Okay, folks. Let's keep it clean.

[Aaryq]

Howdy, folks. Let's keep it clean. I go to Iraq in about 10 days. I'll be in Iraq during the rainy season/winter. I need to keep my weapon clean but CLP will attract dust (I've seen some sand storm vids). what wnould you say to help me keep my M16 in a good operating condition without using a wet lube on the rifle? It can't be dry and covered in dust because I'll get in trouble for that too. What techniques/tools would you use to help me.

 

[kd7nqb]

Ok so I dont know, I do however know that there are a LOT of similar weapons in Iraq so why not just ask the guy next to you when you get there or someone who has deployed before.

Or there is the tried and true method, find yourself and AK. Ok I know you cant do that but it does solve your initial issue.

 

[billdeserthills]

Dry Lube

I'm a Locksmith/Gun Dealer in Arizona, I use a lot of graphite to keep locks working smoothly, same problem your gun has, lots of dust blowing over here, if I use an oil based lube, locks get gummed up. Other thing useful is a dry-lube, Superlube makes one, it is alcohol based with Teflon in it, sprays on, let it dry,
it will leave some white marks from the teflon.

 

[jpcampbell]

First good luck, kd7nqb is right check with the guys their, your rifle should only need three drops of lube one each in the two holes on the bolt carrier and one down the gas tube extension on the bolt carrier. I carried a m-16 for 16 years from Viet Nam to Alaska and put thousands of rounds through them with out problem, over lubrication is one reason for malfunctions.

 

[rero360]

well, I'll be leaving the sandbox in about 10 days, perhaps our paths will cross along the way.

I used militec with great results. I got my M4 brand new, I cleaned off all the packing grease, then wiped everything down with the militec. I put about two layers of militec on then after that just put it on wear parts, I never had any problems of the weapon jamming or anything.

 

[Hokkmike]

Others will give you the needed info; I just want to say thank you for your service!

 

[sanchezero]

http://lightfighter.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7206084761/m/2071025143

I used to be a dry guy but I had problems while in Afghanistan. I'm a wet guy now and currently in Iraq and have no issues. I carry lube in my rack and occasionally give it a squirt when I don't have anything better to do.



Have fun.

 

[GRIZ22]

The answer to the problem of keeping your weapon dry and lubed is Drislide.

https://www.russack.com/view_doc.php?view_doc=7&PHPSESSID=3af766a3e14515b9dc6c32acd522dcb6#anchor_12

This takes you to the gun lubricant page. I used it in Vietnam (the dust can be pretty bad there). You squirt it on and the vehicle evaporates leaving a dry molydendum lubricant. A small bottle lasts some time as you only use it for lubricant.

Give them a call for case pricing (a case will probably last a year). they used to give discounts shipping to APOs or FPOs so it's worth asking.

Not a new product just one that works.

Thanks for your service and stay safe.

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

Graphite.

 

[highfive]

Well Aaryq... I went to Iraq twice and basically what work for me was, I basically cleaned my rifle throughly every time I went out and most of the time every day, never had a jam or nothing.
That's what worked for me . Hey good luck out there and remember don't trust anybody. They want to be friendly, don't trust them. Trust your family that's about it. God bless buddy

 

[waterhouse]

I won't presume to know what is best for your weapon in your conditions, but stay safe and thank you for your service.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Or there is the tried and true method, find yourself and AK. Ok I know you cant do that but it does solve your initial issue.

I think he wants to hit what he's firing at though

 

[Harley Quinn]

Others will give you the needed info; I just want to say thank you for your service!

Also

 

[bogie]

You'll use whatever the guys who yell a lot give you, and like it.

 

[Bartkowski]

I am surprised it took so long for someone to say thanks. So thank you for doing what you do.


EDIT:

You'll use whatever the guys who yell a lot give you, and like it.

If that is a joke it's not funny, and no matter what it is, it's neither respectful nor appreciated.

 

[Harley Quinn]

You'll use whatever the guys who yell a lot give you, and like it.

Well the response is old school and might have been correct before they started talking about thinking for ones-self of late.

The Corps has changed, it is still the same regarding many things

So I can understand where this quote is coming from for sure.

You have to had been there:banghead:

HQ

 

[RLsnow]

i found the comment fairly amusing...but then again i treat humor as humor

 

[bogie]

Oh, fahchrissake. The US Military is NOT what you see in the video games, the television and movies, or read about in the comics.

When you get to your area of operations, there will likely be an AO specific method of cleaning/lubrication specced for your hardware. This likely has been tested, and works. If it doesn't work, you will hear via Rumor Control about what actually does work, and someone, possibly the same person who told you about the approved method, will provide you with What Works.

It ain't all that hard. And "thinking for yourself" only goes so far, because there's always gonna be some Private Numbnuts who read on the internet that the best lube for his weapon is toothpaste or preparation H, and if allowed to _continue_ to think for himself, will persist until he becomes a casualty, and a hindrance to his unit's integrity. He is not supposed to become a casualty. And he is not supposed to, through his slackness of becoming a casualty, allow other members of his unit to become casualties. So pay attention to the guys who yell a lot.

 

[benEzra]

DoD has recently reversed itself on the "dry rifle vs. wet rifle" thing. They used to recommend that the rifle be kept as dry as possible to theoretically keep dirt/dust from sticking, but the current thinking is that if you actually do get dirt/dust in the receiver, the rifle needs plenty of lubrication in order to keep the sand/dirt/dust from locking up the rifle. So the DoD recommendation is shifting toward the idea of lubing heavily, although it may still be filtering down to the unit level, and I'm not sure if Marine maintenance doctrine has changed yet.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/07/army_carbine_lubrication_070716/

Heavy lubrication shown to improve M16, M4 effectiveness

By Matthew Cox - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 16, 2007 17:34:05 EDT

Army weapons officials might have found a way to improve the M16 family’s performance in the desert.

“Dust chamber” tests at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., last year show that M16 rifles and M4 carbines perform dramatically better when the weapon’s bolt assembly is heavily lubricated.

During each phase of the two-part “system assessment” at Army Test and Evaluation Command, testers fired 60,000 rounds through 10 weapon samples of each model.

Treated with light lubrication, new M16A4s and M4s, performed poorly in the extreme dust and sand conditions of the test, according to a January report from ATEC.

But when testers applied a heavy coat of lubrication to the weapons, the test results showed a “significant improvement.”

Out of the 60,000 rounds fired in each phase, the M4 stoppage-rate dropped from 9,836 with light lubrication to 678 with heavy lubrication.

The M16A4 stoppage-rate dropped from 2,124 with light lubrication to 507 with heavy lubrication, results show.

For years, Army weapons officials have preached to soldiers to virtues of applying a light coat of lubrication during weapons maintenance.

But the test results reinforce a recent change in weapons maintenance guidance Army units are practicing in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Col. Carl Lipsit, project manager for Soldier Weapons.

Note the date, though--this change is VERY recent.

Whatever you end up doing, stay safe, and thanks for your service.

 

[Jinzoningen80]

+1 for militec - When we got to our FOB in iraq, there was an endless supply of this stuff. The key is to read the directions and apply it in a very THIN layer. Too many guys used it like CLP and coated everything in it. If you do it right, dust wont stuck to it.

The guy who runs owns the company has been really great. He sent my unit 2 cases of the stuff when we redeployed back home and had to go back to CLP. I use it on ALL my personal and professional weapons.

 

[wideym]

Make sure you clean and inspect your rifle every other day. I don't know how many times we would see Fobbits carrying around rifles with enough dust to grow corn on. It only takes 10 min. to make sure your weapon will work when you need it. If you leadership is ignoring the problem, tell them.

For everybody who wants to express their thanks, CALL your congressman and DEMAND a pay raise for servicemen.

 

[koja48]

1) Good Luck
2) Thanks to you & all of the others for your service
3) Listen to the voices of experience.

God Bless you all.

 

[SaMx]

I just want to add, come home safe! we want you to keep posting here

 

[bogie]

Yeah - as many of y'all know, the military is best defined as "a few seconds of excitement, surrounded by hour upon hour of 'Hurry up and wait.'"

If you're sitting, make a habit of at least pulling your bolt and clearing any crap out of it. Brush/blow the crud outta the trigger group while you're at it.

Takes 30 seconds to a minute, and you're good...

If you are in a small unit leadership role, get your guys into the habit of every time you have a "smoke 'em if you got 'em" break, a third does a quick clean, then the next, and then the next... Not talking CSM inspection-time here - just making sure stuff is operational.

A pull-through kit probably won't make a lot of difference here - you're not concerned about the bore (just watch for obstructions).

And pay attention to the folks who've been in theatre for a while...

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Maybe a brush with lots of large bristles, like a shaving brush. I've heard that they are good for getting sand and dust of parts in a hurry.