Another MILITEC-1 Question

[Confederate]

I've read the praise about the Militec-1 lubricant and have accepted that, okay, it's probably not very good in the steel preservation area. But if it will protect the barrel and keep lead and other stuff from getting a good grip in the lands and grooves, wonderful. I'll also keep some BreakFree on hand.

Regarding car crankcases, does it really do a superlative job protecting car engines, adding an ounce or two per quart of oil when changing oil? Or would adding the same amount of any synthetic oil do the same? Would synthetic motor oil also work well on lubricating handguns without attracting grit? And those skinny little applicators Militec sells—are they worth buying?

Finally, let's talk Grease. Do you think Olivia Newton-John was miscast for her role as...er...sorry, wrong Grease. Ummm...does Militec-1 grease have any unusually great qualities or am I just as well off with any dark, slimy, messy grease that can be put on any gun? I have a number of autoloaders. Am I okay just using the Militec-1 lubricant ("synthetic metal conditioner") for that, the oily stuff?

Thanks!

 

[Gun Slinger]

Confederate,

As a general rule, oils and greases will both tend to attract dust and grit to varying degrees if those contaminants are introduced into the weapon's (rifles, shotguns and pistols) internals. This environmental issue may be mitigated though with attention to service intervals and protecting/limiting the gun's exposure to those contaminants.

As for using a high quality, synthetic motor oil on your guns, there are many that actually prefer it's use over that of the 'gun specific' lubricants (I am one of them) because they over better performance than the 'gun specific' products or simply as a means of economizing. My preference is for that of Mobil 1 20w50 (VTWIN) because it is a Group IV PAO base stock synthetic oil with an exceptionally high operating temperature range (-59.8F to +518.0F) and relatively high viscosity across that range.

Break Free CLP/LP and FP-10 also have PAO based formulations (MSDS's provided by both companies confirm this, all you have to do is check their websites), with the addition of solvents that are intended to allow them to perform as "all-in-one" products. Since I do not care to let the added solvents in these products formulations remain on my pistols for prolonged periods due to concerns that I hold regarding their potential corrosive effects, I use the PAO based M1 20W50 instead after cleaning my pistols/rifles.

Depending on whom you ask about Militec-1, you will get opinions regarding its efficacy that range from it being "absolute crap" and marketing hyperbole at its worst to those who swear by it and use it exclusively. Try it if you want and decide for yourself. I did and came to my own conclusions.

Please understand that by saying that I really couldn't care less about what you use to lubricate your firearms is not a flippant or disrespectful response to your honest question. Rather, this topic, no matter how it is approached or presented seems to be more inflammatory that discussing religion or politics with some folks (and seems to be a 'religion' of sorts for some) and I refuse to lose any sleep worrying about what someone uses to lubricate their firearms. In short, I just don't care.

So, get a few samples of whatever lubricant interests you, try them out and decide for yourself what does the job best for you and use it regardless of what you read on the 'Errornet'.

Just to keep all of this in perspective: All of the above is simply my well researched opinion, nothing more, and worth exactly what you paid to read it.

Regards,

 

[PPGMD]

The only thing special about the Militec Grease is that it contains 15% Militec, so it continues to renew the lubrication coating on the surfaces as it warms up. Beyond that it's just another lithium grease. I've started using it on my range guns that I shoot often and clean rarely.

The applicators are nice because like many other lube bottles, the Militec bottles leak if you try to use it to apply the oil. If I were Militec for the 8oz and larger bottles I would have just put a flat cap (instead of the needle cap) and include the applicator for free.

I honestly don't know how well it works on cars, as I have never tried.

I've also changed how I use it on my carry guns. I used to apply a coating of it after I cleaned the pistol, and left it there. But I noticed that it attracted dust, hair, and various other daily stuff. I've since gone to going dry for carry, and only apply a thin amount of it before I go to the range.

I also gave it a try shooting it dry, it still hand cycles easily, and it shot fine. I didn't notice any added wear to the gun.

 

[Confederate]

Hmmm. If I used the Mobil 1 20w50 and filled smaller bottles with the stuff, would I have a pretty good gun lubricant?

People have taken MILITEC-1, put an ounce to every quart, run the engine for awhile, emptied the crankcase, and the engine continues to run without locking up.

Adding MILITEC-1 to a good synthetic motor oil might be worth trying....

 

[Gun Slinger]

Confederate,

If I used the Mobil 1 20w50 and filled smaller bottles with the stuff, would I have a pretty good gun lubricant?

It is what I use and it has been without question, the best lubricant that I have ever used on my guns. I use the 1/2 ounce needle oiler bottles available from Brownells to dispense it. I am careful not to over apply since a little goes a long way and is all that is needed to do the job.

Since M1 20W50 already has a pretty good additive package (loaded with Molydenum and ZDDP and AOx additives) in its formulation, I don't believe that adding Militec-1 is necessary and is most likely a waste of your money since the necessary EP/AW/AOx additives are already there, but if doing so gives you piece of mind, then have at it.

As for emptying an internal combustion engine of its oil (regardless of its composure and additives) and running it without any oil, most will function like that for a little while under no load, but it is not something that I would ever dream of doing with my car since it proves absolutely nothing and serves no other valid purpose. Perhaps you are more daring in that regard than I am?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I've used Militec on my guns and liked it very well. Can't say anything about other uses for it, I would stick with products designed for what you want myself.

 

[bladecp]

I've used both the metal conditioner and the grease with great results for years. If you're military or ex-military, they will send you a sample of each. I don't think it's lithium grease since every lithium grease I've ever used was white. The Militec grease has the coloration of ear wax.

 

[Gun Slinger]

If it works for you, cool. B'sides...free stuff rules!

 

[rcmodel]

I got bored a couple of years ago, so I decided to do some testing of oils & greases I had on hand.
While not scientific, it did show some surprising results, to me at least.

Method:
>1/4" aluminum rod chucked in lathe and spun at 1,500 RPM.
>1/4" x 1" steel bar on a pivit riding on rod, on edge.
>4 pound NRA trigger weight set hanging on end of steel bar, 12" from aluminum rod. (4 ft/pd pressure on rod?)
>Spun in lathe until galding on aluminum rod caused noticable chatter.
>New section of rod used for each test.
> Lubed as follows:

Remington DriLube Spray= 2.37 sec.
Militec-1 oil applied 3x, heated, and wiped off each time = 3.48 sec.
Dry, run with no lube = 3.97 sec.
Militec-1 oil applied wet and left wet, over 3x treated surface = 5.73 sec.
Red Lithium automotive grease = 8.68 sec.
Pro-Gold gun grease = 10.37 sec.
Militec-1 grease applied over 3x treated surface = 10.52 sec.
GI issue CLP = 12.62 sec.
RCBS case sizing lube (STP?) = 13.20 sec.
Valvolene 30w motor oil = 15.93 sec.
Lubriplate (M1 Garand) grease = 25.12 sec.
Vasaline = 1 min. 31.38 sec.
Outers Gunslick Graphite grease = 2 min. 52.93 sec.
RemOil w/Teflon gun oil/bottle = 3 min 6.99 sec.

I'm not sure what all this means, but there it is!

However, I am convenced that MiliTec-1 oil & grease really sucks as a high film strength lubricant!

rcmodel

 

[Gun Slinger]

Who'd of thunk that Vaseline would have done so well against the other greases and oils?

OK, that does it! :banghead:

Throwing out all of my 'gun specific' products and lubricants and getting a great big jar of Vaseline at the grocery next time I am there.

Well....not really.....

It would be kind of interesting to see how these lubricants would perform using a steel rod instead of the softer aluminum rod that was chucked in the lathe while retaining the 1/4"x1" steel rod attached to the pivot since most guns have "steel to steel" contact (steel framed and polymer framed handguns obviously not aluminum frames) where the frame and slide rails reciprocate against each other.

 

[PPGMD]

Real scientific test, no measure of force, and it gives you no idea how well the lube will last under the heat from gun fire.

 

[harrydog]

I never understood why people use Mobil-1 as a gun lube. The only possible reason I can think of is because they're REALLY cheap. Sure, most gun lubes are far more expensive than motor oil, but they're still relatively cheap considering a little goes a long way and most of them will last you a long time.
For those of you who use Mobil-1 to save money, why not just use some ultra cheap brand of motor oil? If it's because Mobil-1 is synthetic and is better quality, then why not use something really high quality like Redline oil? That contains large percentages of polyolester base stock which is better at resisting high temperatures. It also contains much higher quantities of moly than Mobil-1. Also, the ester molecules in Redline have an affinity for hot metal and actually cling to it. Not so for Mobil-1.
Anyway, I like Militec-1. My all steel 1911's seem to cycle more smoothly with it than they do with the other lubes I've tried.

 

[harrydog]

QUOTE: "I'm not sure what all this means, but there it is!
However, I am convenced that MiliTec-1 oil & grease really sucks as a high film strength lubricant!"
rcmodel

Vaseline outperforms so many other products in your "test" including automotive lithium grease, and you actually place any credence at all in it?
That tells me more about you than about the products that you tested!

 

[Gun Slinger]

harrydog,

Since I am way too lazy to type it all out again, the link:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=345419

should explain (especially posts #18 and #51) why those of us who choose to use Mobil 1 use Mobil 1.

Hope you enjoy the read.

Regards,

 

[Confederate]

You might find many products that outperform other products in casual off-the-wall tests, but having a product work over a long period of time without attracting a great deal of grit or without thickening or breaking down is quite another.

I just spoke to an officer who got off duty in Iraq. He says people over there buy the stuff out of their own pocket money. The BreakFree they use attracts too much stuff floating around in the air, and the military's solution is to have everyone clean their weapons at least twice a day—more if they have time. Based on their own experience, Militec-1 keeps their weapons in "ready" condition much better than CLP. They not only use it in their rifles, but in their big machines as well. Some even put it in their trucks.

I live here in the East, so I'm not about to throw out my CLP, but just a few weeks ago I decided to break out some stuff that was in my safe. Some revolvers had been in the vault so long that the cylinders wouldn't rotate and they were literally non-functional. It was proof that for long term storarge, CLP stunk. It had turned to gum.

When they go back, they're going to have Militec-1 on them, and I expect them to do better this time.

Meanwhile, I think I told you this, but the Militec-1 people said they would send service people their product FREE if the military wouldn't provide it.

 

[harrydog]

I know that Larry Vickers likes Militec-1 based on his own use and observations during his spec ops career. He likes TW-25B also.