Oil or grease to lube M1 Carbine?

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jrfoxx

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So, I just got my new CMP service grade Saginaw S.G. M1 Carbine yesterday, and it's all good and cleaned up.My queston is, should I lube with oil, grease, or both? The 1942 army field manual mentions oil to lube, but I'm wondering if thats what most feel is best, or if grease is the way to go. Being fairly similar to the Garand, for which grease is universally recomended, it seems like the carbine would want grease too, but its hard to argue with the field manuals, which say grease for Garand, oil for carbine. Any thoughts? I have a wide selecton of oils, and for gease I have a bunch of surplus USGI grease for the Garand. What say you?

If you all give me good answers, I'll reward you with pics as soon as it's lubed and re-assembled.:D

Thanks
 
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I use grease (NAPA lithium grease) on all my guns, including a Garand, AK, AR, 1911, and Glock. It's not my only source of lube, as I also use CLP. Used appropriately, I'm sure your Carbine will be fine with grease.
 
I've used either. I tend to favor grease when it's hot out, and oil when it's cold.

I've used CLP, LSA, and USGI rifle grease on M1 carbines. It worked fine with all of them.

BSW
 
Use oil with M1 Carbines. They fire a low pressure round and use a fairly weak spring. M1 Garands, on the other hand, are designed to use lube in about half a dozen spots.

Don
 
Wonder why the M-1 Garand cleaning kit had that little tube of Lubriplate grease in it then? :rolleyes:

rcmodel
 
I'd suggest grease on the bolt locking lugs and the bolt cam, and oil everywhere else.
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That was preciesly my initial thinking, and why I brought it up, as that was the kind of area I meant as being similar to the Garand, for which grease is used. Just wasnt sure, since the FM says oil, even in those areas, were the Garand FM is pretty specific about using grease there (amongst other spots)

Does kinda sound (and seem based on playing with it for a while now), that either is likely OK. The areas that are a lot like the Garand, are much looser fitting, (or so it feels), thus less friction, and as USSR points out,a lower pressure round and weaker springs also induce less wear too. I think I'll probly go with benEzra's sugestion, as that was along the lines of what seemed to make sense to me too, and I'd think having a little grease where oil would be ok, is better than having oil were grease would be better.

In the end though, it's sounding like either, or both will work fine, and options are always a good thing.

Just wanted to make sure I take care of my new baby.:D
 
I prefer to keep the op-rod raceway in the side of the receiver well greased on a Carbine.

That is a very wear-prone area on the Carbine, and it's no fun to have an op rod jump the track in the middle of a mag!

BTDT!

rcmodel
 
i like teflon impregnated white lithium grease in the areosol can with the red straw attached for reaching in tight places. best part is the only thing to clean is the barrel everything else wipes clean
 
I've been using Tetra grease on any of the reciprocating parts (slide, cam cut, bolt race) with good results. The Tetra is a very light grease and doesn't seem to attract crud like some other lubes.
 
Lubri-Plate, on the high stress areas lugs, bolt and op rod ways , I use a artists paint brush to apply a very small amount then, burnish it in with my fingertip, this removes any excess. Then good old 3in1 oil through a precision oiler that applys very small drops to all the pivot points of the trigger group, and just the slightest amount to the sear etc.
 
I have to at least oil my 1942 M1 carbine's recoil spring.

The little gun will sometimes not push a new cartridge all the way into battery if I don't.

Grease would likely work too. I grease the op-rod and the cam slot, also the receiver groove.

That said, I think my carbine may need a new recoil spring.
 
Oil! I don't use grease of any description on firearms, especially autoloaders.
Click to expand...

M1 Carbines were made to be greased, I use the surplus garand grease that I also use on my garand, you can find a ton of it on ebay for dirt cheap, i have enough to last me a life time and i got it for under $10 Its military rifle grease
 
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