Gun grease or just oil on the slide?

RalphMP9FS · Jun 16, 2014

Before I run 500 rounds through my new M&P 9, I'm a bit confused why so many use grease on the slide instead of gun oil which is recommended in the owners manual. Is this just personal preference, or is there a real advantage to using grease? I would think Smith and Wesson would have mentioned greasing the slide as an option if that reduces wear and increases functionality.

rdtompki · Jun 16, 2014

Read the manual. I believe the callout is for a bit of oil in only a few locations: nothing about oil or grease directly on the slide.

LimaCharlie · Jun 16, 2014

If it rotates, it get oil. If it slides, it gets grease.

Kadonny · Jun 16, 2014

I don't use grease on any of my guns, Shield included. Oil as per the manual.

WNC Seabee · Jun 16, 2014

This will be heresy to some....For the average shooter, for the most typical of conditions, I don't think it makes a bit of difference if you use oil or grease.

Grease may stick around longer than oil, but a freshly greased gun will run just as good as a freshly oiled one.

Mushki · Jun 16, 2014

CLP all the way, nothing else need to clean lube or protect

Harrison · Jun 16, 2014

Of course if you are going to shoot 200-300 rapid fire rounds in hot conditions, without benefit of cleaning in competition. You might want something more substantial than a few drops of oil. It would be interesting to find out if Team S&W follows the manual on lubing the competition pistols.

I don't know if the M&P is like the Glock. Glocks are one of the few pistols that except for one or two small locations can run dry with no ill affects.

ManoGod · Jun 16, 2014

White Lithium Grease on the slide for me.

OKFC05 · Jun 16, 2014

I'm a bit confused why so many use grease on the slide instead of gun oil which is recommended in the owners manual. Is this just personal preference, or is there a real advantage to using grease?

Come shoot a 200 round match with us in 105 degree heat and all your questions will be answered. The Brownells action lube I put on the frame points (where the slide rides) stays put. Your oil will be all over, especially if you oil the entire slide groove.

N4KVE · Jun 16, 2014

I use Tetra grease on all my firearms. Working at a gun store, I get FREE samples of the latest, & greatest gun lubes of the week. No matter what oil I apply to what gun, it's dry after a week. So I'd re lube the gun again before the range trip. However, when I apply Tetra to the gun, it looks exactly the same in a year. Some might say Tetra is too thick for a handgun, but here in Florida it rarely gets below 60 degrees. I have never had a failure using Tetra. But I've also never had a failure using anything. But I like the fact that after a year, the Tetra is still there. GARY

PHolster · Jun 16, 2014

OKFC05 said:
Come shoot a 200 round match with us in 105 degree heat and all your questions will be answered. The Brownells action lube I put on the frame points (where the slide rides) stays put. Your oil will be all over, especially if you oil the entire slide groove.

If you put a drop of oil where S&W tells you too and not all the way down the rails, all will be fine.

micocyco · Jun 16, 2014

My 2 cents worth is as read here if shooting competitively you may want grease, but to me if you are just going to the range to shoot 100 or so rounds to get or stay competent in your ability to shoot the weapon then to me oil is what I want because I know I am going to clean it after each trip & oil is easer to clean off.
Old off new on, good to go.

L Pete · Jun 16, 2014

I've never had oil fail on an auto, revolver, or long gun....that said, I do use grease on my Sigs as that is what is recommended......

marlin39a · Jun 17, 2014

I go with oil on the barrel of my shield, Tetra grease on frame/slide. Gun stays in truck quite a bit with temps over 100 degrees. Works best for me here in AZ.

Jlduke · Jun 17, 2014

I use grease on carry guns that I don't fire very often and I use oil on the guns I take to the range.

AR-Getsome · Jun 17, 2014

I shoot IDPA. PRO 7 is what I use. Never had a problem, over 2500 + rounds. Lost track. Everyone has their methods, they are neither right or wrong. It's all personal preference.

gboling · Jun 17, 2014

It depends on how the gun is used and how it is maintained. Of I were using the top ofa sand dune for a bench rest I would avoid grease. Firing a 200 round match in hot weather I would use grease. S&W's recommendation is for reliability but not necessarily for longevity.

AGoyette · Jun 17, 2014

I use Tetra grease on the slide rails and on the barrel. I put a drop of oil on the sear as per the instructions. This is what works for me. The family just got done taking a class where we went through 2000 rounds between 4 guns in one day. It was a warm humid day out. The guns preformed flawlessly as expected. I cleaned them from class yesterday as we have a match tonight and while they were dirty, I probably could have gotten away with shooting a few hundred more rounds through them. The very small amounts of grease I put on, were still on the rails and the rails did not feel gritty and still ran smoothly.
So for me, if it is going to get a pounding,, grease. For something that does not get a pounding, oil. As an exception to that, I did put a light coat of oil (then wiped off most of it) on the bolt of my M&P AR 15-22.

AR-Getsome · Jun 17, 2014

gboling said:
It depends on how the gun is used and how it is maintained. Of I were using the top ofa sand dune for a bench rest I would avoid grease. Firing a 200 round match in hot weather I would use grease. S&W's recommendation is for reliability but not necessarily for longevity.

I have shot matches in 95+ temps outside. Never had a problem with oil. My pistol was extremely hot after COF. Ran like a champ.

LimaCharlie · Jun 17, 2014

I have used the "If it rotates, it gets oil. If it slides, it gets grease." for over fifty years now. I have bought, shot, and sold hundreds of guns including twenty-two years in the military. I can count on my fingers the number of failures contributed to a gun or maintenance in over fifty years. I field strip, check, clean, lube, and oil any new gun before going to the gun club. If it sets in the safe for a long time, it gets cleaned and lubed before going to the gun club. If it gets shot, it gets cleaned and lubed before being stored.

I carried an early brand new Colt M-16 in Viet Nam for a year as an advisor with zero issues because I cleaned and lubed it frequently. Contrary to internet myth, the only issue with the original M-16s was they were designed and tested with very clean burning ammo and supplied with low-bid dirty ammo.

Gun grease or just oil on the slide?

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