What's the best oil/lube for an O/U

[cervids]

Hi guys first post at THR…glad to be aboard.

I have a couple of questions about taking care of a O/U:

1) what kind of oil/lube you like the best in the barrels?

2) what kind of oil/lube do you like for the rest of the parts i.e., action, hinge, trigger, etc?

Thanks

 

[dpote]

Welcome aboard!
I don't have an O/U, but for the SxS, I prefer Ballistol. It smells yummy!

Dave

 

[sm]

Ballistol here as well.

That said...

I mostly shoot fixed choked shotguns now-a-days.

Screw in Chokes - use a anti seize on threads. RIG+P
Hinge, again RIG+P being a "high pressure area".

STOS (distributed by Poness Warren) is also great for hinge area.
Yes it really is slicker than owl stuff.

Remember, all Browning recommended for Browning shotguns [like Citori] was the tin can of Browning gun oil forever . I know of Citoris with hundreds of thousands of rounds and this is all they ever had used on them.

Also know of Citoris, SKBs, Beretta's, Winchester, Kreighoffs, Perazzi's...etc, and they have ever seen for thousands of thousands, even hundred of thousands of rounds was Ballistol.

Now what you use so much as proper use, inspect, maintain and application.

 

[cervids]

follow up question

Thanks a ton dpote and sm!!! I'm new to owning a nice O/U. I take good care of my 870 but never really gave much thought as to "preserving" it. Are there any special steps for cleaning/lubing a new O/U before shooting? Do you guys recommend any sort of breaking routine like for a new rifle?

I surfed over to the Ballistol website and their product sounds great. However, on their website they suggest using Ballistol on wood. Is this really a good idea; do you guys use Ballistol on your stocks? Or is it more the case that you don't have so worry about the Ballistol's seeping into the stock when you lube the internals?

I googled Rig+P came up with several "interesting" websites, but no vendors. Could you point me in the right direction where to buy this product?

 

[zinj]

The hinge-pin of a double should be greased, white lithium grease is often recommended. You can get it in a tube from any hardware or autoparts store. The grease should be wiped off and reapplied anytime you clean the gun.

 

[dpote]

RIG is short for Rust Inhibiting Grease. You can get it here. Or at local stores. The white grease works well, too.
I don't use the Ballistol on wood, just linseed oil.

Dave

 

[sm]

RIG products are distributed by Silenco.
Sorry, I do not have the bookmark on this computer.

RIG is often carried by most Mom&Pop guns stores and chain stores such as Academy Sports.

White Lithium works fine.

Browning's reasoning for only using the Browning Oil in tin can was - Grease attracts grit, dust, seeds and all. Proper care meant wiping off the debris at hinge ping, breech face with slightly oily rag before putting Citori back into gun case.
Now this Browning oil was really great stuff! It too would not harm wood.
Browning did not want folks using grease, as they had a tendency to not care, inspect, and maintain. Just left the grease on hinge pin. Wear accelerated with grit, working like a lapping compound with the grease.

Grease is pretty much nothing else but a "soap" compound with oil -"soap" hold the oil longer.

Ballistol we used forever. Then Mom&Pop stores started going out, either from dying , retirement or whatever. NewFangled box stores started selling guns and NewFangled wonder lubes.

Ballistol around here, stopped being in these NewFangled stores.

Cancer, folks with or with families with those with Cancer, and Kids is why I went back to using Ballistol. These folks asked, and I had forgotten about Ballistol until Lee Lapin reminded me [Duh].

Then again one lady has a Beretta O/U the Beretta oil is great, "cute" and "pretty" dispenser and it "fits" in a place in gun case.
She had ordered more Beretta oil...

Hoppe's Lubricating oil in the orange bottle is what she has been using of late.
It is "there" with the Hoppe's No.9 solvent and ...she just wipes down and removes debris. 500 rds or so, she cleans the chambers, and re-lubes. 2000 rds stock taken off metal and "innards" cleaned.

Hey, she did not want to use up all her cute pretty bottle of Beretta gun oil that fits in a slot in the case. Makes perfect sense to me.

When the orange bottle is empty, she will most likley refill with Ballistol.
The Beretta oil is great, just..."its a girl thing to accessorize"

Same reason another lady has Kreigoff oil and shoots a Krieghoff...rarely uses Krieghoff oil , and uses Ballistol.
"It matches my gun"
Yep...keep the matching bottle in the case...

Best kept secret for a lube. Dexcron II Automatic Transmission Fluid
Semi-Autos for sure, works just as well for pumps, single shots, SxS and O/U

We would buy a quart for 25 cents and everyone filled up little bottles or used Lighter fluid bottles.
We still do this...just dang hard to find ATF for two bits anymore.

FWIW, the tin can of Browning Gun Oil brings as much as $65 to a collector.
the tin can of Hoppe's Lubricating oil - up to $45.

If I had known then what I know now...We used to buy Browning Gun oil by the cases, and give to kids , new shooters for introducing them to shooting, or coming to visit the ranges.

Come out and shoot, eat hot dogs, lemonade all free, including free Safety Glasses , Ear Plugs and Tin of Browning Gun oil.

I "are" getting old...

 

[RNB65]

I use the same thing as I use on any other gun. A little Mobil 1 synthetic grease on the hinge pin and B-F CLP on other metal surfaces. My Browning O/U locks up as tight today as it did the day I bought it 10+ years and 15-20,000 rounds ago.

 

[huntershooter]

I use same as RNB. Have had success with lithium grease on hinge pin as well.

 

[LHB1]

My Browning Citori Lightning O/U's (20 ga. Grade V, 12 ga. Grade III) get treated with:
1. Barrels cleaned with Shooters Choice Bore Cleaner on brass brush and then dried with patches and wool mop.
2. Barrel joints and movable surfaces lightly oiled with FP-10.
3. Briley choke tube threads get treated with Briley tube lube.
4. Outside of barrels, action wiped lightly with RustPrufe dampened cloth.

As someone else said, my Citori's are still tight and look like new. They were bought about 18 years ago.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[cervids]

thanks to all. this is a great forum.

 

[ARCQB]

I currently use "Pro-Gold" grease on hinge pin/ejector on the O/U, and Klenzoil on every other part.

For the Semi-Autos; I have tried "Slide Glide" and Benelli Oil. No hang ups if I apply it correctly.

I'm still learning myself.... The new guy.

 

[mswestfall]

I took my Citori to Browning at an ATA shoot for a new firing pin. When I got it back they'd put more lubricant on it than I ever have. They put white grease on the forearm latch and the hinge pin and enough oil on everything else to run off.

I've used a whole lot of different oils and greases. My newest is US Military, LOS; Lubricant Oil Semifluid.

I think the more important issue is to use the correct amount. I've heard that you don't have enough unless your glasses have spray on them after the first few shots. I've also heard that you should put on enough to cover but not enough to sag/run. I trend toward the second idea.