Hoppe's #9

[M-61]

I have a new in the box bottle from 1985 that I only open to smell from time to time.

Similar here except I open in every time I clean a rifle. When I’m done I close it firmly. I think it’s earlier than ‘85. Really lasts.

 

[FNSafari]

I think it was benzene that caused the formula to change once the toxic nature of it became accepted. It was used in many things applied to skin, but that was a BAD idea.

 

[Dgd6mm]

What year did they change it?

 

[varget204]

Grew up in the 50's loving the smell of Hoppes #9 & singed down off waterfowl,will never forget it

 

[Will Henry]

We have all heard about the ill effects of Hoppes #9, with nitrobenzene, and other cleaners, and I have no real reason to doubt any of it. Nonetheless, I have been cleaning guns with Hoppes#9 since I was 8 years old and used it to wipe down my Daisy BB gun. Like everyone else, I loved the aroma, and it cleaned good too! Now, after 67 years of use of this and a host of other solvents, I'm not real concerned over what they might do to me. I have practically no sense of smell anymore (thanks to the Wuhan flu or the vaccine for it) and I miss the smell of Hoppes, along with other pleasant odors, like elk! It is still a good cleaner. WH

 

[durand mortenson]

I didn't notice it until I opened a new plastic container. The glass container I have is from 2003 and had the smell we all remember.

Mort

 

[K22]

I think it was benzene that caused the formula to change once the toxic nature of it became accepted. It was used in many things applied to skin, but that was a BAD idea.

I believe you are correct. I remember many years ago reading an article about benzene being replaced with kerosene.

 

[K22]

We have all heard about the ill effects of Hoppes #9, with nitrobenzene, and other cleaners, and I have no real reason to doubt any of it. Nonetheless, I have been cleaning guns with Hoppes#9 since I was 8 years old and used it to wipe down my Daisy BB gun. Like everyone else, I loved the aroma, and it cleaned good too! Now, after 67 years of use of this and a host of other solvents, I'm not real concerned over what they might do to me. I have practically no sense of smell anymore (thanks to the Wuhan flu or the vaccine for it) and I miss the smell of Hoppes, along with other pleasant odors, like elk! It is still a good cleaner. WH

Benzene was removed from the formulation many years ago and replaced with kerosene.

You are correct - it cleans good too - especially with a bronze brush.

 

[K22]

Is the new stuff as good as the old stuff before they changed the formula ?

Yes, and it is less toxic than the old formulation that contained benzene but that was many years ago and they replaced it with kerosene.

My grandfather, father and uncles used it. So did I before I became an "expert" reading gun magazines and then the ultimate source of "expert" information, the net. So, I divorced Hoppes 9, went into the solvent weeds, spend more money, more time, more complexity, and more of everything including inhaling some very nasty odors. Guess what - the shooting results were the same or worse. Not sure what toll that nasty stuff took on my health but at my age I am too old to worry about it.

About 3 years ago I remarried Hoppes 9 and hopefully we will live happily ever after. In my experience, if you use it with a bronze brush and clean regularly it does a fine job if your measurement criteria are results on target, at least at my modest level of shooting requirements.

But if your criteria are pristine bore scope images then you probably won't like it. I guess you need to clean to those images for ultra precision shooting, e.g., benchrest shooting and F class shooting.

 

[AlNyhus]

I put Hoppes #9 in all my barrels after cleaning with Butch's. It's mild formula works on any little stuff until it time to shoot again and it's a great preservative. -Al

 

[Doug Casner]

I love the smell of Hoppes but never used it to singe ducks. Doug Just funnin ya varg

 

[CJ6]

I thought this was a pretty clean site.....I didn't realize there were so many HOPPE HEADS on here.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Yeah, that smell is great. I bought a few old bottles as much as I could find within reason. I have new and old. I think one of the secrets is to let the solvent work for you. patch it thru and let it sit as long as you can. I salvaged some from old shotgun and rifle Hoppes cleaning kits. I hate the new plastic boxes. But then, I like old Colt 1911s, Old Model Ruger revolvers, older SW revolvers that were made of steel that had a nice snap when you dry fired it. Newer SW revolvers make a tinny sound. I can't stand it, even though these new SW revolvers are supposed to shoot better than the older ones. PS, I don't dry fire very often at all.

 

[butchlambert]

I just rechecked and I have 2 bottles, a 32oz and a 2oz that says Gibsons and is marked $1.70. That was the old Gibson's Discount stores.

 

[Dimner]

Nothing wrong with that, unless you dab a little behind each ear & on each wrist!...LOL

I've actually done that.... On two separate occasions

 

[Dkk37058]

Two smells that take me back to my childhood is Hoppes and freshly fired shotgun hulls

 

[jxb]

Two smells that take me back to my childhood is Hoppes and freshly fired shotgun hulls

Sorry, I can't resist. Paper or plastic ?

 

[hogpatrol]

I just rechecked and I have 2 bottles, a 32oz and a 2oz that says Gibsons and is marked $1.70. That was the old Gibson's Discount stores.

Butch, Did some research on ebay. You have a bottle of gold there!

Vintage 32 oz Boxed Bottle No. 9 Hoppe's Nitro Powder Solvent Parkesburg Pa | eBay

Original vintage 32 oz Boxed Bottle of #9 Hoppe's Nitro Powder Solvent. Conditionally, there is about 2/3rds of the solvent remaining in a sound brown bottle with no chips/cracks which has some fade/stain to the labeling, but otherwise the cap fits tightly and the box has some oil soak, but is...

www.ebay.com

 

[pertnear]

Looks like you can still buy the Hoppe's Air Fresheners to hang in your car or around the house.

 

[D Coots]

Just a pinch in a single malt...