Lubing an AK

I always lube the contact surfaces (in any rifle) unless it's got one of those special synthetic bearing areas that the manufacturer says 'don't lube'. It's an AK - lubing everything that moves won't harm it. Here's a good link for the oils and greases to use.

http://guns.wolfcrews.com/ak47/cleaning/default.htm

I've never put any lube on the piston. Pretty much the only thing I lube on either of my AKs is the grooves where the bolt rotates on the bolt carrier and along the rails where the bolt carrier rides along. Several thousand rounds through both and no issues. I wouldn't worry about it.

No, the gas piston, chamber, and bore should all be clean and dry. A light coat of oil can be applied to the exterior of the bolt and bolt carrier as well as the receiver rails, but care should be taken to avoid getting oil inside the bolt face or firing pin channel.

I slather the bolt and carrier, but keep the piston bone dry, for a range session. Lighter oil on the bolt and carrier for sustained carry.

A lot of people think that the AK doesn't require normal care and maintenance because of all the hype and mythology surrounding the weapon. Under lubricated AKs will jam up -- seen it happen a bunch during familiarization fire trips to the range on the .mil side and in the various civilian classes I've taken.

Dunk it in the nearest mud hole and shake. That is if you are really concerned about lube. The most I have ever done to my AK is one drop of oil on the rails and one drop on the bolt where it sits in the carrier. I have gone months, even years without any lube and it still looks like the day I got it. Now my heavy barreled Mauser, thats another story....

Do NOT lube the gas piston or gas tube...bad idea!

I lube the bolt with a drop of RemOil and I use a very light amount of SlideGlide on the rails. Some guys lube lightly with Mobil1 synthetic oil.

I use CLP on pretty much all the gun.

If someone can enlighten me as to why i should leave the piston and tube alone, please do so. i'd really like to keep my gun 100%.

Better overlubed then underlubed.

If someone can enlighten me as to why i should leave the piston and tube alone, please do so.

Click to expand...

I expect it's to avoid "dieseling". I know that's why you don't oil a Garand piston.

I have just always been taught to keep gas pistons clean and dry. This is for semi-autos in general where applicable. It's never been explained to me exactly why, but among people in the know, it has been the advice without exception regardless of specific design. It is how I was taught to clean the SAW and always instructed to clean every other semi-auto. As to why, if I had to guess it would be related to direct exposure to super heated gases and attracting carbon fouling and residue, but I honestly don't know.

It's never a good idea to oil your chamber, bore, or firing pin/firing pin channel, regardless of whether you have a bolt action rifle, an AK, or a semi-automatic handgun. Oil will attract powder residue and fouling in the firing pin channel and can restrict the movement of the firing pin. This is esp hazardous in designs such as the AK and SKS, which have free floating firing pins as it can lead to slam fires, which in turn can lead to firing out of battery, which in turn can lead to serious injury or death, or at the very least, the complete destruction of a good rifle. And contrary to popular belief, oiling the chamber and bore actually increases pressure but infringing on the natural rebounding characteristics experienced by the case as it expands and then rebounds to roughly its original dimensions during firing.

So with all your firearms, keep the chamber, bore, bolt face, and firing pin channel clean and dry, and in general with semi-autos, keep the gas pistons and gas tubes clean and dry as well. The worst this will do is preserve lube for areas where it will do most good, like bolt lugs and receiver rails. It certainly is not going to inhibit safe and reliable function and is far more likely to improve performance in these areas.

while if never bought into "dieseling"

i see the value of keeping dirty filthy gas away from wet absorbing oil.

I see no reason to lube the gas piston and tube. I would expect it to build up carbon fouling more than normal.

Having never lubed the pistons and tubes on my AKs and having run several thousand rounds through both, I haven't noticed any additional wear in those areas. In fact, they don't show any wear at all.

As I recall the manual calls for a light coat of oil pretty much everywhere.

Don't have time right now to reread that section this morning, I'll try to post it later today. BSW

Whole manual: http://www.box.net/shared/cu2djae1zb

BSW

Chapter 8 Cleaning and lubrication of the automatic rifle. (page 123 in the .pdf file posted by briansmithwins)

2) ... it is necessary to apply the alkali solution, wipe dry, and lubricate the bore, gas cylinder, gas tube, piston and bolt immediately ...

My Soviet-trained relatives treat it much like HorseSoldier describes.

Never run a gas piston/tube with oil on/in it. PERIOD!!!

Doing so will cause the rifle to foul heavily and some models will jam as a result of it. Go lube an AR15 bolt up, then shoot 500 rounds or so through it. The bolt will be a dirty mess. Same thing happens in an AK piston tube and piston.

Now then, when cleaning the rifle, it is acceptable to clean both areas in question with solvent and then wipe down with a light coat of oil. I mean a LIGHT coat of oil. This prevents corrosion. If the rifle is to be stored for a long term, leave it as such. If the rifle is to be used again immediately, the light coat of oil should be wiped off with a dry/clean cloth.

YMMV

Rails, bolt and trigger group. Done.

Well, my barrels/bores/chambers are never wet. Always a dry-patch at the end. I guess I learned something today.

I will just dip mine in a drum of cosmoline and put it away for years...

Apply grease to the bolt and to the bolt carrier guide rails.

I lube all the internals with Mobile 1 motor oil and then wipe off the excess. I do this every 500 rounds whether it needs it or not.