Best gun lubricant

[rburg]

Time for a little common sense, or a reality check. You don't need the best lubricant. You don't even need one of the best. Almost any old lube will do. When you think about it, cost needs to be considered.

I've got a couple of old guns. They date from 100 years ago onward. Somehow they all survived without the benefit of today's wonder lubes (and wonder prices.). Most look so pristine you'd guess they came off the production line yesterday. But instead they've spent at least the last 70 or more years stored someplace. Not together, either. The guns can't talk. We all wish they could.

We've guessed over the years the owners, and I'm sure with most its plural, used what they had. It wasn't the same thing, because they had no idea what the last guy used. And almost all of the products worked.

The 3 in 1 oil is an interesting product. Almost no one recommends it for any serious use. Except I feel pretty certain the unwashed gun owners in the past used it with great success. The more recently hated substance is WD40. Almost no product elicits more hatred. Yet many of us have used it with good results. I think its probably the best gun first aid product ever made. A lot of people use it exclusively. Many of them own guns that are still very nice.

Something else we haven't discussed is need. We've got a big forum here. We've got folks who live on the salt flats of Utah and the coastlines of the Atlantic and Pacific. Others live in places where even a car body sanded to bare metal won't rust because there is no moisture. And some live in the cold wastelands with temps often below zero. Others live in the deserts where its hotter than hell. We don't all require or want the same products. Some lubes evaporate, others turn to concrete with cold. One product may not fill all of everyone's needs.

Me, I use what I can lay my hands on, mostly. I do have some RemOil that works pretty darn good on safe queens. And I've got both CLP and CLP collectors. I've got an aged Browning that has only seen the original can's of Browning gun oil. Not rusted yet.

My conclusion: It just doesn't matter.

 

[Bat Guano]

Concur. When I was a kid it was 3-in-1 oil because my dad had some around for hinges, etc. Years ago I picked up a couple of gallons of "oil, light lubricating" in Navy grey gallon cans from a surplus outlet at 50 cents a gallon. Still have some of it and with luck it will last as long as I do.

As I recall the lost B-24 Lady Be Good's engines were still decently protected by the engine oil after being baked in the desert for a couple of decades.

I don't get wrapped around the axle on the subject either.

 

[7tenz]

Rem-oil for most gun uses. Hoppes liquid grease for rails, but they don't make it any more. I think it's regular oil with a lot of teflon in it. I use a dry teflon for magazines. I can load a high cap g20 to 15 rounds without using the charging tool.

 

[redlevel]

I like 3-1 oil for lubrication after cleaning.

I will go against the grain here, but I still haven't found anything better than WD-40 for keeping a gun from rusting in hot, humid Georgia weather. I still use Hoppes #9 as a solvent, and 3-1 oil, or most any other kind of machine oil, as a straight lubricant.

The 3 in 1 oil is an interesting product. Almost no one recommends it for any serious use. Except I feel pretty certain the unwashed gun owners in the past used it with great success. The more recently hated substance is WD40. Almost no product elicits more hatred. Yet many of us have used it with good results. I think its probably the best gun first aid product ever made. A lot of people use it exclusively. Many of them own guns that are still very nice.

Great minds run in the same track . . . .

 

[venomballistics]

I suppose the lube debate could rage for generations.
Technically there is an ideal lube for each part of a gun.
rails and slides would prefer a grease, the hand in a revolver would like a dry silicone, trigger parts a light oil ... each could further be subdivided into optimum requirements until you have a tool shed stuffed with 8 oz tubes and bottles of oils greases and metal treatments to make you feel better about your gun care.
Bear in mind folks, that the iconic Colt SAA and even further back to the old Kentucky rifle saw lots of service with not much more than lard, and still lived long enough to be seen today in museums. Ive seen a private collection consisting of several vintage black powder era pieces, each of which could, and occasionally were called upon to perform.

 

[RABULL]

Another vote for BreakFree. It works great for me.....

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I was always partial to Hoppes, as its the standard around these parts .... but I recently tried Breakfree and am really impressed with it. I like to soak my barrel and recoil spring in it before they see any patches/brush ...

I'll still put a tiny dab of hops on the slide, but that's old habit.

Here's another vote for Breakfree™

 

[curtmini14]

ezzox all in one cleaner and rust inhibitor good stuff.

 

[oldman45]

Rburg,

I will agree with you about 75% of the way. My father was not a gun lover but rather a gun owner. He would shoot occasionally and carried one for self defense. He also could afford anything he wanted. Yet he used whatever he had. His cleaning hit was what ever old cotton shirt he could rip up into patches. They were pushed through the barrels with small dowell rods from his shop. For chemicals, he used WD-40 or 3 in 1 machine oil my mother kept around for her sewing machine. I still have some of his guns. They shoot fine and look great.

That said, times change. Some of the things I learned in school, even college, have changed and what was correct years ago is not correct now.

Technology has came a long way. We have discovered synthetic oils, we have better solvents, we have chemicals that will no longer hurt the finish of guns.

I will say that often we become victims of advertising hype for various products. Gun writers make a lot of money and get a lot of perks to write about how good a product is, when their articles are based on nothing more than what the maker says. We can spend a lot of money on worthless or just passable chemicals that will not perform as the maker advertises.

We can also buy some really good products based on the thoughts of those here buying and using the items. Technology in the chemical field is so advanced over the last 50 years, the chemicals of today does not even resemble the chemicals of yesterday.

Had WD-40 gone unchanged in their formula? Is the 3 in 1 machine oil we buy today the same chemical composition of 1950? I doubt it since they companies know that there are better products out there and chemicals, even synthetics, have came a long way.

We all resist change, even when it is an improvement for our needs and use. It does not have to cost a fortune to use good grade products on our guns. We can benefit from the knowledge and experiences of others using products for the same use we need. If CajunLawyer buys a product for $5 and find it does not work, then I do not need to spend that $5 based on his doing so. If TxShooter spends $2 on a product and finds it works well, leaves no residue and he is pleased, then I only need to spend $2 instead of $7 to learn what both men did.

The same works with guns. The model 36 made last month is not the same model 36 made in 1971. The basic S&W 1911 is better made than the custom guns made in 1990 simply due to improved metals, manufacturing methods and quality control. Yet we can now know this by being on this site together and taking advantage of the experiences and purchases

Today's Buick is not your grandfathers Buick.

 

[Silverado6x6]

My thin lubricant is a blend of spray Superlube and a moly additive from NAPA, for my heavier oil I use Amsoil and for my grease like for my Mini 14 and the M1A I use Super Lube synthetic grease.
Where I live I have mostly a very dry and cold condition, not much humidity unless I bring in something from outside and then it sweats, so basically for Alaska inland area I rely on ordinary off the shelf synthetic lubricants.

 

[enfield]

I've been using Mobil 1 for years. I think a quart will last several lifetimes.

 

[JayCeeNC]

Slip2000 EWL.

 

[dickttx]

I have had guns mostly stored for over 35 years. I have kept a small piece of chamois sprayed with WD-40 with them. When I handled them, if I thought of it, I would wipe them down. Every year or so I would spray a little more WD-40 on the Chamois. Have never had any rust on any of them.

 

[therevjay]

Anything from "3 in one oil" to "mobil 1" will work. I like "Ezzox" there are lots of other lubes that will work just as well, you can't go wrong with "Breakfree."

 

[olskool]

kroil is the best all around, i shoot a lot of my cast boolits. when the barrel is clean i wipe it down with kroil and it cuts down the leading signicantley the next time out.

 

[The Highlander]

When I started my shootiing career, WD40 was the solvent and lube of choice, mainly because that is all I knew and all I could afford. Then I got "gunny" and started using Rem-oil. I still keep a squirt bottle of Rem-oil in the safe, the gun bag, and probably a few other places. It is great to wipe down guns I've handled before sticking them back in the safe. I also put a drop on grip screws of my carry gun. Those screws are carbon steel and I sweat when I work. The screw against my skin tends to get a little rust going if I don't do this about once a week.

Sure WD40 and 3in1 were ok. But the technology is so much better today it just doesn't make any since to use them. A 50 year old car will still get me to work, but not nearly as safely or comfortably as my 2010 Honda does.

Honestly, I no longer use oil on handguns, I prefer grease. One brand I like is Krieghoff Gun Glide. Started using it on shotguns, and have also used it with success on handguns. Shooters Choice makes a great grease that also comes in a handy syringe that lets me use exactly how much I want, where I want it. I also have a tube of Brian Enos' Slide Glide laying on my bench that will be used when the Shooters Choice runs out.

By the way, I don't think SIG is still including the TW-25B with new guns. At least my latest didn't have a tube.

 

[absolutevil]

I also use more grease then oil for most of my guns. The TW-25B is good and I also use Krytox made by the Dupont company.

 

[bigshot500]

I use Kroil to wipe down guns and clean the barrel..note you should not store guns for any extended period with Kroil as it gums up over time, it is good at the range for barrel cleaning and a quick wipe down after shooting until you get home and do a full cleaning. For quick cleanings I also use Fluid Film- inexpensive and one can goes a very long way. This product does not gum up if stored, does a nice job at cleaning carbon and copper..all that said the best I have ever used and still use is EEZOX, it isnt cheap (but neither are your guns) it smells..cant imagine cleaning in a closed unvented area and I also dont think its to good for your skin for any prolonged exposure. That being said the spray works terrific! A quick dusting and with in minutes you have a long lasting synthetic finish/coating. It has rated time after time as one of the best if not the best protection against moisture/salt water exposure etc...
test results can be seen here
http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

http://www.thegunzone.com/rust.html

 

[29aholic]

G96 Gun Treatment works well for a thin lube and a barrier. Smells good too if you like Banana's. For grease and guns that may be subject to harsh elements I use Super Lube. Wont melt out from extreme heat, and is impervious to salt water.

 

[Holstered]

Hello all, this gun cleaner/lubricant is a grease less spray. It's called Safari Charlie Gun Lube have any of you used it yet? it has some pretty good reviews:
Gun Lube - Safari Charlie
This is not a spam website, just pointing out a good product in case you are interested.

For those who have used it, let me know what you think!