Oil Rifle Mags Inside?

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FuzzyBunny

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Should I put a light coat of oil inside my used but new to me mags?
I need to clean these puppies and that will include removing any oil.

Very light oil coat of rem oil?
How about Sheath spray?
Some quality silicone spray?
Just spray the springs?
Leave them dry and run them that way?
No plans for going to Iraq or anywhere there is real fine talc like dust.

These are 40 round HK93 aluminium body mags with of course a steel spring and a steel floorplate. Made in 1979 and had a plastic follower (found the plastic odd).

In general I do like Super One silicone spray where the carrier evaporates then wipe off the remaining silicone with a dry rag. I really an just interested in rust prevention and not really needed for performance.
 
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I go through my entire armory twice a year, inspect, clean, and oil everything. That includes field stripping my mags and oiling them inside & out. I just use a light sewing machine oil on the mags. A light oiling & wipe down on the inside leaves enough lube without attracting dust bunnies.
 
At most, I would lightly oil a rag and wipe it down if you feel the need. I've done this once, to a 35 year old Rem. 742 mag, but only because it was filthy. Never have I literally squirted or sprayed oil in a magazine. I figure theyre usually cheap enough to replace after you've had them 8 or 10 years and start to rust. I agree with "RaceM's" suggestion of using light machine oil, it would be better than RemOil or something similar. Just my $.02
 
I think if RemOil as a light sewing machine oil.
I have my original 15 year old can so that tells you how much I use it.
BTW I was going to oil during the complete disassembly stage and not just hose dow. an assembled mag.

Am I off on thinking this about remoil being just a light oil?
 
I've heard of remoil gumming up over time, but take that with a grain of salt, as I have had no actual experience of it happening... Singer brand machine oil however, I have used for some time, as well as my dad. I think Singer should make gun oil! No gumming up in my experiences, which has been a lot longer than remoil.
 
Oil is a dirt and dust magnet, and though I am not any kind of expert, I have never used oil on the inside of a magazine except to clean rust out of Enfield magazines. I then completely dry the mag, and run it dry.

Not saying that all my AR mags (for example) are completely dry, I just don't intentionally put any oil in there. My rifle runs wet, and the mags run dry.
 
I could see oiling the insides of mag bodies for long term storage or something, but otherwise I like to keep magazines clean and dry inside. The silicone spray you mentioned seems like a good idea, however. It would provide some protection and lubrication without attracting dirt.
 
With the high cost of these HK mags I'm just lookiing for the best protection for the steel springs.

The mags are in great shape for being 30+ years old. I'm looking for replacement springs as it may be about time. Does anyplace make mag spring replacements that have a coating of some type to make them more rust resistant?

The mags are in fantastic shape and have minimal insertion marks so that just may have been used for line training and put in storage. I think they came from the Malasia Mil. I have seen them go for $90 for the 40 rounders 4 years ago so I'm lucky to find a good deal. For all I know there may be a flood of them hit the market like happened with the HK G3 mags at $1 each.

Plus I have to find a 5.56 40 round chest rig.
 
Only for a gun that is to be in storage, IMO.

I would NEVER oil the mags in my defensive guns. It'll collect all manner of lint, dirt and other debris.
 
Guys, this is the 21st century, there are other choices than sewing machine oil or nothing. Magazines, like everything else, work better when lubed. Use a dry lube, it will keep things moving without holding dirt. EEZOX, Remington, Hoppes all make dry lubes. Or go to your local bicycle shop, they've been dealing with the how-to-lube-it-without-holding-dirt issue for a long time.
 
Guys, this is the 21st century, there are other choices than sewing machine oil or nothing. Magazines, like everything else, work better when lubed. Use a dry lube, it will keep things moving without holding dirt. EEZOX, Remington, Hoppes all make dry lubes. Or go to your local bicycle shop, they've been dealing with the how-to-lube-it-without-holding-dirt issue for a long time.
Click to expand...

He said oil, not lubricate.

And platic followers don't really create much friction to begin with. IMO, the only reason to use anything is on steel mags when corrosion may be an issue.
 
I run an "oily" bore mop around the inside of my mags after I clean them (which is every once in a while) and then wipe any excess with a rag and re-assemble. I've been doing this for somewhere around 30 years and have never had "extra crud/dust bunnies/whatever" accumulate in my magazines. Additionally I haven't had half the magazine problems my friends and fellow shooters complained about over the years.
 
I paste wax and buff clean my 1911 magazine bodies (inside and out), springs, floorplates and followers. Wont attract dirt and they function smoothly.
 
The only thing I would use to lube the inside of a magazine is a dry lube like a silicone spray. Nothing that will attract dust and lint, and certainly no oil in magazines that you keep loaded, as it could potentially wick into the cartridges.
 
I don't oil mine, but I do give'm a squirt of dry graphite and a good shake to distribute it

John
 
No I never have, and never had a problem by not doing so. Cleaning them is fine, but oil "as mentioned above" is a magnet for powder dirt and all kinds of stuff. You may end up causing a bigger problem than if you left them alone. Just clean them and reassemle once every thousand rounds or so. I have guns that I have never cleaned the mag, Other than a wipe of the exposed parts, "outside and follower", and really never had an issue due to the mag. If you push down and feel it binding, then I would look into it.
 
Oil is a dirt and dust magnet
Click to expand...

Only when there is excess oil.

Magazines that are plain carbon steel are liable to rust without some surface protection.

prevent surface rust.
 
For things like this where gunk is a big concern, Remington DriLube is what I use. A very light coat on the springs and metal, wipe the excess. I do this for metal mags and shotgun mag tubes.
 
I don't oil mine, but I do give'm a squirt of dry graphite and a good shake to distribute it
Click to expand...
Careful with aluminum mags like GI AR-15 magazines. I hear graphite reacts with aluminum and can cause corrosion.
 
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