Anyone use grease on Mini 14?

[7mmsavage]

A couple days ago I had my Garand apart greasing it according to Scott Duff's Garand owners guide. Afterwards I got wondering if the Mini could benefit from grease in the areas that are similar to those on the Garand? My owners manual says use only light lubricating oil on moving parts so maybe the obvious answer is just to do what Ruger says. I just see so many similarities that I couldn't help but wonder.

 

[Onmilo]

A good question and to try and answer it in a long winded way,
I used grease on my Mini 14 when I owned one, specifically Outers Gun Grease.
I began to use this grease when my rifle seized up a couple of times when lubed with Hoppe oil.
After switching to the grease I never again had a problem with the rifle seizing up.
I had this epiphany back in 1980 and there are much better grease products available today even though ancient offerings like Outers Gun Grease and Lubriplate are still available and still very good products in there own rights.

 

[benEzra]

Yes. I started using grease when I noticed a little galling on the back of the bolt where it contacts the hammer during cycling (mine is stainless, which is prone to that).

 

[AZ Jeff]

The M1-type action specifically REQUIRES grease, in lieu of oil. (US Mil manuals for M1G, M14, and M1 Carbine all talk of using grease.)

Given that the Mini-14 is, in at least the breech mechanism, the same design as those military rifles, I would suspect that grease would be just as important on that rifle.

I, for one, have used grease on my Mini (a SS one bought in 1980) it's entire life, following the greasing instructions that apply to the M1 Garand. It's never showed signs of harm from this practice.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I lubricate both of my Mini-14s as if they were Garands, with grease, and they function very well.

 

[Plink]

Regardless what the owners manual says, I follow the same lubing routing on all my guns. Anywhere that metal slides against metal (slides, rails, bolts, bolt carriers, slide/hammer interface, etc.) gets grease. Anywhere that metal rotates against metal (trigger parts, pins, selectors and safeties, etc.) gets oil. Use good lubricants, not stuff like Hoppe's "sewing machine oil". RIG, Tetra, Militec-1, CLP, CorrosionX, etc., all make great lubricants. Plain ol' bearing grease and motor oil or ATF work fine too.

 

[7mmsavage]

Thanks

for the input everyone. My Mini is a 196 series staiinless model, I have never had any malfunctions but am always looking for something better. I have always used high temp wheel bearing grease on my Garand, so I think its time for the Mini to get some too. thanks