M&P 15 Bolt Lubrication Question ?

[n5tz2000]

All:

Being new to the AR platform I know that they like to be run wet. But how sensitive to the type of lubrication is the bolt and carrier group ? Can/should I use a lighter oil like Proshot zero friction or Hoppes Elite, etc, or can/should I use a grease like Pro Gold or Tectra gun grease, etc. The grease will last longer but it may take more gas pressure/energy to cycle the action that would give you problems with lower powered rounds. I just don't have enough experience with various lubs and ammo to have good feel for the differences.

Dennis

 

[Engineer1911]

Lubricate your rifle according to the instructions in the owners manual.

You can download an owners manual from the S&W website.

 

[muzzleblasted]

I use Mobil 1, no need to spend a fortune on exotic lubricants. I'm not a big fan of grease type lubricants, especially in colder weather.

 

[Waywatcher]

Breakfree CLP, and lots of it. It should be dripping wet.

There's always something "latest and greatest," but they will always be compared to Breakfree CLP. Buy a gallon and the price per ounce is something like $0.50 instead of the crazy little bottles.

 

[oligoodday]

i use m-pro 7 or break free clp

 

[mcmar]

I have tried and used all of those and more. Recently, I started using Froglube. It is kind of a treatment. Once the treatment is complete, you really don't need additional lubricants. Check it out...

 

[rojodiablo]

Hey! We set a site record; it's been exactly 3 days since this question was last asked in a thread!!!

Run light oil. The bolt does not need to be 'dripping wet'.
My Sport is in the 10,000 round count at this point; use a light oil. Muzzleblasted has the easiest/ cheapest solution. And it really does work and lasts a long time. But I have run Slip, Tetra, Hoppes, Remoil, CLP. No difference. They are all decent. For the best bang for the buck, 10wt motor oil is good to go.

Froglube is decent stuff. It tends to hold grime a lot. If you shoot a good deal, the chamber and bolt become a mess. It held up pretty well for me, but contrary to the brochure, it makes an AR run dirtier, as it holds onto gunk exceptionally well. Cleaning is a bit more work with froglube- especially after a carbine course when you have pushed 650 rounds thru the rifle in a half day.
Grease...... is for truck axles, not rifles.

 

[millisec]

+1 on the Breakfree CLP. Started using it years ago in Army and still use it to this day in most of my guns. I like my AR's nice and wet. I might have to try the Mobil 1 one of these days. I keep it around and have used it for lubing rifle cases before resizing sometimes.

 

[Harrison]

Mobile One 5w-30 or 10w-30 will do fine, as primary lube. A quart will last three life times, it works great and is inexpensive. CLP also works great. The main thing is lube it with something. Any kind of lube is better than none at all, but you won't beat Mobile One. Some people like a 3:1 mixture of Mobile One and synthetic ATF.

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

I'd stay away from grease and use something light that flows like CLP or mobile 1. Also I'm on the run it wet side but not so wet it blasts oil in your face the first shot. You may hear some Mil guys say just a skim coat so it doesn't attract dirt, its garbage like the gas ring alignment. I've heard it all to many times and nodded my head in appeasement before wiping the excess off

Lubricants serve multiple purposes, for example they:
1) lubricate, obviously.
2) carry out contaminates, which the lack of lube will impede causing your rifle to jam.
3)transfer heat
4)Prevent corrosion

so on, so on

 

[MichiganScott]

Another vote for CLP and keep it wet.

Like Harrison said, almost any lube will work.

 

[batmann]

Amen to keeping the BCG lubed. My M&P had flawless until last week. I bought a new BCG from WMD that has the NibX coating. As an experiment, I ran it drier than I normally do, plus I was using Russian steel case that I have run over a couple of thousand with the old BCG.
Result, several jams. Next trip I will use the same combo only lubed the way Ihave in the past. Maybe not a fair test for new equipment, but the only way I know to test. In fairness, I ran it on the dry side, very dry, and it was a lot easier to clean per WMD's claim and that Russian stuff is really dirty.
The bottom line is keep them lubed regardless of which type or brand of lube you use.

 

[Travis15R]

I have tried and used all of those and more. Recently, I started using Froglube. It is kind of a treatment. Once the treatment is complete, you really don't need additional lubricants. Check it out...

+1 for Frog Lube. Ive been using this as well, so much more clean overall and no additional lube running everywhere.

I still need to do the second treatment on my AR and .40 and after I shoot next week I will, then it will just be regular liquid frog lube when needed

 

[TheMaineEvent]

Right now, I'm using Ballistol on one AR and Seal 1 on another. Seal 1 is basically a clone of Frog Lube and is made by some retired Navy Seals. I wanted to try something different and it's done a good job so far. One good thing about this product is that it smells like bubble gum. That's a plus in some households where the smell of some products can cause strife, lol.

Ballistol stinks, but it works, and that's all I care about. I also use M-Pro7 to clean, and have nothing but good things to say about that product either, but for a CLP-type product, I go with Ballistol.

There is certainly nothing wrong with CLP, Hoppes, and some of the other time tested products on the market. Everyone develops their favorites, but in the end it's hard to go wrong if you do a little research and avoid some of the inferior products out there.

 

[Jlduke]

I don't run any of my guns wet, including my M&P Sport. I just clean them regularly and apply very light oil

 

[bybotie]

I run Kroil in my guns. I love the stuff. I use it to clean and lube. You will never have rust and don't have to worry about temps.

 

[Travis15R]

Right now, I'm using Ballistol on one AR and Seal 1 on another. Seal 1 is basically a clone of Frog Lube and is made by some retired Navy Seals. I wanted to try something different and it's done a good job so far. One good thing about this product is that it smells like bubble gum. That's a plus in some households where the smell of some products can cause strife, lol.

Ballistol stinks, but it works, and that's all I care about. I also use M-Pro7 to clean, and have nothing but good things to say about that product either, but for a CLP-type product, I go with Ballistol.

There is certainly nothing wrong with CLP, Hoppes, and some of the other time tested products on the market. Everyone develops their favorites, but in the end it's hard to go wrong if you do a little research and avoid some of the inferior products out there.

is Seal 1 biodegradable and can you eat it? You can eat frog lube if your so inclined to. I wont use a gun cleaner / lubricant unless I can eat it in case I get the munchies while cleaning my guns.

 

[TheMaineEvent]

Yep, it's biodegradable and while it smells good enough to eat I haven't read the label to see if it can be used as emergency food, lol.

 

[Rick_A]

I've been using Lubriplate grease on the bolt lugs and cam pin and a light coat of CLP on the rest.

To each their own. Use your favorite gun lube of choice.

Motor oil just plain sucks to handle. That stuff can stay where it's meant to go.

 

[Travis15R]

Yep, it's biodegradable and while it smells good enough to eat I haven't read the label to see if it can be used as emergency food, lol.

haha nice. Frog Lube smells really minty. I keep wanting to sniff my guns after cleaning them.