Safe to use axle grease on slide rails?

[goldenlight]

i use small dabs of white lithium grease on my rails

I did this for many, many years.

White lithium grease is much lighter than the grease you are thinking of using, and it's very inexpensive at any auto parts store.

I'm a firm believer in using some light grease on the slide rails of a semiauto pistol, ESPECIALLY if the frame is aluminum, and thus more prone to wear by the steel slide.

I also use it on the frame unlocking lugs, which is a high pressure/wear spot on S&W metal framed semiautos.

I have ALWAYS thoroughly cleaned my pistols after shooting them, and reapplied some light grease to the frame rails and unlocking lugs.

I do this with all of my semiautos, and I've NEVER had a problem with a semiauto getting 'gummed up' from grease and crud.

A thin layer (small amount) of grease is all you need. It won't 'drain off', like many oils can, in storage.

 

[Rangerscott]

I bought a tube of Super Lube at harbor freight and put it on my 5906. Can't remember how many rounds are in her after lubing but she looks and runs fine. Lube just turned black.

 

[Barrie]

I have been greasing the front ends of my vehicles with a Under water type grease which is Blue in colour. They use it on boat motor props as the water does not dispell it. I wonder just how well that would work on the slides in my rifles?

 

[Gasman1972]

Axle grease is high temp grease and a excellent product. I would not have any concerns over using on the rails and barrel lugs. Don't cake it on, just a little will go a long ways.

 

[Rangerscott]

Heck you could probably get away with facial creams. LOL Who wants to try?

 

[skjos]

I've been using this stuff for years, and I bet the 1oz jar will probably last for decades more:

Pro-Gold 1 oz. jar

 

[bp231986]

I dont trust any grease besides Weapon Shield Gun Grease. Works well doesnt cake or drys hard. Call this number and ask for a sample of Weapon Shield oil and weapon shield Gun Grease, they will send you an awesome oiler pen with a little jar of gun grease for FREE for you to try!!!!! you dont even pay for shipping!!

800-390-1535

 

[jstanfield103]

I use TW25B synthetic gun grease. it's good from -30 to 450 degrees.
It gives superior protection.
It is a white grease and works very good.

I agree with the following.

If it turns, oil it.

If it slides grease it.

 

[TSQUARED]

For 1911's and guns with full contact between sldie and frame I prefer a heavy il as they run better when wet. For polymer framed psitols a very tine bit of grease on the frame rails is all that I use - a tub of greasee will last you until at least into the 31st Century.

 

[bad_man_ one]

GrantCunningham.com - Library

Good info on lubricants. This guy is a top revolver smith.

Lee Jones(Celtgun)

Good article, thanks.

I have always used MoS2 (Molybdenum Disulfide) or "Moly Grease" delivered through a small hypodermic needle.
Then add a drop or two of "Tri-Flow" teflon lubricant.
Pistol Grease :: Handgun Oil :: Tri-Flow®
Time and thousands of hot loaded rounds has proven to me that it reflects exactly what that article describes.
Regards,
BM1

 

[les_garten]

I have a tub of high temp (disc brake) axle grease, and was wondering if anyone uses something similar to lube the slide/frame rails on their pistol. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I say run it and see how it works.

Axle grease stinks to high hell IMO, but I just paid some $$$ for some grease that smells just like axle grease and it is "High End" gun grease.

Go look at Brian Enos Gun glide. He has 3 "thickness" levels depending on your temp and gun. (smells like axle grease)

Grease is one of the New Things in gun lube. I use it and love it.

Your grease may be too thick, hat would be the issue.

Temp is not a concern unless you are on of the guys who is actually a competitor in DOOM! Axles get hotter than any gun I ever had.

Same thing with trapping dirt and what not. A lot of powder residue lubricates, or so I'm told. Doesn't hurt to clean your gun every so often...

Grease is grease, it either works or it don't. If it works go for it. You aint gonna hurt nothin. Worse thing that happens is you get some malfunctions cause the grease is too thick. If you are using for self defense in a cold environment, could get sticky!

Excuse the pun!

 

[Stu Honea]

I'd recommend TetraGun grease.I've had good service with it on 1911's and several other steel and aluminum frame autos. It's a white grease that goes on clear,and has no smell.
A light coat is all that's necessary. Stick with a good oil in cold weather as a lube agent.

 

[44wheelman]

I used (a little) PJ-1 chain lube on the rails of my Beretta when I used to run hot +P loads through it. Slowed down the cycle time, but not so much that it created feed/eject failures. I would say as long as you have no reliability issues, it shouldn't hurt.

 

[yeti]

Some kind of lube is better than no lube, but you can do better than axle grease. Will it work in a pinch? Absolutely.

I choose to use a high-quality oil on my pistols due to the accumulation of debris in any grease I have used in the past.
I save the grease for my O/U & S/S shotgun hinges.

 

[Tyrod]

I'm not EVEN gonna get into this debate about which is better. All I will say is that some lubricants that use silicone and some synthetic additives can penetrate the structure of the steel and/or aluminum so well that refinishing can be affected. There are ways for the refinisher to combat the problem, but if you know that silicone or synthetic additives have been used, it's best to tell the refinisher about it so he doesn't waste time. Ceracoat builds into their refinishing system a method to be used on all guns that will work on most issues of this type as a matter of use on all guns done by a certified Ceracoat refinisher.

 

[les_garten]

I'm not EVEN gonna get into this debate about which is better. All I will say is that some lubricants that use silicone and some synthetic additives can penetrate the structure of the steel and/or aluminum so well that refinishing can be affected. There are ways for the refinisher to combat the problem, but if you know that silicone or synthetic additives have been used, it's best to tell the refinisher about it so he doesn't waste time. Ceracoat builds into their refinishing system a method to be used on all guns that will work on most issues of this type as a matter of use on all guns done by a certified Ceracoat refinisher.

Good to know that, thanx!

I only use rendered reptile fat on mine!

 

[Fat B]

I dont trust any grease besides Weapon Shield Gun Grease. Works well doesnt cake or drys hard. Call this number and ask for a sample of Weapon Shield oil and weapon shield Gun Grease, they will send you an awesome oiler pen with a little jar of gun grease for FREE for you to try!!!!! you dont even pay for shipping!!

800-390-1535

I called them up, they said they don't send samples of the grease but they'll send me a sample of the oil. Wierd if you ask me, maybe I got the guy who doesn't really know what he's doing. Or maybe it cost them too much to ship the grease. It doesn't really matter as they sent me some oiler in an oiler pen for free! I haven't tried it yet but I'm guessing it's going to be some good stuff. You know they have confidence in their product if they are willing to send some free samples out complete with oiler pen.

 

[M&PZ]

Hey guys, Im new to the forum but not to guns. I have also wondered on this topic. I have experimented with general purpose lithium grease they sell at walmart for $2. I put it on very lightly and it works well. The problem with grease is it will attract dirt,etc. I did see a video of Jim Fuller from rifle dynamics and I believe he says he exclusively uses lithium grease. On the subject of using motor oil that is a bad idea, due to the fact that motor oil is a penetrating oil, gun oil is not. The age old myth that I have heard is that penetrating oil can get into your primers and cause a dud. I have also heard glock recommending not even getting any type of oil by the firing pin. But to me penetrating oil on the general parts of a gun is just not a good mix. There are some types of powder grease I would like to try. Just my thoughts.

 

[bp231986]

I called them up, they said they don't send samples of the grease but they'll send me a sample of the oil. Wierd if you ask me, maybe I got the guy who doesn't really know what he's doing. Or maybe it cost them too much to ship the grease. It doesn't really matter as they sent me some oiler in an oiler pen for free! I haven't tried it yet but I'm guessing it's going to be some good stuff. You know they have confidence in their product if they are willing to send some free samples out complete with oiler pen.

Fat B,
I am sorry that you werent able to get a sample of the gun grease but i am glad you are getting the oiler pen. Please let me know what you think of the weapon shield oil. And you are right they do have confidence in their product for giving out free samples and even covering the shipping charge. When someone reaches out and scratches my back i will reach out and do the same. Weapon Shield has my dollars when it comes to gun oil and gun grease. If you were to google oiler pen from weapon shield you will find it for the value of $9.99 plus H&S. Also YOU CAN REFILL THE OILER PEN

 

[FTG-05]

Hey guys, Im new to the forum but not to guns. I have also wondered on this topic. I have experimented with general purpose lithium grease they sell at walmart for $2. I put it on very lightly and it works well. The problem with grease is it will attract dirt,etc. I did see a video of Jim Fuller from rifle dynamics and I believe he says he exclusively uses lithium grease. On the subject of using motor oil that is a bad idea, due to the fact that motor oil is a penetrating oil, gun oil is not. The age old myth that I have heard is that penetrating oil can get into your primers and cause a dud. I have also heard glock recommending not even getting any type of oil by the firing pin. But to me penetrating oil on the general parts of a gun is just not a good mix. There are some types of powder grease I would like to try. Just my thoughts.

Took about 5 seconds to find out about the "myth":

The Box O' Truth #39 - Oil Vs. Primers - Page 1

Lots of people, including me, use motor oil (Mobil 1 5w-30), especially synthetic oil, on their guns. It doesn't bother the primers any more than any gun oil.