How often do you oil your rifles-external versus inside parts?

[Ignition Override]

For guns which are each used about once a month and kept in a dry closet, many believe that a thin layer of oil on the outside is enough during normal cleaning, after you are finished with the rifle. My problem here is wanting to over-lubricate because other objects will rub off some oil during storage or removal...won't they? The Mosin 44s often appear to have really bone-dry metal, no matter what happens.

The Ruger Minis are simple.
But what about newer people who have almost no skills with gun components and can deal with the five or so basic parts of an SKS' rear action (will the gas tube/piston only need oil evey six months or so?), but don't have the tools or knowledge to disassemble a Mosin?

 

[rangerruck]

you can strip a mosin down in about 3 minutes completely. just dip all the metal parts in oil, let them soak for a few days, then wipe down and put back together. then , a normal oily rag rubbing on the outside parts, and whatever you can reach into, when you pull out the bolt, and drop the bottom of the mag well, is all they will ever need. that is why they've been around 100 yrs.
http://7.62x54r.net/
http://www.surplusrifle.com/russianmosin189130/index.asp

 

[presidente006]

Cleaning procedures

Different weapons require different maintenance.

The best thing to do is to train yourself to clean your rifle/gun everytime you use it. After everytime you shoot, wipe down every part of the weapon with a good coat of CLP and/or Hoppes #9. Let it sit over night so it will soak. This will loosen any hard to remove carbon and rust. The next day clean your weapon real good till you can barely find any rust or carbon. Leave a light coat of oil on all the moving parts as well as any metal parts. Same as before. On the third day, just see if you can find anything you missed the night before. Store with a light coat of oil for lubrication purposes. Always remember that a clean weapon is a reliable weapon.

My usual items for cleaning:
Bottle of CLP
Hoppes #9
Q-Tips (alot)
2 BoreSnakes (Pass through the barrell a couple of times with CLP then pass a couple of times dry)

Hope this helps brother

 

[exar]

Ehh...I used to break em' down no matter what after every time I shot. Now I believe that fiddling around with everything just scratches stuff up. If it gets less than 100 rnds, I just lube the stuff that touches and let it be.

Some of my guns have been selected for "test duty" and never get broken down, only lubed. Probably approaching 2000 rnds on those weapons and no problems yet.

 

[JonB]

I'm with Exar on this one. The only guns I clean after a I shoot would be the Milsurps. Those get cleaned well each time due to using the corrosive ammo. But the rest can go awhile and not have any adverse effects.

Pistols - every 3-4 times or so
Shotgun - once a season unless it got soaked in the rain waiting for the ducks
Marlin 60 - once a year

 

[22-rimfire]

I'd clean milsurps and black powder guns every time you shoot. I would clean other firearms less often. JonB's advice is about right.

If you are standing the long guns in a closet, I would place an old sock over the barrel to help keep oil off the wall and the gun is less apt to slide if brushed against by clothes or whatever. I use old socks to wipe rifles off with a little oil most of the time. If you get a lot of oil on the gun, stand the rifle with the barrel down on the floor to let excess oil drain with gravity.

 

[briansmithwins]

I clean everything after shooting. My preferred cleaners are USGI rifle bore cleaner and Ballistol/water (1:10 ratio as per the bottle) for corrosive ammo. Rifles used to shoot corrosive ammo get cleaned at the range before I go home, other weapons may get the bore swabbed with RBC (I always have RBC with me at the range) and a few drops of RBC in the action. I believe the applying solvent earlier rather than later makes cleaning easier. RBC also has some rust preventing properties.

After cleaning I apply LSA to all exterior surface surfaces. I use a small paint brush to spread the oil as I've found that works better for me than a rag.

Rifles used with corrosive ammo get cleaned/inspected again a day later for rust, followed by a last post-shooting inspection about 3 days later.

For longer term storage I'll go thru and clean the whole weapon again after about 3 months. I live in Oregon and frequently shoot in the rain. I also don't have a climate controlled safe but I don't have rust problems from following this cleaning program.

When I lived in New Mexico I did not lube the exterior or weapons at that just attracted dust. The internals were always lubed. BSW

 

[sarduy]

This is my 700 post mark

How often do you oil your rifles-external versus inside parts?

all at the same time, after a range section

 

[tiger rag]

I am in with exar not always nesc. with quality ammo.Somtimes more damage is done in d&A.

 

[possum]

i use grease on the inside and they will be good until teh next time i take them out. if i get deployed or away for an extended period of time then i hit up the inside with a light coating of g 96. and a lot on the outside with the g96