WD-40?

If something is so heavily debated then why risk it? Use something made for guns. Gun cleaners are not expensive but your guns are. The gains of using WD40 are not great enough to out weigh the possible ill effects.

I use dry silicon spray on some of my tools because I can't get oil on a customers carpet. Is there a significant difference between the silicon spray and the wd?

What is in the spray lube cans they sell in the gun department?

My whole point isn't to propagate using WD-40 as your gun cleaner/lube. I don't care what someone else uses. I use it as well as a dozen commercial gun specific products. What whizzzes me is all of the demonizing that comes with these threads. Locked up actions,thick gooey globs,removes bluing...... I am by this like krochus is when he hears"commercial 7.62x39 ammo has .308 bullets",I see the same shade of red. Use what you want but don't turn a product that has been around doing yeoman work for 50 years into a gun killing demon. It is not.

Ok I been searching for a site that explains the differences between the different spray lubes. Haven't had any luck. Found lots of wives tales and stories but no basic fact based explanation.

While I don't consider WD-40 to be a "gun-specific" product, I do use it to "dry out" guns immersed in water accidently as it is an excellent "water displacer".

After that, wipe it off completely and follow it up with a good spray action degreaser to remove the last traces and you'll have no problems.

WD-40 has its place in my gun cleaning regimen so long as it is used properly and sensibly.

If it's all I've got, I'd use it.

Fortunately, I've never been without a better solution nearby.

WD-40 is mostly kerosene. Kerosene isn't a "lubricant".

The uses of WD-40 described on this website were provided to WD-40 Company by end-users of the product, and do not constitute recommendations or suggestions for use of WD-40 by WD-40 Company. These uses, including the "Use of the Day," have not been tested by WD-40 Company. Consumers should exercise common sense whenever using WD-40. Always follow the instructions and take heed of any warnings printed on the WD-40 packaging

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2000 uses listed on the WD-40 manufacturer's site and they haven't tested a single one.

One cannot help but wonder why?

WD-40

I don't use it on my guns but I do like it for cleaning old greasy electric motors and other mechanical things.


For cleaning only for the bearing I use the recomended oil.

I like wd 40 for that it cleans well. I do wipe it off.

I don't like fish oil for my guns. There is just something wrong about it. I like Mobile 1 oil

<http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/wd-40.asp> Includes the fish oil rumor.

I use WD-40.
My dad uses WD-40.
And my Grandfather didn't really clean that old double barrel ever. Or the 1100, it was a single-shot when I got it. It cleaned up well with a bit of elbow grease.. and WD-40.

<http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/wd-40.asp> Includes the fish oil rumor.

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How dare you try to muddle up my internet lore and half truths with facts!?!?!?

So sorry Jon..I plum forgot.. (unnecessary political snark,appreciated none the less). FWIW concerning fish oil. I used to trap mink and rendered my own fish oil to use in lures. In a word, it STINKS. The odor is horrendous.

Those darn unnecessary political snarks. I'll remember to stick to only necessary ones in the future.

I use WD-40 on my Mosin after I flush the bore/chamber with hot soapy water just to make sure all the moisture is eradicated before I clean and lube with Hoppe's and Rem oil. It works great for this purpose, but I would never just use WD-40 on any gun I gave half a rats rear-end about, unless it desperately needed cleaning and there was no other option available.

If something is so heavily debated then why risk it?

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That's the worst point ever...

Also, I think that's someone's platform on Global Warming?

Here is the MSDS for aerosol WD-40 (PDF file). It contains:

Ingredient Percent
Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 45-50
Petroleum Base Oil 15-25
LVP Aliphatic Hydrocarbon 12-18
Carbon Dioxide 2-3
Non-Hazardous Ingredients <10

In my experience, WD-40 makes a good cleaner for powder fouling and works pretty well for preventing rust. IMO it is too thin to make a good lubricant.

if you can find X19-A give it a try, it's a spray on that comes out as foam and it really clings. it dries somewhat but is a great lube. downside is it will grab soot and so on but still, any good lube will. it cleans easy enough. wd will cut it easy. it's cheap too. have to really shake it up for best application.

I'm amazed at all the negativity and seemingly angry responses to this thread! OP just asked a simple question. Jeez.

I've used wd40 on some guns before. I used it for displacing water in the inner-workings of an old revolver I re-blued. Worked great. I wasn't using it as a cleaner or lubricant, but I did leave it on/in the gun and haven't had any problems since.

FYI, their (WD40's) site claims 2000+ uses, and they're searchable. http://www.wd40.com/uses-tips/
Type in 'gun' and you get:

16 uses found.

Cleans and protects gun carriages
Cleans and protects gun linkages
Keeps trigger on glue gun from sticking
Lubricates gun strap hardware
Lubricates gun table rollers
Lubricates paintball gun barrel
Lubricates precision gun fittings
Lubricates rivet gun mechanisms
Protects gun parts when being stored
Helps break in leather gun holsters
Lubricates auto cocker on paintball gun
Lubricates bulk loading caulking gun
Anti-rust agent and lubricant for gun magazines
Protects bore and exterior of gun barrel from corrosion
Removes powder residue and metal fouling from gun barrels
Stops squeaks on add-ons to police gun belt

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So since the OP asked about cleaning guns with it, I feel obligated to point out that the manufacturer says it " Protects bore and exterior of gun barrel from corrosion. Removes powder residue and metal fouling from gun barrels."

Maybe the OP wasn't unreasonable at all to try it.

I find WD-40 to be a better solvent than Rem oil.

I use WD on just about everything except my guns, I have even joked around about using it as cologne. Most of the time I use Hoppes, but if Im being lazy then some Rem Oil spray.

Yeah,I like Hoppes cologne too.

I'm amazed at all the negativity and seemingly angry responses to this thread!

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Well, in fairness - you have no idea how many older firearms I've bought or handled that were insanely gunked up with an orangish residue that was attributed to the use of WD40 as an OIL. Folks would just spray it on and let it dry, and if you do that long enough you'll reputedly cause quite a mess.

As a cleaner, it's probably better than some but not as good as most. As an oil, well - it just isn't.

So since the OP asked about cleaning guns with it, I feel obligated to point out that the manufacturer says it " Protects bore and exterior of gun barrel from corrosion. Removes powder residue and metal fouling from gun barrels."

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NO! The manufacturer doesn't say that at all. What the mfg says is that the 2000 uses are all submitted by users and neither tested nor endorsed by the mfg.

It's in the fine print on the site on the 2000 uses section.

Isn't this dead horse sufficiently beaten yet?