Gun Lube Evaporates?

[Sunray]

"...has completely evaporated..." Nope. Oil will run off under gravity. Grease does not.
The liquid in petroleum based greases is oil. Oil doesn't evaporate the same way water does. Needs far more heat.
Singer Sewing machine oil is just light oil. So is "gun oil" and "3-in-1".
Hoppe's #9 is a brand name for a slew of products. Oil being one. Both Hoppe's and Uncle Mike's are owned by Vista Brands. Who also own Outers, Gunslick, CCI, Savage, RCBS, Federal and a bunch of others.

 

[hdwhit]

I use light machine oil on pretty much everything and apply it in sufficient amount and often enough to keep the metal surfaces shiny but not really "wet". For something like a barrel under a handguard, I will generally use something like motor oil since it stays in place longer than the lighter oils. Nothing fancy.

 

[Riomouse911]

I am a Slip 2000 guy as well. So far (knock on wood) I haven't had a lube-related issue with anything I shoot.

I'm sure there are better or cheaper things out there, I just haven't found a need to switch yet.

And yes, over time gun oils will run out of the actions... especially if the gun is left somewhere hot like in a car trunk.

 

[rskent]

And yes, over time gun oils will run out of the actions... especially if the gun is left somewhere hot like in a car trunk.

Even Mobil 1. I try to shoot, clean, and lube them every month or so. Can’t rely on a dry gun you know.

 

[Vernon1]

Owned my first AR for a few months now and have always used gun grease after cleaning and shooting. It has worked great, and have had 0 issues. A friend talked me into buying lube/oil so after the range i cleaned and lubed up my bolt. Woke up this morning to just check everything out and mt bolt looks and feels dry as if all the lube i caked on there has completely evaporated. Is this normal?

plain old mineral oil please.

 

[rskent]

plain old mineral oil please.

OK, I have most of a 55-gallon drum that’s been sitting around collecting dust.

It’s yours. All you gotta do is drive down and pick it up.

 

[moe.ron]

Tried them all, I like Slip 2000 EWL. Its expensive but it stays put, a little goes a long way.

 

[FL-NC]

Lithium grease (available at auto zone) is an excellent LUBE for the AR15.

 

[HOWARD J]

I have guns(coated with barricade) in the safe for 2/3 years--no rust.
I would not trust it as a lube

 

[stchman]

Hoppe's #9 makes a solvent and they also make a lubricating oil in the orange bottle.

The OP can simply use any synthetic 5W30 oil for lubing.

 

[19&41]

I also use Mobil 1. And for applications where grease is needed or when I want a coating that will remain where applied, I use Synco Super Lube. It is also a synthetic.

 

[Slamfire]

I am of the opinion that there is nothing special about Hoppes Gun Oil. I have heard others say it is a straight mineral oil. I did examine an MSDS for the Elite, it might have some additives, but, hard to know.

https://www.copquest.com/knowledgebase/MSDS_Hoppes_Elite_Gun_Oil.pdf

Severely Hydrotreated Heavy
Naphthenic Petroleum Oil 64742-52-5 >85%
Polyalpha-olefin 66070-54-0 <10%
Proprietary Additive Proprietary <10%

If is better to use an oil that stays on the surface, but all light oils will evaporate and oxidize in time. (So will mercury, given a couple of million years!) The lighter the oil the sooner it evaporates. I will recommend Mobil 1 10W-30. Automotive oils are really superior lubricants, lots of research has gone into them, gun oils are generally repacked industrial oils, or straight mineral oil. Don't pay a premium for oil cans with screaming labels, which is the gun oil category.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

I run ar15's dry. I'm all about getting carbon and dirt out. But carbon and dirt likes to stick to all the oils and greases people but on them. A good rifle will run dry very well. Also don't dump lube in the chamber or in the throat. That will be a nice pressure spike, probably wont do anything to an AR but its a good habit to be in. Clean then wipe dry. Unless you are shooting a M2 or some crew served machine gun, you shouldn't need any heavy greases or oils.

 

[stchman]

I am of the opinion that there is nothing special about Hoppes Gun Oil. I have heard others say it is a straight mineral oil. I did examine an MSDS for the Elite, it might have some additives, but, hard to know.

https://www.copquest.com/knowledgebase/MSDS_Hoppes_Elite_Gun_Oil.pdf

Severely Hydrotreated Heavy
Naphthenic Petroleum Oil 64742-52-5 >85%
Polyalpha-olefin 66070-54-0 <10%
Proprietary Additive Proprietary <10%

If is better to use an oil that stays on the surface, but all light oils will evaporate and oxidize in time. (So will mercury, given a couple of million years!) The lighter the oil the sooner it evaporates. I will recommend Mobil 1 10W-30. Automotive oils are really superior lubricants, lots of research has gone into them, gun oils are generally repacked industrial oils, or straight mineral oil. Don't pay a premium for oil cans with screaming labels, which is the gun oil category.

There is nothing special about ANY gun oil. A lot of gun oils are simply mineral oil(Ballistol, RemOil) or synthetic base stock(CLP). Using either motor oil or transmission fluid will do the same thing and save you money. Not to mention, a quart of motor oil or ATF will probably last someone over 10 years.

 

[Jesse H]

I just use 5w-20 Mobil 1 synthetic. I just wipe it onto whatever I'm oiling and leave a thin layer.

No need for fancy gun oil.

Unless you're running suppressed. I've found the Mobil1 I've used for years didn't hold up well when things got warm.

 

[TrickyDick]

Unless you're running suppressed. I've found the Mobil1 I've used for years didn't hold up well when things got warm.

Haven't had a problem yet.