Lube for gun in drawer

[chief38]

Guns in drawers still attract dust even if the drawer is normally not opened much but nowhere's near as much as if carried every day. The reason I use a very light application is because not only will it attract dust, very wet lubricant will migrate to the lower parts of however the gun is laying in the drawer. You do NOT want your ammo sitting in oil! Even Remoil, which many don't like because it's so thin and evaporates quickly is a good drawer lube specifically because it dries, leaves a protective coating and doesn't migrate. While Remoil does not normally get used on my guns anymore, it would make a good oil for night stand guns.

I will confess that I have never used anything but a specifically purposed gun oil. I leave the automotive grease, household greases and other oils for their intended purposes. I know many here use other lubes not intended for guns and I might be just getting sucked in, but that's just what I do. For the few bucks it cost, I just get a good feeling of doing the right thing - again, maybe I am being duped.

 

[old tanker]

...One of the gunsmiths swore by sperm oil...

Sperm oil was often the Army's specified lubricant in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century manuals.

From the 1940 edition of FM-23-35 AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CAL. .45, M1911 AND M19I1A1

"CAUTION.—After firing do not oil the bore before cleaning.
c. Saturate a clean flannel patch with sperm oil and swab
the bore and chamber with the patch, making certain that
the bore and all metal parts of the pistol are covered with a
thin coat of oil.'

Sperm oil works really well but it's virtually impossible to get these days. This can is the better part of seventy years old, but the oil in it's still as good as the day it was sold. These days I restrict it to clocks and watches. There's no way to replace it.

 

[dfariswheel]

Sperm whale oil was one of the best available fine lubricants way back when, but modern synthetic lubes have far out passed it.

What remains is just an almost mystical reputation.
As it became unavailable it's reputation has grown.

 

[mauser9]

Was about to mention Rem-Oil myself. Does seem to be thinner and says it contains teflon or used to. Use it on my knives and guns along with CLP. Good wipe down stuff on exterior metals

 

[pasound]

Or there is Dixie Gun Works Synthetic Sperm Whale Oil.

 

[stu1ritter]

Kano Labs, the folks who bring you Kroil make a fine gun lube called Microil.
From their website..........
"Microil lubricates bearings and mechanisms in precision instruments, gauges, meters, clocks, micrometers, counters, controls, firearms, light machinery, office machines and other small mechanisms. Low viscosity, low evaporation formula lubricates to -50° F. It is non-corrosive, and will not gum. 50-State VOC Compliant."

I have been using it on my guns for over 50 years and there isn't anything much better.

Stu

 

[Oldengineer]

It’s been over 50 years since I took organic chemistry class, but recall that long branch chain hydrocarbons are prone to oxidation. When this happens, they leave behind sticky wax like compounds. I’ve used 0-20 Mobil 1 synthetic oil to avoid the oxidation concern. Think synthetic and lots of lubrication tasks get better.

 

[pasound]

I use Mobile-1 in my car. Not sure if I'm ready to use it in my guns. Still a CLP fan.

 

[oink]

Breakfree CLP, at least the earlier stuff, will dry out and get sticky given enough time.

I'm not very lubricant loyal. Some Rem Oil, some Breakfree, Lucas, Breakthrough HP Pro L&P, Straight Walgreens mineral oil that I use on my Arkansas stones.

 

[Rpg]

I’ve used several products but settled on any light machine oil.

Products denominated sewing machine oil are sort of the name brand of light machine oil.

A few drops on an old cotton T shirt, wipe it down and repeat every time you use the gun. I’ve never seen this product gum up a gun overtime and I’ve got a couple guns I treated when I was given them for Christmas in 2011 and haven’t shot or handled extensively since I got them. I do check them every year or two,

 

[gmiller0737]

I have some Break Free CLP. I'll give it a try.

Thanks all!

Be sure to shake the bottle before each use

 

[Gamecock]

Would you consider 3-in-1 a light machine oil? I've got a can somewhere; not sure I can find it.

On 3-in-1:

3-in-One Oil is a general-purpose lubricating oil sold for household and do-it-yourself use. It was originally formulated in 1894 for use on bicycles, and remains a popular lubricant for their chains. Its name, given by inventor George W. Cole of New Jersey in 1894,[1] reflects the product's triple ability to "clean, lubricate and protect".

Hmm . . . where have I heard "clean, lubricate and protect" before?

 

[AlHunt]

I have some Break Free CLP. I'll give it a try.

Thanks all!

Be sure to update us in 5 years ...

 

[Matt_X]

Yes. I think OP has made his decision and its a reasonable one.

Chief38's observation about excessive oil attracting dirt and grit is illustrated in the phoot of a model 36 that I recently posted. We don't know with what or when it was oiled, but after the first 100 rounds or so that I shot, there were light hammer strikes.

Rem oil seems to be fairly similar to very light "lubricating and preservative oil" used by the US military, but there is no way to know that for sure. In the most cases the best we can do is guess unless the manufacture actually can state their product meets a MIL Spec.

The goal for these oils is not become sticky or gummy, has little creep, and leaves a moisture repelling coating after evaporation of the bulk of the liquid.

As late as the 1942 TM9-850 sperm oil was was still listed for temporary light preservative and lubricating oil for small arms. Temporary being 2-3 days in non-severe conditions.

The new specs that came out during the war included three lubricating and preservative oils, medium, light, and special.

AXS-674 Oil, Lubricating, Preservative, Medium
Internal protection of engines, reduction gears, pumps, etc.
SAE 30 oil type. Saybolt Viscosity at 210° F, 60-70. [ at 100° F the viscosity is around 97 centistokes] Max Pour Point 20° F

AXS-702 Oil, Lubricating, Preservative, Light
Protection and lubrication of precision type instruments or equipment.
Light oil type. Min., Viscosity at 100° F, 17 centistokes. Pour Point -40° F

AXS-777 Oil, Lubricating, Preservative, Special
Protection and lubrication of precision type instruments or equipment.
Light oil type. Min. Viscosity at 100° F, 12 centistokes. Pour Point -70° F max


Another point out of the military manuals is (or was) the circumstances of when to use a specific oil or grease for a specific firearm. For example, only the two lightest oils were to be used on M1 carbine, unless heavy rain was expected. In that case, a little rifle grease (Lubriplate)was used in three locations.

Which is a long way of leading back to 3 in 1. It would be interesting to learn if the makers of 3 in 1 during the 1940s were one of the many suppliers of the preservative and lubricating oils that are marked on cans and boxes. It seems the development of mineral oil compounds eventually replaced sperm oil use in small arms.

For example, here's a 1943 patent to Alox.
US2397904A - Gun oil composition
- Google Patents

Note: In 1945 The AXS oil specifications were replaced by
USA 2-120 which combines the special and light oil. From my notes this spec was replaced by VV-L-800 which eventually was superceded by MIL-PRF-32033.