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Post by LowKey on Dec 11, 2016 14:32:12 GMT
Ran across a reference to Ed's Red on another board today which got me thinking that we haven't really touched on the subject of cleaning and lubricating firearms here.
While it's not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination, there's a great potential for people to waste a lot of money on gimmicks and snake oil that could be better spent on ammunition and training. Not to mention that I believe more wear and tear as well as outright damage occurs to firearms being over zealously cleaned than is caused by routine firing of the weapons. Uncle Sam's white glove standard has more to do with being sure that an officer inspecting stored weapons sees everything nice and shiny because far too many of them don't have a clue what really needs to be shiny and what is actually fine (or better off) with a bit of carbon built up on it.
So let's use this thread to post up any tips or tricks on cleaning and lubrication our firearms that don't waste our money or damage our guns.
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Post by LowKey on Dec 11, 2016 14:33:20 GMT
First tip: Here's what is probably the best cleaning solution for you firearms without wasting your money. Ed's Red Bore Cleaner1 part Dexron II, IIe or III ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later. 1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1 1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits, Fed. Spec. TT-T-2981F, CAS #64741-49-9, or may substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or equivalent, (aka "Varsol") 1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1. (Optional up to 1 lb. of Lanolin, Anhydrous, USP per gallon, OK to substitute Lanolin, Modified, Topical Lubricant, from the drug store) |
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Post by LowKey on Dec 11, 2016 14:41:02 GMT
Second Tip:
ATF and White Lithium grease are both good lubricants for your firearms.
Use grease on parts that slide or reciprocate.
Use ATF on parts that rotate.
In both cases a little goes a long way.
BTW...CLP sucks. It stands for Cleaner, Lubricant, and Protectant and is a compromise. As such it does none of those three tasks particularly well. The only reason Uncle Sam uses it is that it simplifies logistics. Easier to send one medium sized bottle than to send 3 small bottles.
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Post by omegaman on Dec 11, 2016 21:40:49 GMT
I remember scrubbing the bluing off my M16 barrels. Clownshoes.
I've been happy with mil-tech as my bolt lube over the years. Usually run Hoppes 9 down the barrel followed by a bore snake.
I don't get crazy about cleaning these days. Just wipe off with a rag and lube the moving parts. Sometimes.
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Post by red on Dec 12, 2016 1:07:46 GMT
When i got my first gun i cleaned it scrubbed it every time i fired it. Had to have all the cleaner items ever made and all that. Now i fire off 50 rounds i put some grease or oil on the moving parts and maybe wipe the outside off with an old oily rag.
Still do the once a year tear down clean.
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Post by thelastone on Dec 12, 2016 2:08:48 GMT
I remember scrubbing the bluing off my M16 barrels. Clownshoes. I've been happy with mil-tech as my bolt lube over the years. Usually run Hoppes 9 down the barrel followed by a bore snake. I don't get crazy about cleaning these days. Just wipe off with a rag and lube the moving parts. Sometimes. I still like to take everything apart because it's half the fun. I definitely don't scrub like I used to though. However, trying to get all the damn carbon out of the inside of the bolt carrier is something I have to do. I don't know why  I pull the pistols all the way down about every 1500 rounds or once a year. I pretty much do a full bolt breakdown and chamber clean on the rifles every time. I don't ever do much more than a bore snake through the rifle barrels. I like lithium grease on stuff I store and on the rails of the guns I carry. I don't go crazy with the lube or type. Seems like nothing stays on great and I just juice up before the range for functional lube. For wipe down before storage and general use, i use the one that I like the smell of (forget the name, but if you've ordered an upper from bcm you'd recognize the smell). I like militech on the inside of my barrels. |
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Post by dannusmaximus on Dec 12, 2016 3:05:34 GMT
BTW...CLP sucks. It stands for Cleaner, Lubricant, and Protectant and is a compromise. As such it does none of those three tasks particularly well. The only reason Uncle Sam uses it is that it simplifies logistics. Easier to send one medium sized bottle than to send 3 small bottles.
But...that smell. I *heart* that smell...
I am an equal opportunity user of cleaners, I'll pretty much use whatever I have on hand, and have never really found that any particular one is the magic formula for me. Stumbled into a sale on Rem Oil (spraycan) and that's what I've been using recently. My go to is Breakfree CLP, though, even though LowKey makes fun of me for it... 
I clean my rifles when my inner PFC starts to get nervous that a salty NCO is going to break into my house, crack my gun safe, and start screaming at me because they're so dirty. They never get totally gross, but I am far from as anal as I used to be about cleaning them. I clean my EDC sturmGlocken pretty much after every range session, because I shoot mostly Wolf and don't want to get black smudges on my fingers and clothes every time I touch it. |
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Post by dannusmaximus on Dec 12, 2016 3:27:23 GMT
I remember scrubbing the bluing off my M16 barrels. Clownshoes. I've been happy with mil-tech as my bolt lube over the years. Usually run Hoppes 9 down the barrel followed by a bore snake. I don't get crazy about cleaning these days. Just wipe off with a rag and lube the moving parts. Sometimes. I still like to take everything apart because it's half the fun. I definitely don't scrub like I used to though. However, trying to get all the damn carbon out of the inside of the bolt carrier is something I have to do. I don't know why Right? I hover my mouse clicker over those damn doohickes that you can buy to ream out the BC and scrape the carbon off the bolt tail every time I order something from an online gun supply store. Just haven't gotten one yet. I usually end up getting my shittiest knife out of our junk drawer and scraping carbon off the bolt and BC instead. I would use a sharp rock if that was all I had. It's a sickness. |
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Post by dannusmaximus on Dec 12, 2016 3:29:39 GMT
ALSO, boresnake for the win. No more jamming cleaning rods down the barrels of my gat-sticks. It's all about the boresnakes.
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Post by LowKey on Dec 12, 2016 18:00:51 GMT
A big thumbs up to bore snakes!
No need to clean firearms beyond getting the crud out where it's impeding the movement of parts, or where it's needed to prevent corrosion. Beyond that you're only paying attention to your inner Corporal Major of the Army/Marine Corps.
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Post by as556 on Dec 13, 2016 10:13:19 GMT
1. Most all guns will run dirty and lubed
2. Motor oil is the best gun lube for the money
3. Your bores just need a snake..forget rods
4. Run your gun wet and all carbon wipes clean
I am anal somewhat about my cleaning but I'm certainly not under the illusion that it needs to be clean to function.
Any of my guns could be pressed into SD at any time so I like the peace of mind knowing they're clean and lubricated.
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Post by LowKey on Dec 13, 2016 12:11:41 GMT
1. Most all guns will run dirty and lubed 2. Motor oil is the best gun lube for the money 3. Your bores just need a snake..forget rods 4. Run your gun wet and all carbon wipes clean I am anal somewhat about my cleaning but I'm certainly not under the illusion that it needs to be clean to function. Any of my guns could be pressed into SD at any time so I like the peace of mind knowing they're clean and lubricated. There has been suggestion elsewhere that motor oil may pick up quite a bit of crud as it's designed to do. Flip side to that is that said crud should be easier to clean out fo the gun if it's suspended in the motor oil. Rods do have a purpose....if you get a stuck round or casing. For cleaning...not so much. Running your gun <very/dripping>wet, depending on environment, can quickly result in malfs. Not to mention dripping lube everywhere. |
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Post by as556 on Dec 13, 2016 13:09:48 GMT
Agreed...mostly.
The motor oils I use have detergents added to keep the engine clean. I haven't noticed it being any easier nor more difficult to clean compared to say CLP.
Stuck cases are certainly a valid concern but I've had a multi-piece rod bend at the connection point when pounding out stuck cases. Now I use a brass rod from the hardware store cut 1" above the muzzle.
As for using too much lube, yes it'll be messy as hell and is 100% unnecessary but it's a rare situation that it would choke the gun IMO. Maybe in extremely dusty and windy environments.
I think a drop of lube on each carrier rail, one on the gas rings and a few on the bolt lugs is MORE than sufficient and all I personally use.
Pistols get a drop on the slide rails, barrel hood and locking lugs. I can honestly say I've never had a malfunction I can attribute to type or amount of lube used in tens and tens of K rounds downrange.
Motor oil is just nice because I have a life supply for under $10. Seriously..I don't foresee me using it all for at least 2-3 decades at this rate. I use Royal Purple..no reason except it's one of the better oils for your rig.
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Post by LowKey on Dec 13, 2016 14:21:55 GMT
<snip> Stuck cases are certainly a valid concern but I've had a multi-piece rod bend at the connection point when pounding out stuck cases. Now I use a brass rod from the hardware store cut 1" above the muzzle. As for using too much lube, yes it'll be messy as hell and is 100% unnecessary but it's a rare situation that it would choke the gun IMO. Maybe in extremely dusty and windy environments. <snip> I've had them snap there as well on a few occasions, but in the field they're still far better at pushing out a stuck case than a boresnake. I've seen and worked on weapons that malfed due to the amount of crap in their lube (lube applied by repeated spraying of Breakfree until it dripped off the weapon). Some had been out doors in a sandstorm. Some had been carried around on duty at passenger terminals where rotary wing aircraft were in and out all day. Lots more were just schlepped around lots of loose sand and dirt. So yes....dusty and windy. I'll also say that none of them were in such bad shape that they couldn't be put back into use PDQ. I just hate feeling that much grit in an action.....it's got to accelerate wear, and as running very little lube (or dry in really dusty environments) seems to do just as well I don't advocate running guns very wet. |
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Post by as556 on Dec 14, 2016 13:05:47 GMT
Well certainly can't argue with first hand experience. Sand is the mortal enemy of machines, it seems.
Lucky for me not a whole lot of sand in my AO.
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