Is this a suitable grease for the M1A?

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SunnySlopes

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Someone recommended this particular Valvoline Multi Purpose Grease for lubing the M1A. I'm a less than occasional shooter and will be shooting, initially, factory 150 grain ammo.


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Here's the description from Autozone website:

This is a premium-quality, heavy-duty grease engineered for maximum performance and protection in the most demanding service for disc brake wheel bearings, suspension systems, universal joints, steering linkages and chassis. Extreme-pressure, high-temperature protection lubricants at temperatures ranging from -40° F to 400° F NLGI #2 grade GC-LB lithium complex EP grease GM 1051344. NLGI GC-LB. Supersedes GM 1051195.
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Also, I repeatedly read that one should not take the gun apart any more than absolutely necessary as it adversely impacts the stock. I have a M1A Standard. If I take it apart more than once a year, does the gun shoot loose, or something?



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Grease is better for the parts that slide along each other.

I use wheel bearing grease from re packing bicycle wheel bearings. Mainly because that's what I had in my tool box and it works fine.

That stuff would probably work fine too.

J.
 
I used M14s in ROTC too. We didn't use any lube at all and the guns still worked fine the best I can remeber. Come to think of it, we didn't use lube on our M16s in the Army either when I was enlisted. We were lucky just to have a dirty wool sock and some pine oil to clean the buildings.

I know running dry is a bad idea, but the point is any lube is going to be a lot better than none at all.
 
Yes, that grease is fine.

Match rifles that are bedded should be removed from the stock only when nessasary. The ones that aren't, no biggy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2
 
I think Lubri-Plate was reccommended (among others)by the military for use on the bolt raceways and high stress points with the M 14, it has a lithium base.

I think "THE ZONE" has lithium, although it may be in an aerosol, but you can spray some on a paper then use a small artists paint brush to apply it in small portions.

I bought a 4 OZ tooth paste tube of Lubri-Plate in 1980, and still have at least 3 OZ left, it's some good stuff.

I like to apply it with the brush then burnish with the finger tip or a small felt bob. It doesn't take much and it almost drys so it doesn't collect dust if used sparingly, and doesn't get hard in cold temps.
 
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Lubri-Plate is always what Ive used on my M1's and M1A's.

The one place you dont want any lube, is on the gas piston. That should be clean and dry.

I used to shoot my M1A's on a weekly basis for a number of years, and I always tore the gun down to clean it each time it was shot. Never had any problems.
 
I was issued an M-14 in my first branch. We used some sort of red grease on the bolt roller and greased them up pretty good when they had to be submerged in salt water.
( they work just fine when you come out of the water with just a shake or two, compared to the M-16s which usually blew apart if you went aqua-man with them).

I was issued an M-21 for awhile in my second branch. We had the same odd reddish grease.

In my personal M-1A and M-1A super match, over the last 20 years I was using synthetic boat-trailer (MARINE) wheel bearing grease until recently. It is blue...

Recently I started to use some synthetic gun grease ( G-96 I think) that comes in a little syringe looking applicator. It is red in color and a little thinner than Marine Bearing grease. It also seems like beach sand and wind blown dirt do not stick to it like they did to the thicker bearing grease. I have not used it for long and do not really know how it will work out...
 
Should work just fine, I use a tube of grease I bought at Tractor Supply on my Loaded M1A and my Socom 16 and I've never had a problem. I do have some Tetra though that I might try next time I do a good cleaning.
 
The only grease that I've read/heard was not appropriate for such use is lithium-based grease. Not sure what it's heat-related characteristics are, but I believe that was the root of the issue.
I use Mobil1 Grease (I'm a M1 addict - for my cars and other toys that is) on my firearms and never had a problem.
B
 
That grease will not only work fine for lubing an M1A, there is enough in that tube to last you about four lifetimes...
Lithium grease is completely OK to use as well, it just doesn't stay in place during heavy downpours.
I generally use Tetra or Military Rifle grease on my rifles
 
I've switched to Shell Aeroshell 33MS grease for all my gun greasing needs. Spendy for a tube ($20) but it's an aerospace grade grease that'll last a lifetime. Makes my bolts feel like glass.

AeroShell Grease 33MS is an extreme pressure (EP) grease based on the proven lithium complex technology of AeroShell Grease 33, and is fortified with 5% Molybdenum Disulphide. AeroShell Grease 33 has established itself as the answer to most of the airframe’s General Purpose, airframe greasing requirements, being approved for use in Boeing, Airbus and many other aircraft types. It sets the standard with exceptional anti-corrosion and anti-wear performance while allowing aircraft operators to shrink their grease inventory and reduce the risk of misapplication.

However, there remains a small number of highly loaded, sliding applications on the airframe where the additional boost of molybdenum disulphide will always be required. To address this need, Shell Aviation has developed AeroShell Grease 33MS. Sharing the same advanced grease technology as its parent, AeroShell Grease 33MS also possesses the extreme pressure (EP) characteristics provided by molybdenum disulphide.

The benefits of Grease 33MS include:
The useful operating temperature range is –73°C to +121°C.
Improved anti-wear and corrosion resistance over AeroShell Grease 17
It is fully compatible with AeroShell Grease 33, so reduces the risks and problems associated with misapplication
Load carrying and EP properties equal to that of the well established AeroShell Grease 17
Fully approved to MIL-G-21164D

It possesses enhanced anti-wear and anti-corrosion properties and is particularly suitable for lubricating heavily loaded sliding steel surfaces, such as, for example, bogie pivot pins on aircraft landing gear-assemblies.

AeroShell Grease 33MS is a direct alternative to AeroShell Grease 17, but when changing from (clay-based) ASG 17 to (Li-complex based) ASG 33MS, the normal rules on grease changing should be applied.
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I cannot say.

But if you're poking around auto parts stores and look at the "dry" silicon grease for disc brake pads - good to 3000 deg - don't bother. Doesn't work worth a darn. Ask me how I know. It's good for mating surfaces that shouldn't move like brake pad mounts (1), but it isn't much good for mating surfaces that have sliding surfaces.

(1) Whoa, imagine that. It works just fine used according to the package directions. So lets try it for a completely different unrelated application. Oh wait, that's what the OP wants to do, too. ;)
 
Lubri-Plate 130A is the recommended grease for the M1A and M1 Garand. Bolt, op rod and recoil spring.

You can down lube military manuals for these and it well point out the correct lube methods.
 
I use Luberplate 630AA. I've had it for years. To apply it I use a small flat artist brush. Useing to much grease will do much more harm then it ever will good.
I'm sure most any good quality grease will do just fine.
 
Lubripalte is a good grease. I ahve a quart can of it for various uses.

The only issue that I have found with lubricating guns is if you do not use the gun, the carrier flashes off and the grease gets kind of like sludge.

I recently, last few years or so, I have been using synthetic grease for my M1's, M1A, and even my AR-15s. The carrier of the grease does not seem to flash off.

A tube lasts a long time.
 
NLGI #2 grade GC-LB lithium complex EP grease will work fine. The EP (Extreme Pressure) is really what you are looking for in a M1, M14 grease. Lubriplate & Plastilube was the 2 greases used by USGI.
 
I had a hard copy of Mil G -46003 but tossed it. Then the electronic version disappeared from DoDiss.

Military rifle grease was a NLGI-3 grease, most axle greases are NLGI-2. The differences are not worth worrying about.

Lots of greases will work, the M1a is not that severe of a application for lubricants. I have tins of Army Rifle Grease, use lubriplate AA130, some marine waterproof axle greases, outboard engine grease, etc.

The Army developed rifle grease for the Garand when other lubricants were being washed out in hot, wet environments. Rifle grease is not to be used in Garands/M1a in temperatures below 40 F as the action will function sluggishly.

As a general rule, use greases in the summer and LSA in the winter. In extreme cold use no lubricants at all.
 
Any good quality wheel bearing grease is more than adequate for our babied rifles. If it will protect wheel bearings it is overkill on a rifle
If it makes you feel warm and fuzzy spending big $$$ on small containers of so called high tech gun grease go for it
I prefer to spend my $$$ on ammo, etc
 
Trot over to the M14 forum, click on the reference section on the left side of the home page. Go down about half way of the first page. Look for the articles by tonyben on cleaning and lube of the m14. Excellent reference and how to. I've printed them out and put them in a binder, this is my go to for the m14 type rifle.

I had forgotten a lot about them since I mustered out in the early 70's. I guess it's oldtimers setting in. LOL
 
Lubriplate is best, but any quality grease will work just fine. Avoid greases mixed with graphite for use on anything aluminum (like AR types).
 
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