Gun oil slowly dissolves the Polymer frame?

[Retro]

I was cleaning my USP .45 today after shooting it for the second time, which gave me a 4 inch at 30 yards. So I improved significantly with it.

Tonight, I was cleaning my gun with CLP and other gun oils, and it just occurred to me that polymer are hydrophobic and so are the gun oils, and the like will dissolve like, and I was wondering if anyone knows whether the polymer frame in USP is resistant to any kind of petroleum distilled solvent such as the gun oil.

I know silicone oil are neutral to polymer, and the Mossy Oak Gun & Reel Silicone cloth is soaked with silicone oil. Should I start cleaning my polymer frame guns with silicone oils instead of petroleum distillates.

Any input will be appreciated.

 

[Car Knocker]

There's some pretty old Glocks out there that have probably been cleaned and lubed with just about every gun product under the sun and I don't believe that I've ever heard anything about their frames dissolving. But then, that doesn't really prove anything.

 

[JohnKSa]

As long as you use gun related cleaning and lubrication products you won't have any problems.

If you start improvising (particularly with solvents) you can get some nasty surprises.

 

[Medusa]

I thought the plastic is made to be inert to some chemicals, namely gun solvents and cleaning liquids. It isn't so simple that hydrofobic materiel dissolves in similar liquid, there's a lot of variables and different chemical hardnesses.

 

[Croyance]

I know people overlook things all the time, but somewhere in the design phase of the gun, it was probably realized that guns come in contact with gun oil. Seriously.
Plus, they had all sorts of testing phases. I have no doubt these companies have kept early model frames around to evaluate stress and such. Dissolving would have been tough to miss.

 

[Manedwolf]

From what I've heard from various sorts, Hoppes can be a bit harsh on rubber grips and such, but Break Free is pretty harmless to everything.

 

[kansas45]

oil

I use Mobile 1 5w30 synthetic oil for my gun's. I don't think it is harmful to my XD's & it lubercates very well. It seems to make the guns feel smother & stay's on extremly well.

 

[Coronach]

1. No. It won't eat the frame.

2. The phrase "old glock" is, at this point in time, an oxymoron.

Mike

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Gun Scrub (not an oil) will eat some plastics. However, I haven't heard of any oil/polymer issues.

Oh, and I had some soldiers once use oven cleaner on their rifles. That ate the finish off of them real good:banghead:

 

[kirkcdl]

I've found Eezox works for every aspect of cleaning/lubing,even dissolves corrosive residue...

 

[choochboost]

Your USP will be fine. The manual says it can be cleaned with anything that is safe for you to stick your hand in. Many, many USP owners use CLP.

 

[jungle]

Depends on the polymer. Most pistol frames will be damaged more with long exposure to boiling water than any solvent that is safe to use. Keep it out of the hot tub and it will last a very long time.
Using very harsh solvent isn't a great idea on steel either, under certain common conditions steel will rust in seconds with all oils removed.
The polymers in use in firearms today aren't devoid of all moisture, but contain very small amounts in the matrix. Very hot soaks in water can drive moisture into the polymer and depolymerize the material, likewise extremely dry conditions(dryer than you are likely to encounter on earth) can leave voids.
Powerful acids are more of a concern, such a boiling sulphuric or nitric, but again if you wouldn't put your hand in it don't put your weapon in it. Acids are not very good for steel either.
A modern polymer frame will last longer than your grand kids given reasonable care.

 

[Ala Dan]

I doubt that gun oil alone will disolve any polymer based firearm? The only
product that I would be a little leary of would be Gun Scrubber as made
by Birchwood Casey. This stuff is known too get extremely warm, and
also it has been reported too cause ill effects of the users health~!

 

[distra]

I doubt the gun oil or cleaner will cause a problem with polymer frames. Acetone, ethyl-acetate, benzene, toluene or chloroform would not be too good for plastics. I would avoid using something like shotgun wad solvent designed to dissolve plastic residue in the bore.

 

[Serendipity]

Only rabid (hydrophobic) polymer frames will dissolve, but that's when exposed to water. Oils just roll off their backs.

 

[Highland Ranger]

I have one of the first USPs from the early 90's (I think 92 or 93) and its fine.

 

[gudel]

Only rabid (hydrophobic) polymer frames will dissolve, but that's when exposed to water

My HK USP45, soaked, dipped, drowned, in water, and its parts:

Dude, it's an HK.

 

[Serendipity]

Dude, it was a joke.

 

[gudel]

Right, it was.

 

[choochboost]

Ah...IN-N-OUT...hmmm...good.