Secret Gun Lube - This is not a debate.

[oldFred]

Let me clue you guys in on a little secret.

1. Are you always reading the gun lube wars posts wondering which product to use?
2. Tried a couple of brands and it collects dirt, runs out everywhere?
3. Don't like the awful smell of lithium grease or synthetic motor oil?

Try this. There is a product we use in the pool business to lube o-rings and pvc pipe threading called silicone grease. It comes in a small tub made to dip your finger into or use a brush.

After cleaning your firearm with your favorite solvent take small amounts of silicone grease and rub it thinly on the friction surfaces of the mechanism, bolt or slide area.

Silicone grease will NOT wash off with water and withstands -40 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It also maintains its thick viscosity within those temperature ranges. It's also odor free.

You can get silicone grease at any pool supply store and most hardware stores. One tub costs less than $5 and lasts for years.


Beware the of the lubes/butters/secret concoctions of homebrew gun oils. Their value is mostly in the odor free properties they have. The only thing you have to watch out for is getting the grease on a handgrip, it's like dropping the soap in the shower and we all know what that gets you...

Great day to all and let freedom and RKBA define America!

 

[Duke of Doubt]

My choice of lubricant depends on the particular gun -- or gun part -- to be lubed. I use everything including but not limited to lithium grease, Mobil1, 3 in 1, Vaseline and KY jelly, depending on what it's for.

 

[Gamera]

Sounds interesting, I might check it out once my Rem Oil bottle is empty.

 

[conw]

Gamera, you should be using grease on things like slide rails and barrel...dry lube (remington makes one called DriLube) on things that takes less impact, like the hammer interface, mag spring, guide rod, etc. I would only use Rem Oil for the outside of the gun, to protect finish. Maybe different if a rifle, but those oils only collect dust and lint in my guns. The way to go is a dry spray on for low impact and grease for the high impact areas.

 

[Winston_Smith]

Your kidding, right?

No way, I was serious. I have learned a lot of interesting things here. For example; used dryer sheets in tumbler & personal vibrator on powder measure (haven't tried it yet).

I knew I would get "this one's for fighting, this one's for fun" comment.

 

[matrem]

silicone grease.

Those come in a very wide variety..from high temp Dow Corning "44" to those that seem to resemble,silicone adhesives.
Any specifics?

 

[nofishbob]

The silicone grease that I use on o-rings on pool valves is not intended for lubricating metal. The silicone grease used on electrical connections as a waterproofing is also not designed as a real lubricant.

I would do some more research before using silicone grease as a gun lube before feeling confident that it will perform as you hope. It might be fine, but it pays to make sure.

Bob

 

[MD_Willington]

I just grabbed a half used bottle of Tri-Flow from the recycle center... makes everything as slick as snot.

 

[Jim Watson]

I just use a $6 aquarium air pump to settle light charges of flake powder in my Dillon.

There was a silcone lube recommended for the real original .44 Automag in its day. Said to prevent galling of the stainless and keep fouling soft.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Those metal moving parts which contact or are in proximity to rubber or plastic parts get KY, which will not break down the rubber the way other, petroleum-based lubricants will. This is why KY is so popular in the bedroom -- it won't break down a latex condom.

 

[Cannonball888]

break down the rubber the way other, petroleum-based lubricants will. This is why KY is so popular in the bedroom -- it won't break down a latex condom.

That is one reason. The other is that it is medically inadvisable to use petrolatum on mucosa.

 

[w_houle]

Does this mean I can finally admit that I bought a (rhymes with flashlight) to clean my cartridge casings

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Can we take this one out of the locker room? Really guys, the OP was interesting and on topic.

Don't make me lock this. We have female and young members.

 

[Joe Demko]

The chief ingredients in KY are water and glycerin. While these will not harm rubber, they will dry and not offer any lubrication in very short order. KY is utterly unsuited to use in firearms.

 

[Sam Boca]

This is the reason that I am reluctant ever buy a used modern gun. People lubicating their firearms with god knows what and scrubbing their bores with home made concoctions. I've seen people do more damage in one hour of cleaning than what would happen in a lifetime of normal shooting. I have yet to find any lubrication requirement on a gun that Break Free won't handle.

 

[PT1911]

This is the reason that I am reluctant ever buy a used modern gun. People lubicating their firearms with god knows what and scrubbing their bores with home made concoctions. I've seen people do more damage in one hour of cleaning than what would happen in a lifetime of normal shooting. I have yet to find any lubrication requirement on a gun that Break Free won't handle.

Ditto... Good ole break free does the trick every time...

 

[Walkalong]

half used bottle of Tri-Flow

We use that for door hinges. It works very well and lasts a long time. I don't use it on firearms, but it would probably work.

This is not a debate.

I am not sure that is possible. We love to debate lubes/calibers/barrel lengths/you name it.

 

[Cannonball888]

The chief ingredients in KY are water and glycerin. While these will not harm rubber, they will dry and not offer any lubrication in very short order. KY is utterly unsuited to use in firearms.

While I agree that KY is unsuitable for firearms due to it's poor lubrication, stickiness, and 0 corrosion protection, however pure glycerin, even though unsuitable for the same reasons, will not evaporate. Only the water in a water/glycerin mixture such as KY evaporates. For instance, pure glycerin is often used in commercial photography to simulate droplets of water on fruit because it will not evaporate during long sessions under hot photography lights.

 

[Runningman]

I just grabbed a half used bottle of Tri-Flow from the recycle center... makes everything as slick as snot.

Used Tri-Flow on guns for decades for everything except the bore. works well. Back in the early 80s I given a Colt Woodsman 22 with a tight fitted slide. It jammed very often on every gun lube I tried. In desperation I tried Tri-Flow on it. Guess what... no more jams using Tri-Flow on it. Been a fan of it every since.

 

[Lucky]

Could I ask if anyone knows a good solvent for dunking entire parts in, to neutralize corrosive salts from commie ammo? Something you could use over and over.

 

[Isher]

oldfred -

OK. You stole my secret: silicon brake grease.

First used in the early 70's on a stubborn 1911.

Lawyers at ten paces tomorrow morning!

isher

 

[paintballdude902]

i had never thought of useing ky for plastic and rubber wow while i thought the jokes were funny that is really a great idea!


it really depends on the part of the gun im lubing persision parts get remoil(not the spray bottle) bolt actions get 3 in 1 on the bolts high friction areas get grease blued areas on the exterior get remoil from the spray bottle

ky hummm great idea does it help protect cracking plastic with age? i know some .22 rifles the cmp sells as target rifles are advertisd as having a cracked trigger guard and my xl7 has a plastic trigger guard will the ky protect it from cracking if i apply it regularly?

 

[FlyinBryan]

i use mobil 1 synthetic motor oil on just about everything.

1911 pistols
remington 1100 and model 11 scatterguns
ar15's
10/22's

then on our garands and mosins we use mobil1 brand synthetic grease.

for a long time i used breakfree with teflon but i like the mobil1 better.

also use mobil1 on the ram resevior in my progressive reloading press and my single stage press too.

grease on the handle pivots and linkages where there are grease zirks.

 

[Joe Demko]

The offending salts from corrosive ammo have to be removed by an aqueous cleaner. A bucket of hot water with some household dish detergent will work and is cheap enough to not worry about re-use. If you use Dawn, the parts have oil stripped from them and will need re-oiled after cleaning.

 

[Al Thompson]

Lucky, ditto what Joe said. I use Windex at the range to clean up if I even suspect the ammo is corrosive. Just spray it down the bore and don't forget the bolt !