WD-40 is not the firearm Cure-All

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Picher

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There was another post I read today where someone recommended spraying WD-40 into a rifle action to "clean it" instead of taking it apart and doing it right.

I respectfully suggest that gun actions and WD-40 be kept as far apart as possible. WD-40 gums up after a few months and can make triggers and actions sticky. As a gunsmith, I've detail stripped/cleaned guns that had been gummed up by WD-40.

Before the stuff turns to varnish, it a penetrating oil. Sprayed into rifle/shotgun actions, which are then carried muzzle down, it has caused misfires by leaking out of firing pin holes, onto and around centerfire primers, effectively killing them. That may happen with any penetrating oil, but WD-40 is the one used most often.

Gun Scrubber is a lighter, better cleaning spray which will gas-off quickly and not cause gumming, but it's only a temporary cure. After it leaves, much of the displaced grit remains in crevaces, where it can wear parts and affect firing pin energy, etc.

Break Free CLP seems to be a better lubricant than WD-40 for firearms, but I wouldn't spray any oil into actions. It tends to leak out and oil-rot wooden stocks. Many a fine shotgun (or Winchester 94 stock) has been damaged by excessive oiling.

Semi-autos are best dry-lubed, unless otherwise noted by the manufacturer. A thin coating applied to a rag, then wiped on surfaces is the best way to protect them from corrosion and lightly lubricate them.

Automobile wax/polimers exclude moisture and work well to protect outside surfaces from rust.

Everyone seems to have his/her pet lube/cleaner. I've used moly products for many applications and it seems to work a long time without causing problems, especially in trigger mechanisms.
 
Absolutely true. I found out the hard way with my Rem 541S. I had to completely disassemble the trigger to get the varnish-like residue out of all the pivot points.

For auto handguns I use Gun Scrubber and then blow all the excess out with an air hose. A lubricant that I really like is Beeman MP-5. It stinks but penetrates like no other. I wouldn't use it on my deer rifle. :D
 
[There was another post I read today where someone recommended spraying WD-40 into a rifle action to "clean it" instead of taking it apart and doing it right./QUOTE]

Think we seen same post and my thoughts were why do people continue to use WD-40 on a firearm, some act if its a burden to clean a firearm then are furious when it fails. Some years back a relative brought me a "junk" (his words) 22 auto that failed, now this man had 4 teenage sons the rifle remained in an out building the kids shot the heck of it and never cleaned it, when i received rifle it was so dirty the action failed to fully retract,WD40 was there main lube, took me a couple hours to clean but the rifle fired and functioned beautifully, I suggested they clean it more often, never seen the rifle again.:D

Treat a rifle like any tool clean it store in a dry place and it will outlast the owner.
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It's also not the end all to firearms either. While it's far from my top choice and it's been years since I used it there are more guns that are running fine with it's use than are gummed up and it's effects on primers is much an internet myth. You basically have to soak a primer in the stuff to kill it and the "imagined" amount that "might" creep in around a primer and it's pocket of a lightly lubed gun isn't gonna have ill effects. There have been numerous test done out there to confirm this.

Like I said, not my first choice. Not my second, third or forth for that matter. But if I came in from a rainy day in the field and it's all I had I'd spray the heck outta the gun, clean up the excess and go hunting the next day without a care in the world.

BTW, also never used dry lube on any gun, semi or not, in my life. Never seen it used, I've never had or seen an issue, don't suppose I ever will.

LK
 
Unfortunately WD40's website still lists it's product for "lubricatng gun linkages" as well as rust and corrosion protection on guns and field weapons.

You'd think someone would have informed them by now. :rolleyes:
 
PICHER:

I agree with you regarding WD 40. Before I knew better, I sprayed it into my Winchester model 70's bolt and trigger. When I was hunting in Wyoming the trigger wouldn't function. An inspection revealed that the trigger was gummed up. A detailed cleaning of the bolt and trigger with Hoppies #9 cured my problem. I now use Break Free for all of my gun cleaning.

Semper Fi.

Gunneery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
Just because a marketing website recommends it is no guarantee that professionals do.

Having done commercial locksmithing and supply for eight years, I can definitely say that WD40 is despised in the trade as the worst thing any consumer can squirt into a lock mechanism, and the source of a lot of unnecessary work cleaning locks that otherwise functioned perfectly.

Go check the website, they recommend using it.

Be advised, WD40 was initially compounded as a water displacing spray to remove moisture accumulation - dew - from rocket ships waiting on the pad at the Huntsville Space Center. That's the very early days of the program, when Werner Von Braun worked there.

WD40 is great cleaning out moisture inside a distributor cap, or on a coil pack. Tiny complicated mechanical devices, not so much. It will absolutely put you in the back of the line for a recleaning and proper lubrication in the Army.

If the particular firearm being used needs to have some kind of protectant sprayed in it to prevent moisture corroding the parts overnight, I can think of a lot better things to use than a solvent that removes oil and grease along with the moisture, and then leaves a varnish residue that glues small moving parts together.
 
WD-40 is the WORST stuff ever created by man. After spraying it on something in a couple of days it gets sticky. And it's supposed to lubricate. I found this out the hard way when I used to shoot archery competition. I would always put a tiny bit on the wheel axles of my compound bow before a tourney. I was shooting and my sight marks kept changing as if the arrow was slowing down... and I found out it WAS!

I switched to some stuff that smelled like bananas and had "teflon balls(?)" in it and that stuff was great. I think it's now called Tri-Flow. Used to be called TriFlon for one name etc.
 
WD-40 is not the firearm Cure-All
After using WD-40 heavily for several months, the cylinder locked up on my Smith & Wesson Model 58. I took it to my gunsmith and she DEGREASED it.
The Silicone in the WD-40 had hardened...
 
Found that out the hard way back when I was a teen and played paintball - WD40 doesn't work too good on those either, especially in the winter.
 
That's funny-I use it all the time. I have never had a problem with it in almost 40 years. I wonder why?
Any oil will dry and "gum." Spraying a little more WD 40 will simply flush out the old residue.
Knowing how and when to use any lubricant is important. Most people don't have a clue.
 
WD-40 is the WORST stuff ever created by man.
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No, it's very good at what it was intended to do. It's a great water displacer (hence the "WD" in the name). It's a lousy lubricant, even though it's been used for that and that's how it's now marketed. It has good initial lubrication properties, but it takes very little time for it to hurt more than it helps. I tend to like it for those things where a little lubricant is good at first but you don't want it ALWAYS to be lubed... like putting grips on bicycle handlebars.

But for actual lubrication of metal parts, there's no shortage of actual lubricants that don't turn into a gummy mess that are also no more expensive. I just don't see any real reason to use it when so many better options are readily available.
 
When I was younger (and perhaps a little dumber), I used WD40 on a Ruger .44 Carbine. No problem. Continual use of the stuff displaces water, cleans and lubes a little.

Then it sat in a case for a couple of years before I had a chance to take it shooting again. I couldn't understand why I was having feed problems. Well, most of Bill's mechanical marvel runs just fine in WD40 gum, except the magazine follower.

I had to take the carbine apart and use Xylene to dissolve the gum.

I still use WD40. On the outside of stuff, to displace water. But it isn't getting anywhere near a gun again. :)
 
I use WD-40 for its intended purpose and Im pretty sure cleaning and lubricating guns isnt an intended purpose. Pretty much a no brainer IMHO.
 
Knowing how and when to use any lubricant is important. Most people don't have a clue.

Not arguing the intent of the point, I agree. What is being said is that it's NOT a lubricant designed to remain on small mechanical parts and keep doing that job.

If there's any doubt, just refer to the specific maintenance instructions provided for it. WD40 gets mentioned on fishing reels, lets start a list of what Gun Makers Recommend WD40.

One that doesn't is a GI Colt or FN M16/M4. PMCS says CLP, that covers it. Any one of us might dislike it, but that's the official recommendation. Same for the M9.

Now we have actual data to inform the public, rather than conjecture.

Savage? Quote: No. The gun should not be lubricated with WD40. You should use a light coat of oil to coat the outside of the barreled action.

Go ahead, look up some for yourself, read your Owner's Manual for yourself.
 
I've never had any problem resulting from using WD40 as a wipe-down for my rifle at deer camp in wet weather. But I don't spray it on.

Same for bore cleaning. If I shoot no more than maybe a half-dozen or ten shots, I spray it on the patch that I run through the bore. It's adequate cleaning and is followed by a patch that's had gun oil sprayed on it.

Thirty years back, in my IPSC daze, it was fairly common for me for practice sessions of some 200 to 300 rounds. Spraying WD40 into the "innards" kept the pistol running just fine. When I got home, I did a full breakdown and a regular thorough cleaning and oiling...
 
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