Oil or grease to lubricate the slide?

[tactikel]

My XD-45 went 4500 rounds with no jams. I applied some expensive grease to the rails to slow down wear. I began to experienced failures to come to battery, I removed the grease and went back to CLP. Then shot 900 rounds with no problems this summer.

 

[TMCCOY]

I like a light grease like the tetra; http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-F004B1i-Gun-Grease/dp/B0014VVNZU

 

[TRX]

Oil. A lot of greases consist of solids in a carrier base; the carrier base can dry out, leaving a chunky mess behind.

Back in the old days some cars came with the window mechanisms lubricated with white lithium grease. Worked fine when new. In a year or two it was basically chalk after it dried out. Not what you want in a gun. And the carriers in some synthetic greases will also dry out.

You don't have to clean old oil out of a gun; just add another drop or two when it seems appropriate.

Graphite is an excellent gun lubricant, but too messy for most people to put up with.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Field strip & clean....

I just went over my 03 Glock .45acp 13rd magazines & the Glock 21 .45acp gen 04 pistol with my Glock armorer tool & some FrogLube.
I took apart the Glock magazines with my GTUL & cleaned out the older Ballistol, crud, lint.
I didn't use a lot of FrogLube & wiped off the excess.

Rusty

 

[Blue Brick]

Molly Lube

 

[kokapelli]

Even on sunday, just got my favorite delivered.

 

[toivo]

Automobile engines put enormously more pressure on parts than any gun does and I am not aware of any auto engine that uses grease

True, but I don't know of any guns that have a lubricating system that circulates the oil, either.

 

[Drail]

If you put the oil in the right places when the gun is torn down the oil doesn't need to be circulated. A little bit will blow back off the upper lugs but for the most part it stays where you put it.

 

[kokapelli]

Yes I agree. My guns are not dry when I take them down after shooting.

 

[longknife12]

My SIG rep recommended a synthetic grease on slide. I use a syn caliper grease with zero problems.
Dan

 

[olm911]

Automobile engines put enormously more pressure on parts than any gun does and I am not aware of any auto engine that uses grease

Gunzilla for everything on pistols works great.

wheel bearings rotate and as far as I know they are all lubed with grease, so so much for that.

True as that may be grease seems to stay put on a sliding surface better than an oil would. I expect grease is used on wheel bearings for just that reason. the heat and centrifugal force would tend to draw oil away from the inner surfaces of the bearing leaving them starved for lubrication.

 

[kokapelli]

I would agree that retaining a lubricant on a spinning surface like a wheel bearing would be more difficult with oil.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Grease on the slide rails of aluminum frames with full length rails, oil on the small rails of polymer-framed. SIG-Sauer specifically recommends grease on the frame rails of their metal pistols. Oil everywhere else.

 

[vaalpens]

I use Slide Glide grease and I am happy with it. It is more difficult to clean after shooting, but I think it is worth while. I am in Phoenix and especially this time of the year I use heavy Slide Glide on my SP2022, and the standard Slide Glide on my P229. After shooting for one or two hours in 100+ degree heat, my Sig's are still greased, so it must be working.

 

[CWL]

I've used oil, grease, moly based and dry lubes, you name it an I probably have a tube, tub, bottle, sprayer, wipes or can of it. I don't believe I've ever had a failure with any lube on a firearm.

Aside from endless discussion on gun forums, All modern lubes will work fine on all of your firearms. Everything else is just marketing hype. Whatever you choose to use, it's the right choice.

 

[dprice3844444]

i use amsoil synthetic heavy duty water proof wheel bearing grease.

 

[AKElroy]

Shooters choice "high-tech" gun grease. $5, comes in a handy syringe; a little backward tug on the plunger after use keeps it from leaking in my range bag. With maybe a match-head sized dab taking care of both rails, hundreds of cleanings later I can hardly tell I've used any.

 

[C0untZer0]

I used to love lubrication threads

Now it's hard to get excited about them

Grant Cunningham's article:

http://www.grantcunningham.com/lubricants101.html

Corrosion tests:

http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

For people who like to mix their own stuff up:

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm

I like Lubriplate:

 

[Vonderek]

I have used both and it doesn't seem to matter. I think there is way too much worry on this subject.

 

[DeepSouth]

The safe guns that don't get carried just trips to the range........ Oil
The carry guns that have to stay in the truck while I'm at work.... Oil in the winter.... Grease in the summer

 

[Eb1]

+1 Vonderek

 

[MagnunJoe]

Break free is all I use in all my guns. Never had a problem and never had any rust, and I live in south Florida, where is hot and humid 300 days per year.

 

[sauer1911]

I have greases, oils, mixed grease and copper anti-seize, oil mixed with thick STP and ATF.

Very inexpensive, synthetic bases.

I really dont think it matters which you use, just use it.

be safe.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

I love a good "oil vs. grease" conversation! Some people like gun oil (from dozens of companies), and others like grease (from conventional gun-grease to bacon fat).

I've always used oil on everything...but only because I don't keep any gun grease on hand. Plus, I soak up all my bacon grease with white bread and top it with an over-easy egg. I don't recommend using the egg for anything other than a breakfast staple.

 

[C0untZer0]

I've slathered the grease on my 17L, when I pulled the trigger the grease splattered on my hand.

Ran like a champ.