Anyone here into firearms?

MacCool

What are you cleaning? Cleaning kits tend to be firearm-specific, pistol vs rifle, bolt vs semi-auto, etc etc.

Firearm lubrication opinions are as controversial and as full of snake oil as automobile lubrication. IMHO, a lot of the same concepts apply. The theoretical problem with grease is that is is more likely to attract and especially hold dirt, sand, and grit than oil and act as an abrasive that will then increase friction and actually wear parts faster than normal. The problem with semi automatic firearms is that there is a lot of heat and pressure on the moving parts. Grease is an attractive option for that reason.

I think there's merit to both arguments but I'm inclined to use oil, not grease and I prefer synthetic preparations. I tend to use Slip 2000 EWL or MachineGunner's Lube, but I agree with Mustang that a good synthetic engine oil is probably every bit as good, and certainly a lot cheaper. When my current bottle of Slip 2000 is empty, I think I'm going to fill it back up with Mobil 1 20w40.

m4a1mustang

Phelan I use motor oil. I have a few quarts of Redline 5w-20 left over from my Z that I use as gun lube now. 3 quarts will last me a LONG time!

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phelan

okay, thanks

i've built a small list of what i need, but basically:
bore snake
break free
lubricant (i have some oil too, but i think i can grab some grease at work as well) + syringe
wire brush
nylon brush

is that it? ooh...cotton patches?

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xdeslitx

dude you can grab syringes at work? lol grab me some 1ml, 2ml, and 5ml :P

xdeslitx

I think i'll have to go with the higher tier stuff when it comes to an AR15 then...i like to shoot a lot. Not as much as Mac but I'm expecting to shoot about 1000 a month, just like the handgun

BlackZeda

Yeah, even though I have a much higher regard for Bushmasters than MacCool, it is telling that I built an AR using Noveske upper and lower receivers with a Daniel's Defense barrel for the purpose of tactical AR instruction this summer. It is nice that nowadays one has so many choices of really nice rifles.

I have decided that before the course I am going to slap on a LMT gas-piston monolithic upper on my Bushmaster lower. The idea of a gas-piston AR is intriguing and if anyone can do it right it would have to be LMT. Of course I will have my Noveske as a backup/alternate just in case...

If for some reason you were to consider a Bushmaster, don't buy one that isn't made in Windham Maine as those I believe where the ones that were subject to lapses in quality control.

Oh, if I were in the market for a complete AR I would strongly consider LaRue Tactical, Daniel's Defense and LWRC as well. At the end of the year I will be looking at getting a .308 which I will be looking at LaRue Tactical, LWRC and Noveske AR-10s or possibly an Accuracy International bolt action. The gun store that has a shooting range I go to has a .50 BMG AI with a killer scope for the bargain price of $20K. It is a mouth-watering sight!

phelan

weird I thought I replied here. MacCool I'm cleaning my handgun - a Beretta PX4. I'm leaning towards using some 5w30 oil I have for now, and maybe switch it up later. But I'm open to thoughts and suggestions on what I absolutely need to clean the gun properly.

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With silence comes peace. With peace comes freedom. With freedom comes silence.

MacCool

Interesting article with some valid points, but kind of an example of how lubrication technology is overthought.

Simpler is better IMHO. For semi-auto handguns, I just use some Hoppe's #9 with toothbrush, bronze brush for the barrel followed by a bore snake soaked in Hoppe's, and then an oiled a swab on a short rod. Nothing wrong with patches on a jag, but I find those annoying to use so I just go with the swabs and replace them every so often. They're pretty cheap. I use some synthetic oil on the rotating surfaces like hammer and trigger pins. I might use some brake cleaner (chlorinated version) for hard-to-reach crudded-up areas (don't use on painted surfaces or finished wood), and I confess I occasionally put some moly grease on the slide rails. For the exterior, I've been using Sheath.

BlackZeda

Old Hoppe's #9 is good stuff indeed. While I don't put a lot of rounds through my AR, recently I have been doing a lot of handgun training and range shooting. I usually clean my semi-auto pistols with a nylon brush, q-tips and now a microfiber cloth (nothing fancy) first with Breakfree CLP, then followed by Hoppe's #9. Bore snakes work great.

xdeslitx

Also these polymer picks are great for cleaning the rails and other hard to reach places
I fold up a patch and start working at the tight areas using the picks

Amazon.com: Tipton Polymer Gun Cleaning Picks: Sports & Outdoors

frost

Motor oils as gun lubricants

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phelan

i think the most confusing part of getting into all this is the cleaning / maintenance

i was told using Q-tips was generally a bad idea...but i'll assemble my amazon shopping list and post it up here later on for some feedback. help would be aprpeciated

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凛 ('Rin') - 2009 Nissan 370Z
With silence comes peace. With peace comes freedom. With freedom comes silence.

xdeslitx

i think it all depends on how OCD you are with cleaning...sometimes when using Qtips, it can get caught up on an edge and leave little pieces of cotton

BlackZeda

Yes, that is true. My actual technique is to apply the cleaner/lube with the q-tip, then cover the skinny end of the nylon brush with the microfiber cloth and use that to do the real cleaning/final wipe.

phelan

yeah...i have an OCd personality, this could go badly really, really quickly hahaahah

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凛 ('Rin') - 2009 Nissan 370Z
With silence comes peace. With peace comes freedom. With freedom comes silence.