cleaning firearms

[bamf2]

I have everything to clean my revolver, auto, shotgun, ar-15 and mini 14 as far as brushes, cloths, etc., etc, etc. Recently I took a safety class and my instructor (ex cia, nra certified, retired military, the works) told me that all he ever uses to clean guns inside and out is good old wd-40. said it works for nasa, and works for him too. Cleaner, lubricator, all in one. He said nothing else is needed. Although it sounds good and eliminates a bunch of crap out of my gun box, I'm a little leary. Any imput from you guys?

 

[Black Knight]

When it drys up it gets sticky and gummy. Most gun manufacturers do not recommend it. When it gets sticky it will attract all sorts of grit and grime. Use good solvents and even better lubricants. Take the time to do it right. You can't afford to take shortcuts with your "life preserver". You paid good money for it so treat it right and it will treat you right when the time comes. Hope that time never comes but be ready.

 

[Smith357]

There was a discussion about WD-40 years ago on the FIDO net firearms forum where C.E. "Ed" Harris went into a long scientific explaination that included disscusions of molecular chains and other stuff way over my head. The bottom line of that disscussion was " WD-40 very bad for guns" If I remember correctly it aslo has no copper or lead solvents in its recipe. The over all consesus was any comercial "gun cleaner" was better than wd-40.

 

[Declaration Day]

If you're looking for a simple, all-in-one gun cleaner / lube, try Break Free CLP. It's pricier than WD-40 and a bit harder to find, but I've used it for years in all of my guns, and I have no complaints.

 

[Big Calhoun]

There was a guy in my recent CHL class that also says he uses WD-40 to clean his guns. Everything that I've read says WD-40 is a no-go. Nothing wrong with a little elbow grease.

 

[bumm]

Ditto on the BreakFree CLP. Great stuff, and about all I ever use.
WD40 is a good product, but NOT an all around gun cleaner. It doesn't stay put well enough to protect from rust for very long, and it can actually penetrate into cartridges and deactivate them if left in contact.
Marty

 

[Standing Wolf]

I took a safety class and my instructor (ex cia, nra certified, retired military, the works) told me that all he ever uses to clean guns inside and out is good old wd-40. said it works for nasa, and works for him too.

One hopes his safety advice was worthier than his firearms cleaning advice.

 

[possum]

since my firearms are guns then i use gun cleaner. i use many different types, but i do not use wd-40 i have always been told that it is not a good thing to do. never really asked why. breakfree clp is good, i also use, militec-1, and i always wipe down after a cleanning with a little g-96. this works great for me and that is what I plan on doing forever. you are doing the right thing, i wouldn't change anything tha you are doing.

 

[Hoploholic]

Your safety instructor is horribly mistaken. While I don't doubt his pedigree, it just goes to show you that just because someone might use firearms in their profession the fact does not make them a good source of knowledge. There is only 2 types of people that will possess real firearm knowledge. Those that must entrust their lives to them on a daily basis and those who truely love the constructs of steel, wood and plastic.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

I've never even heard of such a thing as using WD-40 to clean guns. I've always just used Hoppe's Solvent and Lubricant, some old rags, and a little bit of muscle. Works for me and my guns. At least in my area, you can buy these cleaning kits for either hanguns or long guns that have everything you need to clean them. Brushes, patches, solvent, lubricant, rods, etc. For about $10.

 

[hqmhqm]

I have a hobby restoring old Teletypes, and WD40 is known as something to avoid, it has some kind of varnish in it, if you spray down the mechanism in a teletype with it, it will cause trouble. Don't know if it's an urban legend, but I am not going to find out with a piece of equipment that has about a million moving mechanical parts.

 

[X-Rap]

I have for the last 20 or so years kept a rag that I'll spray down with wd-40 not to the point of saturation. With it I'll wipe down a gun when it has been handled or if I've been hunting and don't intend to clean it. It has worked good keeping rust from fingers and dampness or rain out hunting ect. For cleaning I agree use hoppes, clp or other specific gun cleaning product.
Spraying WD-40 on a scoped gun opens the possibility of the oil penetrating the scope through the threads or o-rings and I would definately advise against any direct application, this is probobly true wiht most oil/lubricants but WD-40 has been since its inception a penetrant it is also very good at displacing moisture. Ammo sprayed with it is probobly not safe.

 

[Mr White]

I agree with X-RAP. WD-40 is good to wipe down the outside of a gun to remove fingerprints and inhibit rust, but as a powder/copper solvent and a lubricant, its not very good.

Inhibitng rust is one of the thing's WD40 is very good at. That and its penetrating ability were what it was made for.

 

[Chipperman]

said it works for nasa, and works for him too.

Well, I'll be. I never knew our astronauts were packing heat. Guess you never know when a hostile alien force will show up and try to take over the space station.

I don't let WD-40 anywhere near my guns.

 

[Lupinus]

WD-40 on guns is bad juju

Gums, sticky, damn near impossible to not overlube. I'll stick with my gun products.

 

[Hemicuda]

If I have been hunting in the rain or snow, I will thouroughly wipe down the gun with WD-40 (Water Displacer formula mix number 40), as it NICELY displaces water...

I clean and lube my gun s with gun products...

 

[Lou629]

Bamf2, I would not make a habit out of it. If i had nothing else available for a day or two, i would only use a very small amount of WD40 till i could strip and clean the gun with proper gun-oriented cleaners and lubes. As for wiping the exterior of a gun, i invest all of four dollars in a new silicone cloth for each gun once a year. They work great, since it's what they're designed for, and i've never had a problem.

 

[rangerruck]

I work on electronics gear, with moving parts, for 15 yrs now. I used to use wd a long time ago, USED TO! too much stuff out there that is better.

 

[X-Rap]

As I said I've used it for over 20yrs probobly because 20 yrs. ago it might have been the best. At any rate I have guns in my safes that have been exposed to this hazardous compound over this time.I'm not a professional gunsmith but believe that I could see varnish and the other various crud buildup and have seen none. As far as damage to finish I have noticed nothing either to metal or wood. I'm willing to bet that if someone replaced the label and used the same formula and said this is the best gun lube in the world and got a few ads in the gun rags to say so this wouldn't be a disscussion.