[historynut]

Was hanging around my gunsmith's today and I mentioned using WD40 to store my BP revolvers. He said I shouldn't use it because the stuff only lasts about 3 months then begins to form a varnish. I'd never heard of this, or seen it, in many years of use. I suppose "gun oil" would be the best since it's all natural but is he pulling my leg about the WD40?

[FuzzyBunny]

I have used WD40 many times. I stopped after I saw the horrible glue/paint/varnish/gummy type buildup.

It is good for water displacement or very short term (1 day) use but remove it ASAP and use some quality oil.

Some will say I'm nuts but I know what I have seen.

FuzzyBunny

[4v50 Gary]

Say NO to WD40. It does leave a film and can deactivate some parts. Remington got sued once because of WD40 disabling the mechanical safety.

[dawgtraxx]

no more wd40 huh...guess i have something else to shoot at

[bigbore442001]

Do not ever use WD 40 around muzzleloaders. That stuff is only good for removing bumper stickers off.

When I was 15 years old, I had a misfire on one of the biggest bucks that crossed my path in Connecticut. My Dad, a family friend and I bought TC Hawken muzzleloaders to gain some additional time in the woods. We practiced and got pretty good.

The day before opening day in Connecticut found me shooting my Hawken in a sand pit for practice. It was supposed to be rainy so I figured WD 40 would help waterproof the lock. Yeah right.

Needless to say, I had one misfire and the next cap produced a horrible hangfire. The misfire was on a buck of at least 12 points with a doe .

Never heard Dad use such words.:what:

[Alphazulu6]

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:eDEc-cPmTeXpyM:http://www.sailingnow.com/mag/diy/mech/outboard/wd_no.jpg

My experience with WD-40 is with cleaning M249s/M240s. I have seen WD-40 (among other things) to assist in the de-greasing/cleaning process. It did not do very well as it does build up in the firearm actions and causes the slide to become sluggish. Very sluggish.

Carb Cleaner and other less than desirable cleaners I have seen used on some of the high carbon build-ups you get when shooting gunneries are only very short term fixes and hard on the firearm (so they are a no too unless VERY VERY extenuating circumstances have caused issues that most of us would never see, or should, in their firearms).

But all in all the best method (and only one I would ever recommend and found to be truly good) is just plain old CLP and some elbow grease w/ a light coat of oil after your all done :D

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

[K.A.T.]

Where is everyone,straighten this out,you have 3 choices,olive oil,bore butter,or ballistrol.That's what I've learned from hanging around here.:)

[rinavy]

Another reason to avoid wd-40 is its flammability, I only use Birchwood-Casey or Cabela's Black Powder Solvent (hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, Murphy's oil soap is also very effective just beware of "erupting" foam) with very hot water then finish cleaning/lube/prevent rust all with "EEZOX" (use it on all my firearms, best gun treatment I've found in 35 years.

[Ranger 40]

There is one thing WD40 is good for. That is starting gasoline engines in cold weather. I use it here in Wyoming in the winter about every morning to get things going at -20 and lower. Just a shot in the breather and they will start.

For firearms its got to be Ballistol, the German Army has used it for about 100 yrs. and those folks know about firearms.:)

[English Bob]

WD-40 Water Displacement 40th Attempt, I'd say keep it off yer guns unless it's just for a very short period of time. CLP is king, that 40 stuff is really not much cop.

[bakert]

WD-40 has a lot of uses but not for firearms.

[1911 guy]

I do use it in my muzzleloaders, but only for a short time before it gets swabbed out. After cleaning with hot water, I spray WD down the bore, let it do its thing, then swab it out and run an oil patch down to protect the bore from rust.

[Carl N. Brown]

Back in Dec 2006 I sprayed some WD40 in a metal cup.
It ran like very thin oil (almost like lighter fluid compared
Hoppe's gun oil).
Within a week, it ran like thick oil.
Within a month, it ran like thick molasses (and you know
how slow those moles are).

WD40 is a water displacement wax in a volatile solvent.
It is a cleaner and a protectant, but not a lubricant.

It will gum up fine mechanisms. About the only thing that
will dissolve it is .... WD40; Then blow it out with Rusty
Duck or aerosol brake cleaner, and never ever use WD40
again on anything you cannot disassemble and wipe with
a cloth.