Charlie Harley, #14153 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I’ve used WD40 and Break Free for years to keep the guns running smoothly. But then I got to looking at the white lithium grease I use on tools. It applies as an aerosol, and when the solvent evaporated leaves a thin layer of grease. Works great on gears and sprockets, and was wondering how it might work on trigger mechanisms and other metal on metal contact points. Of course, it would not go anywhere in contact with hot powder gases. I’ve seen what wrong lube will do to a Garand operating rod or an M-16 bolt carrier. As always, the Saloon’s wisdom is much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Sir IMO grease , is fine for rails , bolts , ect . as to triggers and firing pins , I use lighter fluid , provides , just a touch of lube and will NOT gel or gum up in cold WD40 , is good for breaking up carbon , but leaves a film that will build up over time most all oils turn to varnish over time Chickasaw Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Rich Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I've found that the white spray lithium will dry out over an extended period of time. So I've gone to Lucas #2 red grease. It is compatible with BP or smokiless. As for firing pins in extreme cold hunting situations we used to use rubbing alcohol as it has a small amount of oil in it but will not interfere with the operation of the gun. kR PS I've never used Mobil red grease but I understand it is the same as Lucas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Grease is NOT your guns friend in cold weather. Keep on using what you have been. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassnetguy50 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Use what the manufacturer recomends. Other product may work or they may not. My grease comes in a tube. A small tube fits in the pocket without making noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Graybeard Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Most gunsmiths I know cringe at the sound of WD-40...unless it is being used as a solvent. Lots of better products. I am using Mobil 1 red grease for things that need grease and for oil I use a 50/50 mix of motorkoat and 0/20 Mobil 1 oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Rich Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I have used the Lucas grease in a lot of different guns in cold weather and never had a problem. My C&B pistols came from the gunsmith that tunes them and the innards are packed with Mobil 1 red grease to keep the fouling out of the internals. They work fine in cold weather. kR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Cold weather and grease or heavier oils are not your friend. I lost a shot at a nice moose when the firing pin would not fall in my M695 Tikka when we were hunting up around Geraldton, Ontario. Had to use gasoline to flush the bolt and run it w/o any lube for the duration of the hunt. I now clean out the bolts before any cold weather trips and replace any lubes with a cold weather oil. FYI: Any build-up of WD-40 is not your friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. James H. Callahan Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 For big moving parts on autos, I like LSA but it's gotten VERY hard to find. For most other purposes Break Free. JHC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconKC Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Also, WD40 is a penetrant, if it comes in contact with ammo it can kill primers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 When I was first getting interested in guns, a friend at work was nice enough to loan me a Sig 380. He was showing me how to operate it in the parking lot and discovered it was all gummed up from the WD-40 he used to regularly spray in it without actually using the pistol. It looked like hardened vegetable oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Just now, Eyesa Horg said: deleted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Isn't WD 40 a fish oil base? It sticks in my mind that I larned that somewheres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Coffinmaker Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Hi Charlie WD-40 is NOT a lubricant. WD-40 is a penetrant and Water Displacing solvent, hence the "WD" Actually it's Water Displacement formula # 40. I use very little Grease. Lots of Oil. rule of thumb, If it slides, a little Grease. If it turns, Oil. Since I shoot BP and Subs, I need lubricants that are non-petroleum based, to play well with BP and Subs. I use Mobil 1 Grease on the Arbor when I assemble after cleaning. When shooting, I use Mobil 1 Motor Oil, 5-40. I also use Mobil 1 Grease on the Bolt tracks of toggle Link rifles and the sides of the Links when I reassemble. After assembly, just Oil. When I was shooting that Heathen Fad Smokeless Stuff and in the Military, the GO-TO was Break-Free. Most excellent for cleaning and maintenance and to cut the Blow-By crud on the carrier and bolt. Break Free leaves a thin film of lubricant after it evaporates, but still add Oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Thanks for the info Colorado. I use breakfree and grease. Thinking of trying the Moble 1 grease though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Touring the Beretta Factory in Val Trompia, Italy. While you were on the tour, you could drop off your shotgun and they would take it apart, check for wear, clean and re-assemble it. A very old gentleman, carrying my friends shotgun, came shuffling out of the back. He thrust it into Bob's hands and in a very loud voice said "Grease your car. OIL your shotgun!" We all about died laughing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attica Jack #23953 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I use Mobil 28 grease, kind of like Slide Glide, but cheaper, airport mechanics use it. It stays where you want it for the whole season. I also use Mobil 1 oil 20/50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixgun Sheridan Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 I only use WD-40 on my black powder firearms after washing them with hot soapy water. Afterwards I wipe them off and apply Break-Free. Never lubricate your firing pin, striker or channel. Leave it dry. Also as a general rule, grease is okay on whatever slides (rails, bolts, etc) but oil is used on anything that pivots or anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 3 hours ago, Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 said: Isn't WD 40 a fish oil base? It sticks in my mind that I larned that somewheres. NO, read the MSDS. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 My understanding is oils are for parts that rotate, grease is for parts that slide. WD40 has its place as a solvent... but... My neighbor was a submarine tech at Mare Island, told me that WD40 invites rust. I learned this the hard way when I wiped down my chrome Harley parts and found them all rusted after a few months of winter (indoors). My neighbor cut open an empty can of WD40.. it was rusted like crazy on the inside of the can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 I have used a lot of different gun lubes. I wouldn’t use WD-40. @Colorado Coffinmakeris correct. I would also not use white lithium grease. @Kid Richis correct. I use Mobil 1 5w20 for lube oil and Mobil 1 grease. @Sedalia Dave recommended the use of the Mobil 1 products to me 3 or 4 years ago and they have served me very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 9 hours ago, Capt. James H. Callahan said: For big moving parts on autos, I like LSA but it's gotten VERY hard to find. For most other purposes Break Free. JHC Available from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/LSA-Weapons-Oil-Squeeze-Production/dp/B08L5MQHL8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. James H. Callahan Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 3 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said: Available from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/LSA-Weapons-Oil-Squeeze-Production/dp/B08L5MQHL8 'Preciate it, but last time I found some I bought a quart. Should last me a while! JHC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raylan Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 In place of traditional grease I mostly use Lucas Extreme Duty oil now. For lubrication Mobil 1, for protection sometimes Barricade, for penetrating oil Kroil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Water displacement: WD40 Cleaning and penetrant: 50/50 mixture of Marvels Mystery Oil and WD40. Lube options: Strike Hold, Lucas Gun Oils (I like the red), Mobil 1 0-20 synthetic. Grease: Lucas Gun Grease, Mobil 1 synthetic (red) As other have stated, please don't use WD40 as a lube. It IS NOT a rust preventative nor lubricant. Its a slick penetrant. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconKC Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 I like Mil-tec grease, Remoil and Gunslick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 I use Break Free on most everything. But Mobil 1 and Lubriplate work well on my Garand. Also on my lever actions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Bob Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 WD 40 works great for cleaning the excess grease off of my tractor and excavator. But I’d never use it on a gun . allot of the gun oils today are a excellent balance of lubrication and corrosion resistance. Unless you’re a professional shooter you’ll use so little of it in your lifetime I’d rather just use something intended for firearms . Even when I was a gunsmith a can of break free clp went a long way. im kind of a gun oil , bore cleaner junkie . So I’m always trying something new as long as they don’t have some crazy price on it or make impossible claims . I hate cleaning guns so anything that makes it easier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waxahachie Kid #17017 L Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 if you use black powder, do NOT use a petroleum based lubricant. It does not react well with black powder. We did not know this, back in the early 1960's, when I started shooting black powder revolvers. But when you think about it, a lot of the lubricants, back in early 19th century, and before, were non petroleum based lubricants...such as...whale oil, for example. Also, folks would grease up their patches with whale oil, or bear grease, or lambs tallow, or bee's wax, etc. They boiled water and cleaned the bores of their rifles with boiling water, and tow...when they had the opportunity and the time. Back in the day, when I first started, cleaning a black powder firearm was long, and not any fun (I had rather take a beating, or spend the day at Wal-Mart, or sit through a liberal political meeting, than to have to clean my rifle/revolver)...and it was recommended that after a few days, you re-clean it, just to make sure. I can now clean one in a fraction of the time it took me back then...and I don't feel like I need to take a hammer and chisel to do the job. If you buy a black powder firearm, you need to de-grease it right out of the box, and then add some non petroleum based lubricant to the item in question. Also, down through the years, I have read to never use WD-40 on a nickel-plated firearm, for, given some time, it will not do the nickel any good at all. WD-40 is good for a lot of things, but it does leave a residue behind, and over time it will gum up the internals of a firearm. I had this happen to me, not all that long ago, to a Smith & Wesson model 27. I could barely pull the hammer back. I fixed that problem, and I know what to avoid now. Remember...just because it is slick, and oily, and is termed a "lubricant", does not mean it is good for a firearm. What works in your truck, or on your salad, or on your pancakes, or on your leather, doesn't mean it will be good for your firearm. Everyone has their own experiences in what to use, based on what they have heard, and tried. So...my two bits. There ya go. W.K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go West Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 I have accumulated a box full of partially used products, some of which I actually like. I shoot smokeless and seem to be always looking for the next thing that promises to clean and/or protect without much effort. I do use red grease for things that slide and often use G96 for cleaning and lubing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 A Pard turned me on to "Eezox CLP" for cleaning BP guns. I got a can and have been using it with good success. Seemed my muzzleloader almost always developed a slight rust film in the bore even when coated with Bore Butter. With Eezox, I haven't been having that problem. It worked real well on C&B pistols at the range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hells Comin Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Would transmission fluid be a good lubricant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raylan Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Hells Comin said: Would transmission fluid be a good lubricant? For guns? Works okay, know people who like it. For personal intimacy not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 2 hours ago, Hells Comin said: Would transmission fluid be a good lubricant? Red Knee preferes 'Widder's Premium Chunky' in his 97..... ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 3 hours ago, Hells Comin said: Would transmission fluid be a good lubricant? It is actually a very good lubricant. The problem is the odor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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