Gun grease OR gun oil for lubing?

[mikem]

Hi,

Just wondering what you folks prefer for lubing your older semi-auto pistols.

Do you favor gun grease or gun oil or possibly something else?

I have a friend who uses 3-IN-ONE oil.

He once told me, "Keeping 'em clean is more important than the lube you use. You could probably use Wesson Oil if you keep a gun clean."

He may be right or he may be wrong. But I know one thing for a fact. All his firearms, and he has many, are in great shape.

 

[OLDSTER]

Mobil 1 Synthetic motor oil. Been using it on all my guns for years.

 

[SMSgt]

People have been beating this horse forever. Use what you prefer. I've used a bunch of them; they all worked.

 

[Culina]

in a pinch, I'll use whatever is available but my preference is super lube. its a clear synthetic grease with PTFE and you can get it in 3 oz tubes at harbor freight or online. Before that I was using Grease, Rifle out of a green spam can, but that stuff gets real gummy when it gets cold, so much so that Garands need a clip or two to warm up.

 

[mikem]

People have been beating this horse forever.

Well shoot! I don't want to kill no horses.

Forget I asked, you guys.

 

[mauser9]

Get so confused I just use Breakfree CLP and maybe Hoppes.

 

[tg4360]

Generally, if it slides grease it. If it turns oil it.

In a pinch one will be good for the other.

 

[mikem]

Y

Get so confused I just use Breakfree CLP and maybe Hoppes.

I'm with you. I find it confusing too.

They're just so many products out there, and of course, every damn one of 'em will tell you they're "the"best."

I specifically asked about the older semi-autos because they do have a lot of differences from those newer striker fired polymer things, and many more differences than revolvers or long guns.

I was thinking which was better for rails and then smaller parts like sears, extractors, pins and so on or if lubing a gun, any gun, is all the same.

 

[Spokes]

I was using grease for a while but it got so darn hard to clean the gun after I shot it I went back to oil..
Mostly Wilson synthetic gun oil..

 

[18DAI]

On an aluminum frame Smith, synthetic grease. Gun oil does not adhere well to the frame.

I use TW25b and have had no problems. Grease the rails, barrel lugs, bell mouth at the muzzle of the barrel and the barrel hood. Remember that a dab will do ya. If it is colored grease - white or red - and you can see it on the rails and barrel, you used too much. Wipe the excess off with a Q-tip.

When properly applied you should see a sheen where it was applied. But no streaks or globs. Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI

 

[mikem]

On an aluminum frame Smith, synthetic grease. Gun oil does not adhere well to the frame.

I use TW25b and have had no problems. Grease the rails, barrel lugs, bell mouth at the muzzle of the barrel and the barrel hood. Remember that a dab will do ya. If it is colored grease - white or red - and you can see it on the rails and barrel, you used too much. Wipe the excess off with a Q-tip.

When properly applied you should see a sheen where it was applied. But no streaks or globs. Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI

I think we have the definitive answer here, particularly concerning those aluminum alloy frames!

Thank you.

 

[18DAI]

I would advise anyone interested in the proper application of grease to aluminum framed pistols to check out; "Florks lubrication thread" over on .....er....another board.

While dealing primarily with the lubrication of aluminum framed Sig pistols, the techniques illustrated are applicable to any aluminum framed handgun.

I use grease on my steel framed guns too. Cant hurt. Regards 18DAI

 

[Barrie]

Myself I use gun oils as any grease I have used always attracts dirt which I find builds up quicker then being lubed with oil. Dirt is my enemy with all my toys.

 

[Warren Sear]

Generally, if it slides grease it. If it turns oil it.

In a pinch one will be good for the other.

Hmmmm... The pistons in my car slide, yet they are lubed with oil. The wheels in my car turn, yet they are lubed with grease.

Wut up wi'that???

 

[GaryS]

I use Lubriplate 105, but as you and others have pointed, out just about any quality grease will do.

I lube the same areas that you mention, but I probably use more on the frame rails and lugs than do you.

I put a dab on the front of the frame rails on each side. Once assembled I cycle the slide several times. Then I wipe any excess from the back end of the slide.

It seems to work as there is no appreciable wear on the frame. And, as we all know with an alloy frame 3rd Gen, the one part that is likely to wear from under lubrication is the one that we can't get a replacement for.

On an aluminum frame Smith, synthetic grease. Gun oil does not adhere well to the frame.

I use TW25b and have had no problems. Grease the rails, barrel lugs, bell mouth at the muzzle of the barrel and the barrel hood. Remember that a dab will do ya. If it is colored grease - white or red - and you can see it on the rails and barrel, you used too much. Wipe the excess off with a Q-tip.

When properly applied you should see a sheen where it was applied. But no streaks or globs. Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI

 

[Badgerboy1]

Hmmmm... The pistons in my car slide, yet they are lubed with oil. The wheels in my car turn, yet they are lubed with grease.

Wut up wi'that???

And you park in the driveway, and drive on the parkway...

As far as lube and cleaning, I use Froglube and love the stuff...but you need to use it as recommended, esp in cold weather. Froglube generates love and hate opinions...For me, it works, smells good, and is non toxic...basically it is coconut oil, with minor additives.

 

[M29since14]

I agree with taking a little extra care with aluminum-frame guns. I like molysulfide-type grease on the frame rails, particularly with a new gun. With a steel-frame gun, your buddy may be right. Unless you shoot a lot and/or shoot very fast, probably any lube will do. I like LSA for my particular type of shooting. I also agree with your friend about keeping the gun clean. I’d worry a lot more about that than the type of lube used. JMHO.

 

[Spokes]

Thanks 18DAI now I know what I was doing wrong. Too much grease. I will now grease the rails on my aluminum frame pistols properly...

 

[lhump1961]

Well shoot! I don't want to kill no horses.

Forget I asked, you guys.

That horse ain't dead yet...it can take more of a beating than it's been given so far. Gun care is always a good topic.

I'm on the using both grease and oil team. Lubriplate has been good for me.

 

[Barrie]

Lubriplate is a excellent product for many purposes but I find it will collect dirt too fast in the hard to reach places on my handguns. Oil pentrates deeper in my view. On my vehicles I use grease made for Marine use in my tie rod ends and ball joints. The nice aqua blue grease which is water repellant so they are never without grease at any time. Water does not push it out from all of the front end joints on all my trucks and cars both. Its more money but I get more out of it.