat(very lightly) the bore after a few shots the bore becomes seasoned(like a GOOD cast iron skillet) and loading and cleaning is MUCH easier from then on. Just the way I've been taught and the way most "experts" advise BTW it's a very good idea to also apply "anti seize" compound on the nipple/breech plug before you ever fire a ML(if so equipped) makes removing them possible after a day of shooting a great deal.

Hope this info helps.

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I'd rather be lucky than good any day!!

Reloaders Haul Brass!

[mastinson]

Do not use hoppes or any copper removeing product on nickel, the reason is they use a copper plating under the nickle plateing because nickle does not adhere to steel good if the hoppes gets into the microscopic pores or gets under even on little spot were the nickle is wore or chipped the copper remover will do what it is supposed to and remove the copper thus taking the nickle with it.

[Salty]

I didn't know that.........does the same hold true for modern guns, say nickel plated S&W revolvers? I have heard that Hoppes #9 will cause the rib to come off shotguns, it attacks the solder.

[quackrstackr]

Salty, I would not use a copper remover on any nickel plated gun, regardless of how old it is. I believe that copper is still used extensively in the nickel plating process.

Better safe than sorry.

Straight powder.......

[tommygun]

Thanks for the info guys! I asked the same question where I bought the rifle and at Gander Mountain and both said they thought it would be OK (but they didn't sound to sure of themselves when they said it) I wondered about Hoppe's because I once heard that it would remove nickel fouling from shotguns. Thanks again!

[muzzymike7]

the best thing iv ever used to clean a black powder is pure rubbing alcohol.its like it eats it up and it dissapears it claens fast and less messy.

mike