Oil vs Grease

[Mike Franzen]

I have the frame off the stock of my lifter. The locks, trigger plate, trigger guard have been removed for a thorough cleaning in lacquer thinner placed in an ultra sonic. Everything has come out very clean so far. I used compressed air to dry the parts and sprayed them down with WD 40. My question is do I grease the internal lock Assembly or oil it before I put it all back together? Or does it matter? Thanks

[Chuck Bishop]

I would never use WD40 on a gun, it dries to a hard varnish. I'd use a good oil such as Rem Oil or Balistoil and blow out the residual with air. Then reassemble. Grease only on the locking lug and frame knuckle.

[John Havard]

Chuck's correct about WD-40. It's good for a lot of things but it is not a lubricant. I'd clean all of that off first and then use some good suitable oil.

[calvin humburg]

OK, To prove I am a odd ball I have been washing gun actions and blowing dry with air with WD-40 for decades. And I have never found any yellow geck of this residue that it leaves behind. Then I use oil on pins and grease on the places where metal rubs metal. If you take care of your gun I think you could use WD-40 all over it. I suppose if you squirted it down and left it for years it may happen. No disrespect to the people who posted above just my finite obersavtion.

[Richard Flanders]

Get that WD40 thoroughly cleaned out with the lacquer thinner and hose the internal parts and the frame down with Ballistol and let them drip dry. It will stay on but will remain as a very very light grease layer that will last for years and never run off. The WD40 will harden to a varnish like goo that glues everything up. Nasty stuff. Good for some things but has no place in any gun in my book.I use wheel bearing grease on the hook/hinge pin and on the surface of the rear lug where the bolt slides to lock it up. Works very well.

[Dave Suponski]

My guns are treated like Rich's except I use "Super Lube" on the hinge and bolt.

[paul stafford jr]

wd 40 is for displacing water it is a very poor lube best

[Mike Franzen]

I probably should have clarified that I treated with WD40 only as a temporary rust inhibitor. Before I reassemble I'll thoroughly clean it off. I was looking for info on where to apply the grease or oil. All respondents have been very helpful as usual. Thanks,
Mike

[King Brown]

Water Dispersant 40 Days

[Paul Plager]

I have seen metal parts of various kinds rust in a pool of WD40. There are very few uses for this product in my humble opinion.

[Mike Franzen]

I read Gary Carmichael's post about boiling parts. I boiled as per his instructions with one addition; I added a cigar to the recipe. The worst of the gunk has been removed from the frame and trigger guard. You guys weren't kidding about oiling right away. i could see the rust beginning form right before my eyes as the parts dried. Tomorrow they will go into the ultrasonic to get the rest.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

WD-40 is like duct tape, you need a can around but for me not on guns, works good at removing soot from your hands and is a great adhesive remover. It looks like it would blister a stock finish?

[Jerry Harlow]

The whole story is WD40 = Water Displacement, 40th formula (that's when they were satisfied with it and quit).

Like Richard I also use automotive grease on the hinge pin and other critical areas. I use the red synthetic grease. I like the color. Buy a big tube of it (automotive), put some in a baby food jar, and you have a lifetime supply of hinge lubricant for a few pennies. Use the rest on the car, lawnmower, or tractor.

[Daryl Corona]

White lithium grease loaded into a large syringe (minus the needle of course) gets your lube where you want it and not all over your hands. Ask your veterinarian for one next time you take Fido in for his shots or make friends with a nurse the next time you are in the ER for a sprained back doing something you should have paid someone else much younger to do.:nono:

[Mark Landskov]

After I disassemble and scrupulously clean my guns, I apply a good gun grease to pivot points and other high stress areas. I rest assured, knowing that the gun will stay in a state of readiness for quite some time, and that oil will not be seeping downward into the head of the stock.

[David Holes]

I use bore butter designed for muzzleloaders. Stays in place and the yellow color is easy to make sure you get it where you want it.

[Bob Jurewicz]

For gun friction points I use grease containing molybdenum disulfide. They are marketed to the automotive industry. The moly additive to grease binds to the metal to produce a multilubricating product. They are commonly sold as "Molylube" or some similar name. My dad worked as a lubrication specialist for GM and gave me a lifetime suppy of 1/2 oz. sample tubes by the name of MOLUBALLOY. Some Moly grease products also contain graphite for additional lubricating property.
Bob jurewicz

[Gary Laudermilch]

CH, you are not the oddball you think. I have been using WD-40 exclusively on all my guns since shortly after it came to market. I too have never seen any of the varnish claimed. I have two doubles among others, one has over 100,000 rounds through it and the other in excess of 80,000 and neither have ever had a speck of rust nor have either ever needed a repair. I guess the hinge pins on these guns did not read the warning that WD-40 is not a lubricant. Both are nearly as tight as the day I bought them. My grandson will be shooting them someday.

Brownell's did a small study quite a few years ago to test the corrosion resistance of different products. WD-40 came in second only to cosmoline and similar long storage products.

Use any product you wish but for me, I'll stick with my blue and yellow can.

[Mike Franzen]

I find it very common to hear about the negative properties of WD-40. I've wondered that because WD-40 is sold everywhere as a "common" item it just doesn't have the same mystique as a product that is known mostly to niche markets. Has anyone ever seen any studies that show WD-40 is harmful to firearms?

[Gerald McPherson]

It's good on crappie jigs.

[wayne goerres]

I use Break Free to lubricate my guns. No problems except the expence.

[will evans]

It's good on crappie jigs.

Redfish and speckled trout also love the stuff. 40th formula tried is correct.