Lube!!!!

[Erik]

For the benefit of some who are very stingy about their lubrication:

The other day a student was struggling with failures chamber a round. So we went through the usual check list. He assured me that he had appropriately oiled his pistol in the not too distant past. The problem was, upon inspection it was bone dry. No sign of lubrication what so ever. It may as well have been recently degreased. "Appropriately" turned out to two very small drops of oil on the rails the last time he cleaned the gun, some months ago.

He reacted to my fairly liberal application of oil to his pistol by shaking his head and telling me how too much oil is a bad thing.

His gun ran fine afterward.

 

[FieroCDSP]

It kinda depends on the lube, but there are times when you need a lot more. Then again, there are only a few oils that I find work on my slides. I prefer grease for those. I've started using Weapon Shield and am very impressed, not only with the cleaning, but the lubricating properties of it.

Besides, give the guy a break, he's new.

 

[possum]

yeah it is one of those things i would rather have too much than not enough.

 

[possum]

yeah it is one of those things i would rather have too much than not enough.

 

[TimboKhan]

I'm going to be the jerkwad here and say that you guys are nuts. I don't advocate running a gun dry, but there is very definitely such a thing as too much, and it isn't very much at all. A couple of drops is not too much; a couple of tablespoons is. I don't use oil at all in favor of graphite grease, but I really would rather have a dry gun than an overlubed one, if for no other reason that it isn't nearly as messy to shoot and clean thereafter.

 

[scout26]

Moderation in all things.

There is a correct amount (and even kind of lube) for each firearm and certain parts. Teach and learn.

 

[Erik]

"I'm going to be the jerkwad here and say that you guys are nuts."

Nuts for fixing a dry gun by applying enough lubrication for ensure proper functioning?

Fine, then I'm nuts.

 

[Erik]

Scout is correct of course, but when in doubt, a little more is usually better than not enough.

And there are lots of shooters apparently "in doubt," which is why trainers have seemingly endless supplies of "I added oil and it worked" stories.

 

[TimboKhan]

Well, you don't say how much you used. I assume you used an approriate amount, which is fine and decidedly not nuts. If, on the other hand, you used half a bottle of CLP, then yes, you are nuts. A properly maintained gun does not need to glisten like a Mr. Olympia competitor to function, as I am sure you will agree.

 

[torpid]

I've seen more issues with underlubed guns than overlubed.

I love RIG+P

 

[TimboKhan]

I've seen more issues with underlubed guns than overlubed

I swear I am not trying to be contrary just to be contrary here, but my experience has been exactly the opposite. In Desert Storm and Somalia both, excessive lubing lead to lots of grit and grime in the action, to the point of stoppages. This was also the case when we shot at 29 Palms. Granted, it didn't happen in massive numbers, but it did happen.

I am not an instructor by any stretch, but I have been around the block some and I can count on exactly no fingers the number of times I have seen a gun not function because it is dry. I can count on several fingers the number of times I have seen a gun not function because of the effects of overlubing.

Still, keep in mind, I am NOT advocating running yours, mine, or anyone elses gun dry: I am just saying that a little goes a long, long way.

 

[bogie]

Bolt, etc., gets a little light oil. Bolt lugs get high pressure grease. On an auto, the rails get high pressure grease. Trigger groups get a regular flush with naptha.

 

[fastbolt]

Well, I'd be much closer to retirement if I had a dollar for every bone-dry pistol I've seen malfunction during a qualification course of fire over the years.

I've had my fair share of folks exhibit reactions ranging from disbelief, to annoyance, to betrayal (like it's the gun's fault), to abject total mystification when I added some lubrication to their DRY pistol ... (and especially to a DIRTY/DRY pistol ) ... and immediately restored the pistol to normal functioning.

I've also seen my fair share of folks who seem to think that as long as you can see a 'drop' of oil with a strong magnifying glass, in good light, that their pistol is properly lubricated, too. :banghead:

I've reminded folks that I won't be available to bring a bottle of lubricant to their unscheduled, unexpected shooting situation ...

Granted, I've also had to resolve many 'problems' created by excessive solvents & lubricants having been placed where they shouldn't be, as well ... but that's another story.

 

[Trebor]

My rule of thumb:

Dry and clean will usually run OK

Dry and dirty will NOT run OK

Wet and clean will always run OK

Wet and dirty will almost always run OK.

I wish I could remember who I stole that idea from, but I've found that it works when I run classes.