cleaning shotguns (and other guns)

[fishblade2]

ive read that shotguns should use grease instead of oil when cleaning. what about cleaning the shotgun barrel? Shouldn't you use oil on/in it? I have learned from others that even on pistols you don't use oil except on the barrel and dab some on other places. Would you recommend using grease on the pistol blowback slides? What about oiling the gun at all to help preserve it while it rest in a case? If oil would be used then would you dry it off throughly before use? What about stainless steel guns for cleaning and storage?

 

[juk]

I have been using Hoppes gun oil on my shotguns for years. I wipe the exterior surfaces with it and run a patch down the barrel. The bolts, slides, and inside of the receiver get the same treatment. I have never really had a problem so to speak. Keep in mind that I live in the humid south, and my shotguns go to the duck blind with me.

I haven't tried grease, but it would seem like cold weather would play hell with it. I'm sure it would be find for a pump, but a semi might choke on it.

 

[tactikel]

IMHO shotguns have need of a powder solvent (such as Hoppes 9) to disolve powder residue, lead fouling, and plastic from wads in the bore. The action and exterior need to be Cleaned, Lubricated, and Protected from dirt, and moisture (CLP spray works great for all three). Swab the bore with a patch soaked in #9, allow it to dissolve the crud in the bore, follow with dry and soaked patches until they come out clean. Follow with a patch with light oil (or a patch soaked in CLP). The action can be swabbed with a cloth and CLP
until you are satisfied dirt and moisture are no longer a problem. I never use grease (I hunt in cold weather and am concerned the grease may thicken up too much). Finish with a very light coating of oil for the exterior metal. Unless you hunt in salt marshes the above is all you will ever need.

 

[RNB65]

I give the inside of the receiver and the gas piston on my autoloader a quick cleaning with BF CLP after each day of shooting. I only clean barrels a couple times a year using Hoppes #9 to melt the plastic buildup. The hinge pin on my O/U is the only place I use a light smear or grease.

 

[oneounceload]

For barrels (inside) and choke tubes and those threads, I use brake cleaner from wally world - it gets the gunk out immediately then I use a little grease on the choke threads and hinge pin. The exterior gets the fingerprints wiped off with some Remoil or similar

 

[Snarlingiron]

I clean my guns with unobtanium and lubricate with unicorn's earwax.

Seriously, I am amazed by how complicated some folks like to make this. I'm sure it is mostly the manufacturers of "unobtaium" that like to promote weird and expensive concoctions for obvious reasons.

Most guns that are available to common folks like us are simple machines. They are mostly made of steel and in today's world, plastics. Like Oneounce, I use brake cleaner. I stick to the non chlorinated type since it is less aggressive on plastics. It is cheap, convenient, readily obtainable almost anywhere and it works quite well. For lubrication and protection, I use Mobile 1 5W-30 for a couple of reasons. 1. I just hate the way CLP smells. 2. I am cheap. A quart of Mobil 1 is pretty much a lifetime supply of gun lube. I do place a dab of lithium grease on the hinge areas of my doubles.

This seems to work for me. I don't have rust problems. Of course the fact that I live in North Texas could have a lot to do with that. We haven't had any moisture around here for a long time.