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Drying out a Rifle: Stupid Ideas Welcome
- Thread starter Clevinger
- Start date
I've been repairing guns for many years and often get guns that were "treated" to WD-40. The stuff, after a several months or years, gums up trigger mechanisms and leaves a sticky coating on gun exteriors as well. I haven't seen it turn to varnish, but won't use it on my guns.
It's also been known to kill primers when sprayed into rifle bolts, then the guns stored standing up. Upon hunting, WD-40 (and other fine oils) can drip from the firing pin hole onto primers, seep around them, and often kill them.
Oils should be used sparingly, especially on rifles like Win 94s and fine double-barreled shotguns whose buttstocks are open from the action. Used to excess, oil will seep into the buttstock wood, turning it dark around the metal contacts and actually rot it out. I've repaired many that have been damaged that way, usually by routing out the soft wood and replacing it with Brownell's Acraglas, along with pins or screws. If done right, the repair is not readily apparent from the outside.
It's also been known to kill primers when sprayed into rifle bolts, then the guns stored standing up. Upon hunting, WD-40 (and other fine oils) can drip from the firing pin hole onto primers, seep around them, and often kill them.
Oils should be used sparingly, especially on rifles like Win 94s and fine double-barreled shotguns whose buttstocks are open from the action. Used to excess, oil will seep into the buttstock wood, turning it dark around the metal contacts and actually rot it out. I've repaired many that have been damaged that way, usually by routing out the soft wood and replacing it with Brownell's Acraglas, along with pins or screws. If done right, the repair is not readily apparent from the outside.
I've been repairing guns for many years and often get guns that were "treated" to WD-40. The stuff, after a several months or years, gums up trigger mechanisms and leaves a sticky coating on gun exteriors as well.
My dad in his later years didn't use his guns at all. He had started using WD-40 to clean them maybe 20 years before his death. When I got them they were clean and dry but not gummy or sticky. I use it after cleaning my black powder guns with soapy water and follow it up with oil. No problems there either.
math teacher
New member
It should be noted here that if you remove the stock and then put it back it would be wise to resight your rifle. It may not shoot to the same place. Also oiled barrels commonly shoot to a different place. A couple of clean patches through the barrel before hunting will help, but I always foul the barrel and cover the end with electrical tape to keep dirt, snow and water out.
I am retired from the automotive business and there has been a lot of research by our oil suppliers to not only produce the most reliable cars and engines but to keep the vast types of machinery running non stop. Go ahead and look up oil drying and maybe you will understand the science put into oils. Use gun lubricants for guns. That is my stand and I'm sticking to it. WD-40 was fine in 1960 for your guns. There was even a time when fishermen would spray it on there lures to use as sent. It's time to move on into 2014. I have been finding the technology is not easy to keep up on my self.
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