Over doing it on lube

I don't know about handguns but I knew a guy who poured so much oil into his M1 rifle that when he fired it some spattered into his eyes. That may be a good argument for wearing eye protection, but it is also an argument for not overdoing the lubrication.

The fact is that handguns don't need much lubrication. With revolvers, a few drops in critical places is plenty. With auto pistols, a few drops of oil and a small amount of grease on the rails is plenty, and even grease is not necessary unless the gun is being subjected to long term firing. Otherwise, a good gun oil will do for the rails as well as the lockwork.

One problem with over-lubing is that oil in the chamber will increase the pressure on the breech face (since the case will not adhere to the chamber walls) and that will eventually harm the gun.

Jim
 
I believe that excess lube attracts dirt so, for a carry gun, that is bad. When I know that I am taking a pistol to the range the rails get greased a bit extra and most springs and pivot/rotation points get a drop of lube. Then, when I clean them, I lube them and wipe most of the grease/oil off.
 
Excess lube can also creep into primers and kill them. Most guns only need a couple of drops in the right places.
 
Many years ago, I experienced fails to extract and lock open when empty as a result of overlubing with my P220; a quick wipe down, problem solved.
 
Excess lube can also creep into primers and kill them.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about lube while reloading? Would have to a heck of a lot of oil in a gun to creep into the primer of a cartridge loaded into it ;)
 
No, I'm talking about gun oil and it doesn't take as much as you would think. As an instructor I have seen several police officers at qualification draw their sidearm only to have it go click. They had carried the same rounds in the gun for a year and constantly soaked the gun down with their favorite spray lube (while loaded) and killed their primers. The look on their faces when their gun failed to fire was priceless. Oiling a gun is fine, but keep that breechface dry kids. Spray lube is wasteful and allows little or no control of where you're putting it. I have used a small stencil brush for years to prevent rust and fingerprints on gun exteriors - just dribble a couple of drops onto the brush and "paint" the gun with it. Leaves a thin film and allows you to get into tight corners around safeties and cylinder latches right up to the grips.
 
I use a Mollybdenum Disulfide based dry lube mixed with a small amount of "wet" oil. I use a lot of it during reassembly. Ok ok! I use a whole lot of it during reassembly. It's thin enough that it penetrates well into the internal areas. Yes, it's messy when it's wet but get's better after most of the "wet" has evaporated. I do it that way to help the moving parts to burnish with each other. However, I always tell (verbally & written) the Customer to wipe off the excess prior to firing it and then clean it like normal afterwards.

A local Deputy apparently couldn't follow verbal and written instructions. In fact, he must have understood to add grease after every firing! It's yearly qualifications and his pistol doesn't work. Not only will it not fire the round that's in it but the slide won't even move. It's packed with white lithium grease that had mixed with firing residue and turned into glue! I wasn't there to see his face but the somebody told me about it. He said the range master started screaming in his ear "Bang! Bang! You're dead!".

For newly finished firearms, I mix the wet oil with the dry oil. On my own personal firearms, I use only the dry lubricant. I don't have to worry about rust because all of my stuff is finished with our finish so only the internals need any lube. Keep yer powder dry, Mac.
Tuff-Gun Finishes. The Name Says It All.
Mac's Shootin' Irons
http://www.shootiniron.com
 
I have found that if you use G-96, spray the action , or even the bolt on a rifle, and then follow that with an air hose, usually it'll leave the faintest film of oil, but not to much. I use about 90 to 100 psi airhose from my compressor to blow excess out of my weapons, but like I say it leaves a perfect film of the G-96 behind to protect and serve so to speak..;) P.S. I always without fail completely dry my boltface in ANY weapon!!!
 
Gunzilla CLP is good for this. Their web site includes a lot of testimonials from soldiers in the sand box saying it put an end to stoppages the issue CLP failed to prevent. When you wipe it away is dries down to a lubricating film that feels almost like a varnish and doesn't attract dust.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top