Clean & Lube after shooting?

martybee

martybee

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My M&P9FS gets a workout every time I take it to the range. I shoot about 100 rds and then I field strip, clean and lube it.
S&W says oil is fine, but I find it gets dry after shooting, so now I am applying a tiny bit of white grease to the rail lube points instead of oil and I find it works better! Is this a good thing to do or am I doing it wrong? The grease I use is a thin white lithium.

mb
 
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What's the old saying, if it slides grease it!
martybee said:
My M&P9FS gets a workout every time I take it to the range. I shoot about 100 rds and then I field strip, clean and lube it.
S&W says oil is fine, but I find it gets dry after shooting, so now I am applying a tiny bit of white grease to the rail lube points instead of oil and I find it works better! Is this a good thing to do or am I doing it wrong? The grease I use is a thin white lithium.

mb
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I don't think you're doing anything wrong but it just unnecessary. Cleaning and oiling was very important when ammo was corrosive and very dirty. Today ammo is clean compared to 100 years ago and none corrosive. Cleaning every 100 rounds is not bad it's just not needed. Kinda like changing oil after a week of driving to work. And little bit of oil you put on there should be fine. My cleaning and oiling I'd after a few thousand rounds
 
I treat my guns the same way I treat myself, I eat clean, go out for daily walks and shower at the end of each day... Soap & body lotion for me, Hoppe's #9 & Rem oil for the pistols.
 
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smokindog said:
What's the old saying, if it slides grease it!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've heard this before, but it doesn't make any sense. What about roller bearings? Those are usually greased. What about the pistons in your engine? Those are usually oiled.

The lithium grease is fine for an M&P.
 
If I just shoot...

If I just shoot a gun lightly, no big deal. But most of my shooting is concentrated since I don't get to the range often and when I get there, I shoot everything, pounds of it. Then they NEED cleaning no question about it.

My 3rd gen owner's manuals sez to use oil. I use oil.
 
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N4KVE said:
If I won't clean the gun after a range trip, I won't go to the range. That being said, I use Hoppe's to clean the gun, & I lube all my guns with this. GARY
FTI, Inc. - Tetra Gun Care Products
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip on: Tetra Gun Grease, but here is something that came -up when I Googled it!

This from: Tetra Gun Grease
Cons:
Tetra Gun Grease.
Tetra grease may have caused rust build up on guns kept in storage for long periods of time. It should not be applied to plastic parts, as the grease will deteriorate the plastic causing it to tear. According to a MSDS sheet, the Tetra grease product could cause nerve damage to people if contact is made with their skin. It is advised that gloves be worn during application. Tetra gun grease has a foul odor when the container is opened.

Despite the fact that Tetra grease cannot be used on plastic parts, it is the still a very useful product to apply to metallic gun surfaces and bolts. It gives long lasting protection for firearm applications. A small amount of grease applied to the gun will be rubbed into and spread over large areas. The one-ounce container of grease is small in quantity, but the contents will go a long way and can be used many times. The product is a good value for the $3.99-$4.99 price range. Tetra is one of the lower costing gun grease products on the market.

mb
 
I clean and lube after every range outing. I shot a ground hog last year with my 10/22. Two shots. Cleaned the gun. Just the way I am. I can't put a dirty gun away. If they don't smell like hoppes they don't go in the safe.
 
Whatever I shoot at the range gets a couple swipes of a Bore Snake and wiped off at the end of the session.
My Non-Carry pistols get a thorough cleaning after a thousand or more rounds (or whenever they look like they need it).
My Carry pistol (Shield) gets at least a light cleaning after every outing.
As mentioned, modern handguns, with modern non-corrosive ammo don't require OCD cleaning.
 
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martybee said:
Thanks for the tip on: Tetra Gun Grease, but here is something that came -up when I Googled it!

This from: Tetra Gun Grease
Cons:
Tetra Gun Grease.
Tetra grease may have caused rust build up on guns kept in storage for long periods of time. It should not be applied to plastic parts, as the grease will deteriorate the plastic causing it to tear. According to a MSDS sheet, the Tetra grease product could cause nerve damage to people if contact is made with their skin. It is advised that gloves be worn during application. Tetra gun grease has a foul odor when the container is opened.

Despite the fact that Tetra grease cannot be used on plastic parts, it is the still a very useful product to apply to metallic gun surfaces and bolts. It gives long lasting protection for firearm applications. A small amount of grease applied to the gun will be rubbed into and spread over large areas. The one-ounce container of grease is small in quantity, but the contents will go a long way and can be used many times. The product is a good value for the $3.99-$4.99 price range. Tetra is one of the lower costing gun grease products on the market.

mb
Click to expand...
Thanks, I didn't know this, but that won't change my use of it. I've always made sure to only apply it to the metal. A tube usually lasts me 2-3 years, & I just picked up 7 tubes for $10 total. GARY
 
There are nontoxic lubes out now.

Slip 2000 is a very good nontoxic CLP type. They make a grease as well. They also have a thicker weight oil if you prefer that. I find that slip2k does not dry out or run when the firearm is stored. It lasts a long time. It's relatively cheap too. You can get 16oz for $20... Compared to other high quality CLP lubes, that's half or less the cost. (BTW... breakfree clp isn't very good IMO, best to avoid it)

Frog lube gets lots of good reviews, heck its even safe to eat... But it requires special application procedures and I don't like that... I prefer to just apply and go.

There are dedicated lubricant companies, like lubriplate, that make food safe lubes for the food processing industry... They are great, as they are high performance and are designed to withstand harsh environments. The problem is finding reasonable amounts for personal use... But their SPL grease is the best I have ever used in a firearm.


There is such a thing as cleaning too much. There has been research into this... And excessive cleaning causes wear faster. Mostly in the barrel and the barrel crown. Not too much of an issue if you use cleaning rods of a softer metal or plastic coated.

But in the end... You can shoot several hundred rounds before needing to clean again... If you cleaned and lubed properly beforehand.
 
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I use Slip 2000 EWG on my rails and Hornaday One Shot on everything else. Everything gets no less than a swipe down the barrel and a wipe down after every range trip.
 
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Grease is used to keep lubrication in place. I've used Gunslick graphite lube on slide rails and other sliding parts for 48 years. Only a very small amount is needed. Formulated for firearms its better than using an automotive product IMO.
 
I usually shoot twice a month.. About 300-500 rounds each month..After the second outing both my M&P's,Shield9 and 45c get field striped,cleaned and re-lubed with Froglube.. Works for me
 
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