Hoppes #9 BP Solvent & Patch Lube

[Swamp Buck]

For a couple of years I have been buying precut dry patches (.015) for my .54 GPR and lubing them prior to going to the shooting range with Bore Butter and/or Mink Oil. I store them in a used percussion cap tins.

Recently I got a bottle of the Hoppes #9 Black Powder Solvent & Patch Lube. I did the same thing by treating the dry patches with this patch lube and storing them in a percussion cap tin.

Now here is the odd thing that I found. When I treated the dry patches with Bore Butter they stayed "flat" and still fairly stiff as much as cloth of that thickness can be. However, when I treated the dry patches with the Hoppes Patch Lube, they immediately curled up on me and the material even felt softer to the touch. It took a while to uncurl each of the patches to lay them on top of each other in the percussion cap tin.

I must say though - the Hoppes Patch Lube worked like a charm. Even after many shots, a patched round ball would slide down the bore just like it was shot #1 for the day.

 

[roundball]

I noticed the same thing when applying H-No9+ to dry patches, but am 150% sold on it...been using it for 2 years now in the dry, low humidity months of the year...for example, I shoot a 50 shot range session in January when fouling dries instantly and never even have to wipe between shots...get home and the bore is so clean there's barely a trace of color that comes out in the hot water bucket.

The rest of the year, and for hunting loads...I use NL1000 patches...mainly because I've accumulated a gazillion of them at low prices from auctions and business closures.

 

[FTW]

Been using Hoppes #9+ for close to 30 years.Use it all year long.Today it was raining when I left the house to go to the range.It's rained almost every day for over 6 weeks,the humidity is high enough for it to be really steamy outside,80% or so.The temp is 87 now at 7 o'clock in the evening.But the 60th 45 cal. ball went down like the first.The humidity does make 4F cake up in the pan charger though.

 

[roundball]

"...humidity does make 4F cake up in the pan charger..."

I found a pretty simple fix for that...no matter how well I wipe the pan with an old washcloth after every shot in high humidity, the plunger does gradually pick up a little something.

So I cut a pipe cleaner in half and after every use of the pan primer, slide the pipe cleaner back into the dispenser tube before laying it back down on the bench...keeps it clean and flowing smoothly

 

[MikeC]

I use the Hoppes as well, but at the range I lube each patch just before loading. I put the Hoppes in an old Visine bottle and apply a couple of drops just before loading.

I prelube other patches with bore butter the night before by melting some on a flat plate in the microwave than putting the patches in the plate with the melted bore butter until their saturated.

 

[redwing]

It is very high and dry here. The N1000 will only go 2 or 3 shots and then it cakes up. The H9BP+ will allow you to shoot all day. The bore will be very easy to clean up. :thumbsup:

 

[Swamp Buck]

MikeC,, I do the same thing with the Bore Butter and patches in the microwave. It works pretty slick. A lot less messy than trying to put Bore Butter on each individual patch at the shooting range. I just stack them on paper towel and press out the excess lube.

I just got to thinking. I have found that size .020" thick patches have been too stiff and tight to use for my rifle. I have used them but they take a bit of force to get them seated in the gun. I just wonder if the Hoppes #9 BPS & Patch Lube - would soften them up for easier use just like it did with the 0.015" patch size?

 

[MikeC]

Yep...No mess. I put them between paper towels and gently press then stack them in a tin.

I do find that patches of the same thickness go down easier lubed with the Hoppes, so you may be onto something. Although I think it's just slicker than bore-butter.

 

[Landngroove]

I also use Hoppes #9 Plus Black Powder Solvent as a patch lube. This is a great lube, and bore wipe. I pre-cut my own patches from pillow ticking, but don't lube them until I load. Can't say enough good about it. I get good accuracy, and easy loading. When I load for hunting, I put a bore button over the powder, so not to get any liquid from the patch, on the powder.

 

[jtmattison]

I have four bottles of it and honestly I have never even given it a good try. How well does it hold up if you pre-lube a bunch of patches and let them sit a long time. Does it tend to dry out?

HD

 

[Swamp Buck]

Good question...When I went shooting last Friday I had prelubed up the dry patches only the night before. I will have to whip up a batch this week and store them in one of the used percussion cap tins until the next time I shoot and see if they have changed at all.

I just forgot about asking this earlier - but Hoppes #9 has the two products: Black Powder Bore Solvent and the other is Black Powder Bore Solvent Plus Patch Lube. I have only used the one that says (Plus Patch Lube) on the label. Can either one be used as a patch lube or not?

 

[paulvallandigham]

SB: I used the earlier bore solvent as a patch lube and it was okay on the range when I was shooting the load out of the barrel within a few minutes at most. If I used it when hunting, it would often dry out, and leave a rust ring where the ball was seated. I stopped using it for hunting. Same with spit patches. I now use Young Country 1000 lube, and pre-lube the patches and put them in tight containers. They last months without drying out. I have not tried the Plus formula. I intend to use ballistol for a water/ballistol dry lube to see how that works in my fowler.