Best lube, not a cleaner.
Not abusing our toys is the best thing we can do to prolong service life. Metal to metal friction is what wears parts out.
I found this product by accident on youtube. It's called Weapon Shield by Steel Shield. I have no affiliation with them. After looking into the reviews on Midway USA there were 49 five star reviews out of 50. The one person that gave it 4 stars was upset as the needle dispenser was bent due to poor packaging but still loved the product. That's about as perfect as it gets. I've also learned a lot of the competitors in 3Gun races use it too. A brutal test for any lube or weapon.
I have switched to this lube exclusively and the result is mind blowing. Not only do the actions feel like they run on butter coated roller bearings but it changes the sound of the action. The metal to metal shear is defiantly reduced. Weapon Shield does consider this product to be a CLP (cleaner, lubricant, protectant) although I doubt it will remove carbon and fouling.
The video links are below showing the metal wear of Weapon Shield vs. many popular lubes as well as the results if you don't watch the videos.
A comparison of lubricants using a metal to metal bearing to intentionally wear out metal parts.
Bearing testing machine spins a locked bearing (can't spin it's perpendicular) against a rotating piece of steel at 1745 RPM. Considering a full auto M4 cycles at 700-950 RPM this is a brutal test for steel. My Layman's way of comparing a cyclic rate of fire to RPM's. Every pound of pressure reading on the scale is equal to about 35 - 37.5lbs of pressure on the bearing or about 175 - 187lbs PSI of pressure on the bearing for every five pounds on the scale. When a metal is worn away it is called a gal or galling. The larger the gal the more the resistance because the surface area increases demanding a better lubricant. Keep that in mind. I'm sure the tech guys any engineers will have issues with my above explanation but I'm not an engineer or a math guy so if it's wrong I apologize.
Frog Lube. Famous because the Navy Seals used to use it. Not sure if they still do. A vegetable oil based product which causes an increase in viscosity in cold weather and can seize up -0 temps. Not compatible with any petroleum based lubricants. Sucky for SHTF scenarios. Bearing test Frog Lube seized at 3lbs of pressure on the scale creating a gal in the metal bearing
Fireclean. One year shelf life. 4lbs of pressure on the scale, the bearing seized and was galled. Basically it performs about the same as 3in1 oil, Outers Gun Oil, Hoppes Elite Gun oil or cooking oil.
I could not find a comparison of my favorite for years Remoil. I've learned it is too thin and quickly burns off after moderate heat build up.
Breakfree is a popular lubricant. It seized at about 7.5 - 8.5lbs on the scale and galled the bearing.
Lucas Extreme Duty Gun Oil. It seized at about 7.5 - 8.5lbs on the scale and galled the bearing.
Gun butter seized between 8 - 9.5lbs of pressure on the scale causing a gal in the metal bearing. Great result.
Weapon Shield is a lithium based oil that is not as thick as Gun Butter however a light coat is all you need so migration isn't an issue.
Weapon Shield went to the end of the scale at 25lbs of pressure on the scale and it never seized. That's over 900lbs PSI at 1745 RPM!. A slight dimple of wear is all that is visible on the bearing. It's also available in a needle oiler. It has what they call a cationic property meaning it not only does not attract grit, dirt and lint it repels it by keeping it on the surface of the lubricant. It does not burn off at 400 degrees.
There are many comparison videos on Weapon shield but this 10 minute video sums it up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQLAE3MtTOI
Weaponsheild vs. CLP Breakfree
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXD34ToxHtg
As of today I have a new favorite and it is Weapon Shield.