Gun oil or grease?

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Its been so long since I used grease on a firearm, I'm not sure if I have any or not. I pretty much use oil as lube, and many different types at that. Synthetic motor oil, Hoppes extreme, Rem Oil, Lucas, 3 in 1, I've used most of these as a lubricant at some point, and to be honest they all worked. I'm a believer in make sure its lubed. Don't over lube, but lube often.

-Jeff

I kind of thought @Driftwood Johnson had a good idea using red packing grease to protect the innards of a Colt's single-action trigger assembly from black powder residue. Never thought of it but he's right about white grease hardening up. Other than that, not much use for grease these days with modern self-loaders.

 

[George P]

Old saying still true....if it slides use oil, if it rotates, use grease

Exactly what we tend to preach for shotguns as well - choke tubes, trunions/knuckles get grease; ejectors get oil

 

[Dudedog]

I like to grease the rails on semi auto pistols with this
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101774862?pid=190130
A $15 pail goes a long way.
good stuff IMO.

I use MIL-Pro 7 when I need oil, and drops of Triflow certain places..

Interesting read
https://www.grantcunningham.com/2006/05/lubrication-101/

 

[Blue68f100]

I cant believe this is still open and going. Should have been moved to the Maintenance/Gunsmith .

Though it as been entertaining on what some people use.

 

[Average Joe]

Grease for me, it stays in place longer.

 

[PWC]

I cant believe this is still open and going.

Seems like 3rd time in 2 yrs, IIRC.

 

[Goes211]

Pretty much all I use on my guns is WD40. I use it as a solvent and a lubricant. I even use it on wood stocks. I haven't bothered with Hoppes or Rem Oil or anything else in over 30 years. About the only exception is .22 LR semi-autos. If they get really filthy ill do most of the cleaning with 90% alcohol to get out most of the junk out and then finish it off with WD40.
Even my blackpowder guns get the WD treatment. I'll just keep squirting it down the muzzle until it runs clear out through the nipple.
I've had gunsmiths and machinists tell me how I'm destroying my guns. But I'm in my late 50s and I have guns I've owned since I was 15 and the WD40 hasn't destroyed them yet! Maybe it takes at least 60.

 

[Walkalong]

Which goes to my point of just use something, maintenance with something is better than nothing, but there are still better lubricants despite your guns not rusting or wearing out because you take care of them regularly with something.

 

[Rule3]

After 83 posts, how is this topic even close to reloading??????

 

[Skgreen]

"Grease if it slides, oil if it turns."
vs.
"if it slides use oil, if it rotates, use grease"

Depends on what you are sliding/turning.

 

[George P]

"Grease if it slides, oil if it turns."
vs.
"if it slides use oil, if it rotates, use grease"

Depends on what you are sliding/turning.

When it comes to shotguns grease for rotation, oil for sliding parts

 

[Mark_Mark]

Pretty much all I use on my guns is WD40. I use it as a solvent and a lubricant. I even use it on wood stocks. I haven't bothered with Hoppes or Rem Oil or anything else in over 30 years. About the only exception is .22 LR semi-autos. If they get really filthy ill do most of the cleaning with 90% alcohol to get out most of the junk out and then finish it off with WD40.
Even my blackpowder guns get the WD treatment. I'll just keep squirting it down the muzzle until it runs clear out through the nipple.
I've had gunsmiths and machinists tell me how I'm destroying my guns. But I'm in my late 50s and I have guns I've owned since I was 15 and the WD40 hasn't destroyed them yet! Maybe it takes at least 60.

my younger days, before I knew how to take apart my 22/45. I would just spray it with WD-40 and not clean it. Well, I let it sit for 8 years and it gunked up and kidda froze up. I finally stripped and clean it. The WD-40 gunk reminded me of Cosmolin for a stored Mosin

 

[George P]

WD 40 has a slight paraffin base that dries to a protective but gummy residue

 

[Spats McGee]

In deciding whether to use oil or grease, I usually at least skim the owner's manual to see what a manufacturer recommends. With that said, I also follow the "If if slides, grease it; if it rotates, oil it" adage, to greater or lesser degrees. I've tried Rem Oil, motor oil, and a few other things, but kind of settled on Weapon Shield products. The oil is thicker than Rem Oil, which I like. Typically, I clean with Hoppes or Gun Scrubber first. Oil the polymers with WS oil per the manufacturer's (or my gunsmith's) recommendations. For my 1911s, I usually grease the side rails, using Weapon Shield grease. I don't have that many guns to clean, so a little lasts me a long time. I bought a 32 oz bottle of WS Oil, and my Shields only need 7 drops of oil to lubricate, so I won't be looking to change any time soon.

 

[herrwalther]

For a proper cleaning I put grease on the slide rails of my semi-autos. Grease is better at staying in an area to provide longer lasting lubrication compared to oil. I also use grease in high wear areas like the barrel hood and other areas where high impact occurs. Lubricating oil is better for contained areas like the firing pin stop and a few others I can't recall right now.

 

[wichta5003]

Yikes. New forum member here. I was going to read (which I just did) and chime in, but I think I'd just be adding more murk to murky waters.
I have my methods & they work. I think everyone is gonna do what they're gonna do.

 

[sisyphus]

Grease here, and clean after every use.