May be a dumb question, but here it is. I used a silicone cloth on a blued gun and it left a oily residue on it. Will it hurt the finish if I leave it on there, or should I wipe it off?

should be fine. i have used silicone cloths to wipe down blued gun prior to putting them in the safe, sometimes for months, and had no trouble with it.

Hello-

No one knows the answer to everything, so...there are really no "bad" or "dumb" questions.

The residue left behind by a silicone cloth is by design. It is a protective coating that helps fend-off corrosion. A quick once-over with a S-cloth is no replacement for proper cleaning and storage, but it is a great habit to get into. And no...it will not hurt your blued gun's finish. You can bet that sweat, fingerprints, spit, blood and salt water will!

Hope this answers your questions.

They are treated with a Silicone based oil. Leaving an oily film on the gun is what they are supposed to do.

Used them for years on blued firearms. Works great. Still have an old one that smells of Hoppes #9 from wiping down after cleaning. I just leave it laying around now on the bench, since it looks like Swiss cheese and no where near the original color. Sort of a man's air freshener. When ever I handle a gun, it gets a wipe down before storing away.

They work great for preventing rust etc. I believe it's a good habit to run the silicone cloth over it before you store it and make sure it's got a nice protective coating on it.

I've used those things for a very long time and they provide good protection. I usually buy a half dozen or so and keep them scattered around anywhere I might be handling a gun.

I take a step beyond using them strictly during bench cleaning and after handling by always having one in my range bag. I have made it a habit to wipe down my gun(s) after a day at the range before stowing them back in the bag for the trip home. Occassionally, I'd wipe down the gun in between range segments especially the revolvers' cylinder faces and forcing cone areas. Cheap insurance, I guess.

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"Sursum Ab Ordine"

try sentry dry lubricant. I have had fantastic results with it and protects the finish without that oily feel. I use it frequently after practicing dry firing and before I store it in my safe. Cheap insurance for all your guns. The small bottle comes with a cloth and a few drops on the cloth each time will keep the cloth moist.
Nick

The only thing I have to add is don't use these cloths for long periods of time.
The cloth gets dirt and grit embedded in it and that will scratch and wear finishes.

Either pitch them and buy new ones when they start to look dirty or launder them and "refresh" by spraying on some automotive silicon spray.
I used to make my own from diapers and silicon spray.

Just don't make the mistake I made once.
I didn't notice I had bought "environmentally friendly" silicon spray and the cloth mildewed horribly in the bag from the water based propellant.

dfariswheel is dead on.

I quit using silicone cloths a long time ago. They embed grit. But then so does anything else that is used to wipe down firearms.

I use soft cotton cloths from cut up t-shirts and grease them up with Rig or any spray lubricant.

After they appear to get dirty I toss them and start over.

You will see many nickled firearms that have minute, circular scratches on them, from overused cloths I suspect.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

ViperR

"Sort of a man's air freshener."

Now that's funny.

HAM

I use them a lot! Sometimes take the family out of the safe and wipe 'em just for grins. (never thought about one in the range bag; what a dummy I am; GOOD ADVICE!)

I also agree with dumping them when the loose their yellow color and begin getting gray. Thats when they start holding alot of grit. I used to toss dryer sheets under my car seats to freshen up the vehicle, but now it's the old cloths. Drives my wife nuts because she can't find where the aroma is coming from and I tell her it's just how the car smells now since it's getting older. LOL!

I used to use Silicone cloths when I first got into shooting. For the past 20 years I have used a soft cotton cloth (about 18" x 24") that I have my favorite gun oil on. From time to time I will reapply a little more oil. When the cloth gets really dirty, I just toss it. I use Rig #2 Oil which is unavailable now that the company has gone out of business, but Brownells sells what I believe to be the same product (they call it Brownells #2 oil) which is still available. The reason I like the Rig #2 is because it is a very light oil and dries very quickly leaving a extremely thin wax coating that protects the gun. It will not gum up or attract dust. Remoil will work equally as well. Pretty much the same type of stuff.

I usually use this oil rag at the range right after a shooting session to do a quick superficial cleaning. It takes off powder residue, light leading, finger prints & sweat, and protects the gun until I get home and clean it.
It lasts for years, and I like this better than a silicone rag because I can easily apply a bit more oil anytime it needs it.

Regards,
chief38

I actually just found this tread when I was searching for the same answers. My concern is my guns being slippery when I go to use them. I wiped a little mouse gun down with a new hoppe's rag and it seemed like it was wet with oil afterwards. Slippery!

Been using the green Remington cloth I bought at a Bass Pro Shop recently. Contains Rem-Oil and rust inhibitors. Soft and no worries of scratching. Cheap protection.

I spray Kellogg's professional Products( Sandusky, Ohio) pure silicone onto real lambs wool (8" sq piece), and wipe gun down. No rust in over 50 years of using this product and method. Why lambs wool? It gets into all crevices like screw slots. Retreat wool piece from time to time

I have used silicone cloths for a long time. I’m in my 70’s. They have always worked fine for their intended purpose, which I think is a wipe down before putting them in the safe.
Personally would not wipe down a dirty gun with them unless stainless steel. Change them once and a while and your good to go.
Have used a product called Rusty’s rags, that I like. A piece of sheepskin and a bottle of pure silicone. I don’t see the website anymore but similar products are available.

Rem-oil. spray, wipes or liquid. made by remington, who makes guns, so they should know.
i cannot believe this is post #20 for this stuff to get kudos (and from me, of all people).

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ask questions- then shoot!

I keep a clean one in my safe and use it do a quick wipe down after handling the firearm.

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"Sursum Ab Ordine"