Oh NO! Not a thread on firearm lubricants!!

Handloader

Inevitable on any forum is the reoccuring thread on gun lubricants. It is not my intent to start this worn out subject anew, rather, to make an observation or two.

If you research the archives on the subject, you will find all sorts of recommendations of lubricants that a variety of users feel work the best for them. Pull the subject up on the "1911 Forum" search engine and, presto, 19 pages of comments and preferences appear.

Discounting the bizarre (KY, for example) one finds users of the main brands of specific gun lubricants, such as Break Free or Rem Oil or RG, but, a strong contingent that uses Mobil 1 as well. I had never considered Mobil 1. Often there is a disagreement on the virtues of a gun oil vs gun grease, with most manufacturers recommending the lighter oil for pistols. The only consensus seems to be that a lightly lubricated handgun is important and that using too much oil is a detriment.

My personal preference is oriented to smell. If it doesn't smell good I won't use it. I like the smell of Hoppes, for example. In fact, if they offered an After Shave Hoppes #9, I would buy it immediately. Till then I'll content myself with the useage of Break Free, but, I'm always sniffing new products as they arrive at the store, much to the consternation of fellow workers and a few customers. "Pardon me, sir, can I smell that gun?" Very Happy

I'll post if I find a really good scent.

Bushmaster

What are you looking for here, handloader? You probably won't like my guns. They don't have any scent. On purpose...

wiersy111

I am really confused here does that help it fire better??? Or is this just a fetish?

ElyBoy

Any use of either Hoppes, or Butche's Bore Shine, brings a shout of "Close the damn Reloading Room door!!!"

However, I would use Hoppes as a deoderant spray if they sold it. Very Happy

Eric

Bushmaster

Every time I cleaned my carry gun with Hoppe's and went into Wally-World I had to carry a club to run the ladies off. They thought it was sexy cologne...Or something...

ElyBoy

Every time that I do it Bushy, it just attracts a couple of hairy legged old guys who want to talk hunting and shooting.

Eric

Handloader

wiersy111 wrote:

I am really confused here does that help it fire better??? Or is this just a fetish?

It has been well proven and established that a good smelling firearm is a good shooting firearm. I am surprised you even posed the question. Smile

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

I use commercial grease, went to a Shell industrial depot, read the lubricant guide, asked their "expert" (who was actually very knowlagable and worked in the field before being a salesman). I put out a set of requirements, that I wanted based on the operations of the firearm without telling him its a firearm (explained it as a gas powered outdoor hoist). Heat, pressure, roller bearing, and subjected all year to the weather outside. And I picked up a tube of the stuff which should last me a long while. Smile

Only oil I use on my rifles is in the barrel after cleaning to keep it from rusting in the gun safe. Confused

Dimitri

chambered221

Bushmaster wrote:

Every time I cleaned my carry gun with Hoppe's and went into Wally-World I had to carry a club to run the ladies off. They thought it was sexy cologne...Or something...

Bushy wake-up your dreaming again !!!

English Mike

Bushmaster wrote:

Every time I cleaned my carry gun with Hoppe's and went into Wally-World I had to carry a club to run the ladies off. They thought it was sexy cologne...Or something...

Try Montana Extreme copper killer - they swoon at the smell......

....OK, so they actually fall over with the lining of their lungs destroyed. Very Happy

wiersy111

It would seem that the solvent and lubricants have just the opposite effect on my wife. When I clean my guns She usually gets excited, but she is hollering at me to quit put that stinky crap away!!!!! Not to mention she can find one tiny droplet from any where in the house,even if it isn't there. Mad

twofifty

I too find that Hoppes smells good. Channel has a No.9 perfume...so why not a Hoppes No.9 aftershave.

Many swear by automotive ATF, the red tranny fluid. Phewy, that stuff reeks and the stink lingers on. I'm with Handloader in when it comes to gun smells, so no way I'd want ATF close to my face or hands.

I use several lubes:

- Castrol synthetic motor oil for sliding/rotating parts.
- GunSlick graphite grease for some impact areas.
- RemOil for wipe downs.
- Hoppes BenchRest oil with Weatherguard for inside barrels.

Bushmaster, what lube do you use for your hunting rifles that does not carry a smell or scent?

Bushmaster

You pretty much covered it.

I use Mobil 1 for moving small parts and for wiping the guns down (old T-shirt dampened with Mobil 1) and red artillary grease for bolts (rifles) and slides (pistols). Neither one has a scent. I do use Hoppe's Bench Rest #9 Copper solvent. Once you oil patch the barrel with Mobil 1 even that scent is gone.

stovepipe

I might get banned for this but the smell Hoppe's make's me ill.

For decades I was fine with the stuff then for some reason they went to plastic jars, kept a small one in my pistol clean kit in my bag. Well them plastic ones never sealed all that well but I was living with it and one day on the way home the dang bottle cracked and gave up the ghost.

Bag, truck seat, everything soaked in Hoppe's. I was out of my mind when I got home...took weeks to get that smell out of my truck, range bag went in the trash. So did the shirt and jeans I used to soak it up with as I yanked the truck off the road to mop it up stripping and cussing. Mad

Had to drive home in my skivvy's! Mad

That smell now is enough to ruin my appetite. Woof! Mad

wiersy111

It's got to be really bad if it spoils the appetite of the abominable stomach. ROFL