[CuriousChemist]

Hello. I've got a question and I'm hoping somebody can answer. This isn't one of those 'which do you use' gun oil threads- this is one of those 'What is IN your gun oil?' threads.

I know firearms have been around a long time and I keep hearing debates over what kind of oil is best for them. Mineral oil? Vegetable oil? Olive oil? Peanut oil? Banana oil? I heard somebody say baby oil once though I confess to having my doubts about it. Do you know what is in your gun oil? What did they use historically? Which do you think is best?

And what about cleaners? I've heard people saying butane or kerosene works but I am hoping for something that won't effect bluing or dissolve some of the plastics some guns are made of. What base cleaner do you use? Do you know what is in them? Do you know what they used historically?

I know they make commercial 'gun cleaners' and gun oils but this is more a curiosity question than anything else. FP-10, Hoppes #9, Break-Free CLP- I'm not interested in those. I'm interested in what is IN them- not the product brand name itself.

I appreciate any help you guys can give! Thank you!

[Pistol Toter]

Well you have asked a question that is so broad that it almost impossible to answer. Thre are some products that are hard on nickle, some are hard on plastic, some are developed to attack copper that will be left in the bore when firing jacketed projectiles and the same is true with lead, some do a bettter job on powder residue than other even though most products do a reasonable job on them. Most are petroluem distillates some have ammonia, some have fine suspended particulate. What are you trying to do? That maybe the easier way to respond to your inquiry. Type of gun, type of projectile, black powder or modern powder, rifle, pistol, shotgun, are you cleaning only are you lubricating or both? Some of the products are proprietory and you'll never find out what snake oil they contain. Gunnies have learned through practice or recommendation, what works. There is a home brew called "Ed's Red" that can be googled and it works pretty good. Most factory blueings are impervious as well as those that are done by others using a hot salts method. Cold blueing is another matter and often can be disolved with nothing more than acetone. Whew!! Tell us what you are trying to accomplish.

[rcmodel]

Who knows!

All the name brand gun cleaning solvents, oils, and such are proprietary, and they guard the formula as closely as the ones for original Coke and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

If they told you, they would have to kill you!

All I know is, all of them are probably petroleum based except for the new Lemon scented water based ones.

Do a search for Ed's Red and you might be as close as you will get.

Nevermind, here:
http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=9

rc

[Pistol Toter]

RC you and I were banging away at the same time. LOL:D

[JohnBT]

MSDS data sheets are available on most products. Here are the ones for the Hoppe's line.

www.hoppes.com/au_msds.html

#9 cleaner includes kerosene, ethyl alcohol, xylene, amyl acetate, ammonium hydroxide, citronella.

Historically, #9 cleaner had nitrobenzene in it. I still have some and it does work better. But it's not good for you (so they say.)

John

[Pistol Toter]

But it's not good for you (so they say.)

Neither is peanut butter, charcoaled steaks and hamburgers :banghead:or frequent sexual intercourse.:uhoh:
:what:
I can't believe I said that.:D

[CuriousChemist]

What I'm working on is a polymer chain that reduces oxidization, makes common materials hydrophobic and creates a mono-molecular layer that reduces drag between contacting substrates. In other words, it makes things water resistant and slippery.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out the best material to put it in for the gun market. I asked this question at the gun range I frequent and ended up with 12 people bickering back and forth over what makes the best cleaner and what kind of oil 'works best.'

I have been using "gun oils" on my firearms for years and applied this polymer to my guns with exciting results but, right now, it is a very thick gel which is somewhat hard to work into all the tiny little bits of a trigger assembly or to apply to the inside of a long rifle barrel. I want to disperse it in a liquid but before I solve which oil/solution, thought I'd pose the question to the gun community.

[rcmodel]

One other thing to consider.

If it's too slick, and too hard to remove, most rifle shooters wouldn't want to put it in the bore.

A slick bore coating will cause the rifle to shoot to a different POI until consistent fouling eventually takes it's place.

rc

[Bad Hammer]

Do a search for Ed's Red and you might be as close as you will get.
Yep...that's pretty much all I've used for years.
Affordable, effective, and I can always "find it".
And for anyone who hasn't discovered the miracle of ATF as a rust inhibitor, I suggest you check it out.
Anything laying around that tends to rust, just clean it up and wipe it down with Dexron II, (or just about any Automatic Transmission Fluid) and dare it to rust.
I tell 'ya the stuff is magic.

[CuriousChemist]

Thank you all for your help!

I'll post results soon- going to get performance and corrosion testing in the following weeks. I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

[Oro]

What I'm working on is a polymer chain that reduces oxidization, makes common materials hydrophobic and creates a mono-molecular layer that reduces drag between contacting substrates. In other words, it makes things water resistant and slippery.


Well, if it does all that, you are done and you don't need any more ingredients! You've just created an oxidative barrier and lubricant.

Just get it in the right suspension for application without compromising it's adhesion qualities. The problem with many 'wonder' lubes is they have poor adhesion and migrate off the substrate. If you can get that right, then you have a winner.

[DeepSouth]

+Butter is in my gun oil, Cause I use Gun Butter. (http://www.gunbutter.com/)

I LOVE Gun Butter. It is 1000% better than the next best thing I have ever used.

[Maj Dad]

Curious, I don't know the components of Tetra beyond PTFE, but it is one of the most effective lubricants I have used . It is advertised to reduce friction to the point of increasing velocity and shrinking groups, and in my experience that is valid (shrank groups in an M1 and M14 by nearly 1"). The grease is for auto slides and places where grease is indicated, and the liquid lube for bores and places where liquids are indicated. They recommend degreasing, then buffing the lube in after generous application until it is dry, and ads claim the PTFE is impregnated into the metal. Sounds good, and in my experience, is good. I know the liquid lube smells like my old boot socks after swabbing... ;)
FYI, FWIW, etc etc

[Badger Arms]

Clean with Simple Green, rinse with water, dry with compressed air, lube and preserve with Break Free.