Clenzoil
I've had the opportunity to test a product called Clenzoil Field & Range. This is billed as the "ultimate cleaning, lubrication and protection for your precision firearms." Here's what I found:
First Time Try
My first use of it was a week or two prior to a muzzleloader hunt. I took my guns to the range and shot them, then gave each a cleaning. I found the Clenzoil to be an effective cleaner on the black powder fouling, and I left the guns with a light coating of Clenzoil to prevent rust, as directed.
A couple of weeks later, when the time came to load the guns, I ran a dry patch down the bore of my 45 rifle to remove the Clenzoil, and the patch came out rusty! Obviously, Clenzoil didn't offer any protection to speak of against what must have been a little black powder residue remaining in the barrel. Therefore I can't recommend Clenzoil for black powder guns, except as a cleaner.
Worked Much Better on a Shotgun & a 45 Auto
The next time I put it to use was on a Mossberg model 9200 semi-auto shotgun. I had been having trouble with rust on the outside of the magazine tube and inside the chamber. I think much of this rust can likely be attributed to the use of plastic shotshells - when fired, the powder burns the plastic somewhat, which produces a small amount of nasty corrosive gases.
Every time I took this scattergun hunting and shot it 4 or 5 times, then let it sit for a few days without cleaning, I would find the magazine tube and action arm/counterweight assembly covered in rust, no matter how well oiled it had been before the shooting. I applied a light coating of Clenzoil before my most recent hunt, and though some rust did appear as usual, it was less than it has been in the past. In this case, Clenzoil proved to be a more effective protectant than the other oils I had tried.
When it came time to clean the shotgun, I used the Clenzoil and wasn't disappointed. It did a nice job loosening and removing fouling, and hopefully will help to protect my chamber from rust in the future. Next up was a 45 auto, and Clenzoil did well loosening the fouling inside the barrel, even the stubborn stuff in the throat (just forward of the chamber). Powder fouling wiped off the frame easily.
Worked Well on a 22 Mag Rifle
I next used Clenzoil on an old bolt-action 22 magnum Savage rifle. Cleaning went smoothly, and then I turned to the stock. Since the Clenzoil package proclaims, "Clenzoil also nourishes, preserves and protects wood and leather," I decided to give it a try. It did fine on the old, dry stock (which has no finish to speak of on the wood), and helped even out the color, which had been a bit splotchy.
The package also states, "Not recommended for painted surfaces." This makes me wonder if it would be a mistake to apply Clenzoil to stocks with lacquer or other paint-like finishes. It also reminds me that most scopes are painted, as are aluminum and alloy parts on many guns, such as trigger guards, barrel bands, buttplates, etc. I have no idea what effect, if any, Clenzoil would have on these surfaces, and I'm not brave enough to try it on my guns.
Not so Good on This Old Double Gun
Finally, I turned to my old 410 double-barrel shotgun, which at the time my nephew used on our squirrel hunts together. This gun had been fired quite a bit and left to sit before cleaning (shame on me!). I ran patches soaked in Clenzoil, alternating patching and brushing the bore. After a whole lot of elbow grease, it was apparent that Clenzoil wasn't cutting all of the fouling in there, so I gave up and decided to apply another product and let it sit overnight to loosen the fouling.
Conclusion
Clenzoil seems to be a fairly good cleaner on fresh powder fouling from both smokeless and black powders. It seems to have a tough time with older, more stubborn fouling. I do not recommend it as a protectant on black powder guns, but it seems to do well on guns using smokeless powder. It does fine on older wood stocks, apparently without soaking in too much, as gun oil will often do (which will eventually soften the wood after many years of application). I didn't try it on any leather products, so I can't say one way or the other on that feature.
It's my feeling that there is no one perfect all-around cleaner, lubricant, & protectant (CLP). If there is, I have yet to find it. Different products work better at different functions. Clenzoil seems to be a good cleaner, a fair lubricant, and a good protectant. I believe there are other products that will clean just as well or better, and other lubes/protectants that will do you better in that area. But if you feel you want just one product for all three jobs, Clenzoil will do as well as any CLP I know of, as long as you don't expect it to protect your black powder guns.
- Russ Chastain
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