Hoppes #9 Plus range test today ( I know, here we go again )

[Scout]

I know this is beating a dead horse as this has been discussed long before I was ever a member here.
That being said I had posted about the Windex as a patch lube/cleaner and had great results and said I would post about this also after using it.

The Hoppes worked GREAT !
It seemed to me a bit better than the Windex because it is  more slippery. I had 18 shots with no wiping between them and could have had more but time ran out for me. The cleaning after I got home was a bit different than some others results. I used 11 patches to clean and 3 with Ballistol after I was done.
I can live with that amount of cleaning as it's better than with any other lube I have tried in the past. The last 2 times I have been out shooting has been a real pleasure by not having to deal with wiping after every 3 or 4 shots, it just makes it all real enjoyable.

My thanks to everyone for all of your advice and helpful tips !

[roundball]

Ran a 40 shot range session with my .40cal Lancaster today without wiping between shots...used dry patches that I made wet with Hoppes...its great stuff for sure

[Stormrider51]

Out of curiousity, has anyone checked for velocity changes when the stuff is left in contact with the powder for different periods of time?  For instance, load and fire.  Load, wait 5 minutes and fire.  Load, wait 10 minutes and fire.  Etc.  I'm wondering what could be expected when used as a lube when hunting.  I've really got to remember who borrowed my chrono!

Storm

[Daryl]

Storm - Taylor tested Hoppe's #9 Plus a couple years ago over a 5 day period. The barrel was loaded with a very wet patch (normal for us) of Hoppe's #9 Plus, then put outside overnight, brought back inside, put out again the next evening (or day, etc,) for the 5 days, then the plug was pulled powder removed and carefully expamined for powder contamination and for rust. There was not of either.

The only difference I found, was that Hoppe's Plus, like LHV, required 10gr. more powder to get the accuracy back over what shot well with a water based lube. That was in both the .40 and .45 rifles.  It's slippery enough in my barrels, to give a slick barrel 'event', where more powder is needed to get a good even pressure shot to shot, which results in good accuracy - that's my theory and i'm sticking with it.  If a barrel is a bit rough or has some pits, maybe it won't have that effect?

[Stormrider51]

Daryl, thanks for that info.  The relative slipperiness of lubes is definitely a factor in velocity.  I favor the "dry patch" method because the amount of lube is absolutely consistent from shot to shot.  The last time I did some chrono testing the data indicated that a wet patch resulted in lowered velocity.  Could this account for your need to increase the charge by 10 grains?  Just a thought.

Storm (who still can't remember who borrowed his chronograph)

[Daryl]

Both my .40 and .45 shoot quite accurately, have done a consistant 1/2" for 5 shots at 50 yards off a rest with either a spit patch and 55gr. 3F in the .40 and 65gr. 3f in the .45. The velocity is roughly 1,850 in both rifles.  If I use LHV or Hoppe's Plus, I have to load 65gr.3F and 75gr.3F respectively, for over 2,200fps in both rifles. It is not merely a velocity thing, as shown by the much different speeds; it must be back-pressure or even pressure/consistancy deal, I'm sure.

The slippery lubes just needed more powder to achieve consistant results with no fliers. The non-slippery lubes requiring less powder to reach that consistancy - it seemed. I can see no other explanation.

Indeed, the .40 will shoot just as well at 1,750fps with 55gr. 2f with spit or water based lube, yet needs 75gr. 2f to shoot with the same accuracy when using the slippery ones, a full 10 grs. over the 3F load. Same for the .45- it likes 85gr. 2f. both those loads also produce the same velocity as the heavy 3f loads - ie: just over 2,200fps in both calibres.

There is never any fouling buildup, with either 3f or 2f- no difference in loading can be felt over the entire day.

   

[walt53]

YOU may also find if you run acleaning patch slightly wet with HOPPES IN YOUR BARREL AFTER A RANGE TRIP, when you clean your gun at home it will be easier.Something else to try.  walt