Actually, it's a very innocuous oil, and seems quite safe. Probably safer than most gun oils.
https://www.msdsdigital.com/mobil-vactra-oil-no-2-msds
Poll: Slide Lubrication: Oil, Grease, Both, Neither
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crestoncowboy
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Much safer than the chemicals you are setting off in the powder and primer. It's unlikely that you will find an oil that's not regulated that isn't safe. Especially a motor oil that has to be safe enough to be burned into the air or dumped onto the earth in a crash.
Most of us overthink the lube thing. I use grease on rails and oil on other things so I'm just as guilty. But having rebuilt many engines as well as maintaining million dollar machines for a living......oil does a great job of what it does. The crank and rod bearings of an engine have no rollers no ball bearings nothing. Yet oil keeps them cushioned and heat free at 10 thousand rpms for hundreds of thousands of miles. I see industrial machines that turn 20 thousand RPMS on a daily basis 24/7 that literally drip oil in a steady drip onto the gears. Many of the gears are 30 years old.
Yeah, compared to most engine or heavy equipment applications, firearm demands on lubricants are laughably low. I go for the grease on the rails and locking lugs because I like how it makes the gun feel. I just want that little bit of drag on the slide, but without friction or abrasion.
crestoncowboy
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I use grease on the rails since I got my first 226 and eventually hurt the anodized frame. Then I figure if it helped with that then I'd just grease all rails. I bought the 3 grades of slide glide and have been using them since on rails. Tighter the gun the lighter the grease.
I discovered about a year ago that grease on the rails of browning-action pistols with effective compensators on the barrel is not a good idea. The comp slows the slide velocity so much, and (as a result) they typically have such light recoil springs, that the extra drag of grease on the rails isn't good for reliability.
JTQ
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Just a data point, but in the Wilson Combat line-up of Ultima-Lube II products, they only recommend their grease, which is a pourable grease, for "Full and semi-auto rifles and carbines". They recommend their other products for handguns.
https://shopwilsoncombat.com/Ultima-Lube-II-Grease-4-oz-Bottle/productinfo/579-4/
There is no halfway between oil and grease.
It's one or the other. However....if you think all grease is the common NGLI #2 that you use on your boat trailer bearing then you're uninformed.
A NGLI 000 grease has the consistency of cooking oil. As mentioned the old military lube LSA, is a grease, even though you can pour it out of a bottle.
On the other end you get some NGLI 7 grease and you would think it's a brick. It's a VERY hard grease. Very specialized too.
More reading on NGLI ratings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLGI_consistency_number
obiwan1
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On most of my guns I use Weapon Shield oil. On the slides of most of my autos I use Weapon Shield grease sparingly. Lately I've been experimenting with Hornady One Shot lube on my Kahr K40. Excellent results so far.
Ignition Override
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Jack B.
Is Hoppe's 9 Lubricating Oil used just on your guns' rails, or also in other areas?
I found a random page of comments about "Hoppe's 9" from a 2006 discussion, and only one of the readers comprehended that there is a Lubricating Oil #9 by Hoppes, which is Not used to clean bores.
Fairly subtle difference in the >>>titles<< of Two, very different products, but most guys can't comprehend the subtle differences in descriptions.
Is Hoppe's 9 Lubricating Oil used just on your guns' rails, or also in other areas?
I found a random page of comments about "Hoppe's 9" from a 2006 discussion, and only one of the readers comprehended that there is a Lubricating Oil #9 by Hoppes, which is Not used to clean bores.
Fairly subtle difference in the >>>titles<< of Two, very different products, but most guys can't comprehend the subtle differences in descriptions.
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PWC
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If iy slides; grease
If it rotates; oil
If it rotates; oil
DrDeFab
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You're right, I was over-simplifying.
It isn't specified on the packaging or the website whether it is technically an oil, a grease or neither.
I should have said that the viscosity is roughly halfway between 3-In-One (SAE 20) and Super Lube (NLGI 2).
Paul Toms
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At my bench, it kinda depends on the weapon.
Plastic/polymer guns = just a drop of oil on the contact points
Weapons with alloy frame & stainless slide = grease
Weapons with same top & bottom = well oiled frame, slide & a drop on the barrel hood.
Plastic/polymer guns = just a drop of oil on the contact points
Weapons with alloy frame & stainless slide = grease
Weapons with same top & bottom = well oiled frame, slide & a drop on the barrel hood.
bassjam
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I used to use oil on all my autoloader slides. I started rethinking that as my LCP aged and became noticeably more loose. I knew it was eventually going to fail, and one day it completely locked up needed sent back to Ruger. They replaced the gun, and while I don't know that the loose slide fitment was the issue, I've started putting grease on all my semi auto's now. I use ALG Very Thin Grease 0000.
MySuomi
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Wow. Reading this thread makes me think that I am not as diligent as most. I use Ballistol when I am prepping weapons at home and then Rem Oil in the field. I don't differentiate between polymer or steel, pistol or rifle. My weapons lean toward the wetter side than the dryer side. (Not dripping or oozing lubricant but certainly shiny and smelly) The only lubrication difference that I do with my carry pistol between cleanings is just wipe downs and a q tip to get lint out of the front of the bore once a week.
Agreed.
Never heard of it before, but it seems they have a bunch of variants.
https://www.amazon.com/Hetman/b/ref...2593478011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Hetman
It’s high quality lube for musical instrument keys, pistons, slides, and linkages. It may work in some apps on a firearm but I bet they’ve not been tested for high temperature and pressures. Still... some of the formulas might work pretty well. The same criteria apply: viscous enough to stay put, but thin enough to migrate into small joints. Enough lubricity to prevent wear and ensure smooth operation of tiny mechanical parts. It would be fun to experiment with all the Hetman oil formulas.
They are pricey!
usp9
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Both. I put a small amount of TWb25 on the rails and a light coating of Militec 1 in the slots.
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