Hoppe's
Hoppe’s is one of the most recognized names in American firearms cleaning — producing gun care products since 1903 and best known for Hoppe’s No. 9 bore solvent, one of the most widely used firearm cleaning products in history. The distinctive sweet smell of Hoppe’s No. 9 is familiar to generations of American shooters. Beyond the iconic No. 9, Hoppe’s produces the BoreSnake one-pass cleaning system, Hoppe’s Elite for modern firearm materials, and a complete range of lubricants, patches, and cleaning kits.
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Hoppe's No. 9: The Classic Solvent
Hoppe’s No. 9 is a petroleum-based bore solvent that removes powder fouling, lead, and copper deposits from firearm barrels. It has been the standard bore cleaning solvent for over 120 years and remains effective for traditional carbon and lead fouling. One note for modern shooters: No. 9 is not ideal for nickel-plated or polymer surfaces — use Hoppe’s Elite or a compatible modern solvent for these materials.
Hoppe's BoreSnake
The BoreSnake is Hoppe’s one-pass bore cleaning tool — a rope-like device with an integrated brass brush and floss that passes through the bore once to remove the bulk of fouling. It replaces multi-pass patch-and-rod cleaning for field-expedient cleaning between range sessions. BoreSnakes are available for every common rifle, handgun, and shotgun bore diameter. For range bag inclusion and fast post-shoot cleaning, the BoreSnake is the most convenient tool available.
Hoppe's Elite
Hoppe’s Elite is their modern formulation — safer for polymer frames, synthetic stocks, and modern coatings than No. 9, while providing equivalent cleaning performance for carbon and copper fouling. For modern polymer-framed pistols and rifles with synthetic furniture, Elite is the recommended alternative to No. 9.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hoppe's
Can I use Hoppe's No. 9 on a polymer pistol?
Use Hoppe’s Elite or a compatible modern solvent for polymer-framed pistols. No. 9’s petroleum base can degrade some polymer materials over time with repeated exposure. On the metal barrel and slide, No. 9 is fine — avoid extended contact with polymer grip frames.
Is Hoppe's BoreSnake as good as a cleaning rod?
For quick field cleaning and between-session maintenance, yes. For deep cleaning after high-round-count sessions, a traditional rod-and-patch system with solvent-soaked patches provides more thorough copper and lead removal. Use both — BoreSnake for convenience, rod-and-patch for periodic deep cleaning.
See Also: Gun Cleaning • Real Avid • Otis • Break-Free • Reloading Supplies