How much oil should you leave in your bore?

[Drjones]

How oily should you leave your bore, both for carry and storage?

Storage I'd think you'd want a good amount of oil, but how about for carry?

Do you swab it with a semi-oily patch and leave it, or try to get it pretty dry? Anyone leave it pretty oily?


Thanks

 

[Standing Wolf]

I always leave a pistol bore .08737 oily.

Seriously: I believe too much oil probably won't hurt a bore, so I oil it up liberally. A week after I clean a gun, I take it back out of the safe and run some more patches through it, then oil the bore lightly, and chambers, as well, if it's a revolver. I use less oil on carry guns, since oil tends to attract and hold dust.

 

[Drjones]

I guess more specifically, my question is: if your bore is too oily, it won't harm the functioning of the weapon, will it?

Not that I leave my bore that oily, but I'm just curious........thanks!

 

[Soap]

I keep my bores dry on my daily carry or pieces I shoot on at least a monthly basis.

 

[Werewolf]

Folks with more experience than me should jump in and correct me if I'm wrong.

That said an overly oily bore has the potential to increase firing pressures until the oil is gone.

Oil is a hydrocarbon. Excess oil could potentially lead to excess carbon fouling since gas temperatures in the +500 degree range can burn any oil in the bore up.

I leave revolver cylinders oiled up pretty good but swab 'em out with a dry patch the night before I take 'em to the range. Those cylinders get mighty hot but not hot enough to actually burn the oil. Heat that won't actually burn the oil up can break oils down chemically and create all kinds of nasty stuff as a result. I'd rather not have that stuff in my cylinder chambers.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Several of my manuals say to make sure to have the bore completely clean before shooting. I usually have a very light amount in the bore and don't worry about it much.

 

[DMF]

Oil it all you want for storage, but be sure it's dry for carry and shooting.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Depends on the environment you're in. If it's real humid, oil may not be enough to prevent rust. You may need Rig or something like it. In a dry environment, you don't need any oil at all. Oil attracts dust and makes an abrasive sludge anyway.

 

[stealthmode]

i wouldnt have any oil in the bore if i were going to shoot the gun but i leave oil in if i store the gun.

doesnt pressure build up with oil like hydraulic pressure?

 

[cracked butt]

Oil it and wipe it dry- there will still be a slight film of oil in the bore, and none will run into the stock to swell the wood and destroy the stock.

I don't leave any more oil than this ona firearm, especially the bore. I've seen barrels getbulged from people leaving oil in the bore and firing a rifle.

 

[ddc]

I do pretty much what most are suggesting.

If it is going back in the safe then I put it away with enough oil so that prior to the next outing I would feel more comfortable putting a dry patch through it.

For carry it is oiled but has a dry patch through it.

 

[badgerrr]

I suggest letting your targets advise you on this subject.

With a nice, oily barrel - do some serious shooting, from a rest, for accuracy.

Then go thru 10 to 20 rounds plinking around (blowing out the oil).

Cool barrel for half an hour or so.

Then, with the fire dried bore, shoot for accuracy again.

Then ask yourself if you can live with that oily barrel accuracy or not.

(In a derringer, I personally find the oily bore no issue at all. In a varmint gun, an oily bore I find absolutely impossible. Everything else falls somewhere inbetween)

 

[sm]

I treat bores with RIG - always have.

I clean the bore at such time I get it wet, remove mud or snow...

I take RIG and apply , handguns I use a long woooden Q tip. Rifles and Shotguns ( including magazine) I use a bore mop ...usually a Otis pull through.

I then "pull through" leaving only a very very light film. Not enough to affect pressures- doesn't take much RIG to protect. Cylinders on Revolvers as well.

I rarely clean a bore ( mud, rain, snow...) I clean chambers. All these years, no matter the weather , or steel of bbl - never had a problem.

Especially on carry guns, and rifles....I want the POA/ POI to be correct on first shot. So even if I clean and treat a bore, I run a mag/ cyl/ rds downrange so I know that first shot is gonna be where should be .

My carry gun, I run a mag - NOT to slide lock - drop mag / insert fresh full mag, holster and done. I know the round in chamber is in fact chambered as it would be in firing. Again - it will go where it should.

 

[Browns Fan]

On my carry gun, I leave a light coat of oil in the barrell. I am concerned about rust due to sweat/moisture from body contact.

 

[jpIII]

Yes...

too much oil or lub in the barrel can increase pressure in the barrel to a dangerous amount if there is enough of it in the barrel.
Even though it is just oil, it is still an obstruction if there is enough in it.
Just oil it liberally, then wipe it with clean patches until the last patch comes out dry.

It is unlikely that anything adverse would happen because of over oiling, but if your going to shoot it, why take the chance.
For long term storage, oil it and grease it like crazy.... just be sure to clean it all out BEFORE you shoot it.

 

[Richardson]

A very oily bore has the potential to suffer from large hydraulic pressures when the first shot is fired. Get most of the oil out before shooting.

Richardson

 

[Smoke Rizen]

oil

I don't use any oil. I clean with whatever it takes,#9 for smokeless,and window cleaner for black. I then coat with a silicone spray and wipe dry. That should get plenty of critics going! I've had no problems with rusting,but I do live in a very dry climate,and I keep bags of disicant in my safe. I would suggest turning your long guns barrel down for storage as the oil runs through the action into the wood. This will create a dry-rot condition in the wood,as evidenced by the many old guns you'll find suffering from this condition. Remember, it's just an opinion,but it works for me. S.R.

 

[Not_A_Llama]

I live in the same dry environment as Smoke, so I'm not really versed in rust.. But, I've found oil to be detrimental to accuracy, and I really don't need it. I leave my bores dry now.

 

[chevrofreak]

I've had very few rust spots ever show up on my guns.

I always run a lightly oiled (Mobil-1 15w-50 usually) down my more, then use a cotton swab to make the the chamber has no oil in it.

Havent had any problems yet, and I shoot it weekly and clean it after each session.

 

[T.Stahl]

I leave no oil in the barrels and chambers of guns that I prepare for shooting (i.e. the "ready gun" in my locker, guns I take to the range).
The barrels of guns that I store for any amount of time (until the next cleaning / next trip to the range) are oiled generously (Ballistol is cheap) to remove dirt and prevent rusting.

 

[stevelyn]

I currently live in a marine environment where it rains and blows 5 days out of 7 not to mention the salt air. So rust and corrosion protection tops my list. After cleaning I leave a light coat (or rather film) of CLP on all the metal surfaces including the bore. I've never really tested for accuracy since I believe the miniscule amount of CLP that I leave in the bore has minimal effect on pressure and practical accuracy.

 

[38SnubFan]

I actually went and consulted the owner's manual for my handgun on this. According to the manual, leaving a bore excessively oily may cause the lubricant to "gum up" and cause either poor accuracy or worse, a bullet to lodge in the bore.

After cleaning my gun, I run a patch lightly oiled with Hoppe's Lubricating Oil down the barrel and all cylinder chambers, followed by a dry patch to pick up the excess. Every so often (if I haven't fired the gun for a while), I inspect the barrel and chambers with a light. As long as I see a "shine", I know it's still oiled. If it looks dry and/or dusty, I run a dry patch to remove any dust/dirt, then oil it again.

Considering this is the gun I carry and target shoot with, I pay particular attention to keeping it clean, properly oiled, and functioning correctly, for it must always be reliable.

-38