Gun grease or just oil on the slide?

R

RalphMP9FS

Member
Joined
May 25, 2014
Messages
531
Reaction score
622
Location
Illinois
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.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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......
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
I've never had a problem just wiping everything with an oiled rag. You start getting so much oil that it runs and you are going to wear an oil slpat on your clothing and glasses. And grease is nice but I've found it quickly turns into lapping compound with catching all the crud. I'm not sold so much on some of the dry lubes out there but I find if you use anything from a regular CLP to Frog Lube if wiped on and allowed to dry then everything runs just fine. The AR is the one lone gun that seems to usually require running wet or it will jam up.
 
I use grease on the rails and oil everywhere else. Have never had a failure due to lack of lube.
 
N4KVE said:
No matter what oil I apply to what gun, it's dry after a week. GARY
Click to expand...

I've been in the same boat. Lube after cleaning - dry when ready to shoot again. Tried a lot of oils and grease and now quite fond of SLP 2000. It doesn't seem to "go away" after its applied and you can actually put too much on. Until I find something better, it's what I use on my handguns and rifles with no problems experienced thus far. Good luck!
 
I have 800-1000 rds through my Shield 40 and have never had a misfire, FTF, or FTE, she went bang every time I pulled the trigger. Discovered early on that she just loves her Frog Lube, and she cleans up so easily after a long day at the range. :D
 
dbh999 said:
Has anyone tried Brian Enos's Slide-Glide?
Click to expand...

It's what I use on my Sigs. I've experimented with it on my wife's Glock and my AR bolt, as well. Works well for its purpose, although I stopped using it on my AR, as it just seemed to collect extra carbon. Performed admirably, though.

Today, I only use it on my Sigs.
 
Lee in Quartzsite said:
GUN BUTTER gun oil....best lube I have ever used...kind of pricey, but worth it.

To the OP: why not ask S&W what they recommend then come back here and give us a report??

Gun Butter Gun Oil 2/3oz Liquid
Click to expand...

They just specify "a single drop of high-quality firearms lubricant." I think the important thing is to keep the gun clean and lubed. Grease works fine but I find a grease to pick up more grit. Still, it works great. Find what you like and use it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

glshuck
New to me nickel 19 no dash, and some questions for the experts
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
Gun Relics
Gun Relics
P
Model 41 (1971) – Slide Doesn’t Lock Back – Follower Wear?
Replies
25
Views
1K
Rick H.
R
N4KVE
S&W Spec Series 5 wear.
Replies
12
Views
722
dajogejr
dajogejr
38SPL HV
S&W Model 10-14 2024 Manufacture - Which non-ammoniated cleaner?
Replies
10
Views
746
stansdds
S
GaryS
Two 457s to the range
Replies
10
Views
1K
Ameshawki
A

Latest posts

Back
Top