Best Lubricant & Cleaner for Glock Pistols

Date Updated: December 9th 2022

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10 min read

Glock is known for its reliability, being able to cycle when put in just about any condition. Large amounts of carbon build up, dirt and even mud, inexplicably doesn't stop Glock from firing, but it is obvious keeping it clean and lubed will make it that much more reliable. Glock has a very specific way they recommend you to clean and lube your firearm which we will go over. You can also read about it in your owners manual that came with the firearm. One thing Glock also recommends that we will focus on is using a quality lubricant that won't harden or gum up to prevent any malfunction when firing your Glock. We will be giving you our top choices for Glock lubricants and cleaners as well as how often you should clean your firearm.

How Often Should I clean my Glock?

Keeping your Glock clean and on the dry side is ideal, but the question is how clean and how dry should your Glock be. Below is Glock's recommended cleaning regiment to achieve optimal performance and longevity of your firearm.

• Before using your firearm for the first time, be sure to clean it.
• After each trip to the range, clean your firearm to prevent brass corrosion and pitting caused by leftover propellant and primers.
• Clean your firearm at least once a month, if it hasn't been used during that that time.
• If your firearm has been exposed to the elements such as rain, snow, perspiration, salt water, dirt, or dust, be sure to clean it.
• Be careful not to over lubricate your firearm, as this can negatively impact its performance. Glocks tend to run a bit better on the drier side.

To ensure the optimal performance of your Glock, it is essential to use lubricants and cleaners. In this post, we will share our top picks for lubricants and cleaners that will keep your Glock running smoothly.

Product Overview

Product	Details
Ballistol (Editors Choice)	Skin Safe: Slightly alkaline in nature; neutralizes the effect of sweat and skin oils and non-carcinogenic Environmentally Friendly: Ballistol is biodegradable Proven: Ballistol has has proven itself for over 100 years	See It
Hoppe's #9	Includes a full bottle of the 14.9 ml Needle Point Hoppe's No. 9 oil, and the 2 1/4 ounce squeeze bottle refill. High-viscosity oil refined to perfection Extra-long lasting, Does not harden, gum or expire One bottle of model 1003 and one bottle of model 3060. Hoppe's, since 1903.	See It
CLP	Approved by US Military to clean & Preserve firearms. One stop shop for cleaning, lubricating, and preserving. Doesn't freeze in cold environments and does not gum up.	See It

Best All-round Cleaner & Lubricant - Ballistol

Over 100 years ago the German military requested an 'all-round' oil and cleaner for their rifles and equipment, the product that was formulated is now called Ballistol. This 3-in-one lubricant, cleaner, protection, can be used for a wide range of applications such as wood, leather and firearms, just to name a few. Cleaning with Ballistol will save you time, minimize the need for brushing, and it also forms a protective film on your glock overtime.

Due to its slight alkalinity (8 - 8.5), Ballistol neutralizes and dissolves black powder and corrosive ammo residue. Since Ballistol neutralizes, instead of eats away at the fowling, it is safe to have residual Ballistol, but it is recommended to wipe off any access lubricant. One of the major advantages of using Ballistol as a lubricant and cleaner is it will never gum up or harden, which can be detrimental to any gun, and you never have to worry what you put it on. Ballistol is a high quality product and even some of the more notable people in the firearm community use it, like Hickok45. We would recommend anyone and everyone to use Ballistol on there Glock, and it is what we use on our own.

hickok45 Cleaning with Ballistol

Tried and True Hoppe's #9

Of course Hoppe's will be on this list, what kind of gun owner would we be without having a bottle or two of Hoppe's No. 9. Hoppe's has been around for some time, since 1903 to be exact and got its name from Frank August Hoppe who mixed nine chemicals together and created a cleaner that will last generations.

Hoppe's is another classic choice for cleaning your Glock but you will need to get the Hoppes bore cleaner and the oil/lubricator since its not a 3-in-one. When applying Hoppe's to your gun you won't have to worry about any corrosive properties, it acts as a rust inhibitor and any leftover solvent will be evaporated but do make sure you give it a good wipe after applying the solvent. Hoppe's lubricant is a high-quality lube that is long lasting, does not harden, gum or expire, which is exactly what we want when applying it to any striker fired gun. The Hoppes lubricant also comes with a fine nose point so you can easily apply it between the rail grooves and on the extractor or any where else that has metal on metal contact.

Sootch00 Cleaning with Hoppe's #9 & Cleaning Kit

Best Long Term Storage CLeaner - CLP

CLP is another great multi-use product, for cleaning, lubing and preserving your firearm. CLP is a safe product that does not corrode or affect the wood or polymer materials in your firearms. We use CLP anytime we will be keeping a firearm in the safe for a long period of time, since it acts also as a preservative but CLP does make a dedicated longer lasting preservative. CLP is known for having minimal burn off, and can withstand a wide range of temperatures with no adverse affects to your firearm. CLP is also on the US military approved list for firearm cleaners/lubricators. CLP has a long-lasting lubricating film that is supposed to reduce adhesion of sand, grit or other abrasives which cause wear and failure. Just like ballistol CLP creates a protective film overtime, which helps from rusting and pitting.

Cleaning Tools

No matter what lubricant and cleaner you choose you will still need to apply it to your firearm. What we typically like to use are simple cleaning patches, and woven low-lint cotton swabs, so they do not leave behind any fibers and excess lint. With the swabs you can get in between your rail grooves and hard to reach places with the 6-inch stick attached. Glock also ships with a cleaning rod, which I prefer to use since it's made of a polymer and won't scratch the barrel when cleaning the bore.

If you need something to remove some of the fowling and old lube you applied to your weapon the last time you cleaned it, its safe to use some rubbing alcohol. Being so simple is why we like it, we know it works and its cheap. If you are wanting to see what that looks like, you can refer to the video below of Hickok45 cleaning with rubbing alcohol, cleaning pouches, cotton swabs and some trusty Ballistol.

Bore Snake Cleaner

Cleaning your Glock pistol with a bore snake can offer several benefits compared to traditional methods. One of the biggest advantages of using a bore snake is the convenience and speed at which it allows you to clean your firearm, you can simply run the bore snake through the barrel to quickly remove fouling and debris. They are compact and lightweight, making it easy to take them with you wherever you go and clean your Glock anytime, anywhere. Bore snakes are also more affordable than other cleaning tools and supplies, making them a cost-effective option for maintaining your Glock. Bore snakes typically have brass bristles and are not an aggressive cleaning option. If you decide to go with a bore snake, you will still need to clean and lubricate the other parts of the firearm like the extractor and slide. Overall, using a bore snake for cleaning your Glock can be a convenient, effective, and cost-effective way to maintain your firearm.

Bore Snake Cleaning Tips with Hoppe's #9

Cleaning Kits

Firearm cleaning and maintenance is an essential part of owning a gun. It's important to keep your firearm in good working order to ensure its reliability and safety. While there are many cleaning and maintenance products on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right ones. That's why it's important to do your research and read reviews before making a purchase.

One type of product that can be useful for firearm owners is a mobile cleaning kit. These kits are designed to be easily transported and can come in handy when you're at the range or on the go. However, not all mobile cleaning kits are equal in quality. Some brushes are known to shed their copper wires due to poor manufacturing, and they may also have poorly designed attachment threads. To ensure you're getting a high-quality cleaning kit, it's important to do your research and read reviews before making a purchase.

If you're looking for a larger cleaning kit, it's important to consider what types of firearms you own. Some kits may be more suitable for certain types of guns. For recommendations on the best cleaning kits for your firearm, be sure to check out our article on the topic. Proper cleaning and maintenance is essential for keeping your firearm in good working order, so be sure to invest in the right products for the job.

BOOSTEADY Universal Handgun Cleaning kit

The BOOSTEADY cleaning kit is not only great for your glock but any handgun you own, since the kit is not platform specific. If you have multiple calibers this is also a good option since it is compatible with 22, 357, 38, 9mm and 45 caliber handguns. The product comes with a nice case that holds each piece in place. 16 total Pieces, and two good 10.5 inch Handgun cleaning rods. The rods are made of brass, so you don't damage your barrel, and is a lot stronger to push patches through then the stock glock plastic cleaning rod.

Final Thoughts

With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to find the best Glock lubricant and cleaner. It can be tempting to try out the latest and greatest products that claim to be the ultimate solution for maintaining your firearm. However, sometimes it pays to stick to the basics and use the tried and true cleaning products that have stood the test of time. By using the old time originals, you can be confident that you are using a proven and reliable product that will effectively clean and lubricate your Glock. Not only will these products help to keep your gun running smoothly, but they will also ensure that it stays in good condition for years to come.