What's the Latest on MILITEC 1?

[Confederate]

Seems like this lubricant has taken on almost mythic proportions, almost like BreakFree did when it was in its heyday. But I've gone through past threads and posts and seen mostly passing statements about it.

How does MILITEC-1 compare to other gun lubricants on the market? Is it suitable only for lubrication, or can it be used also for cleaning? How well does it prevent leading and is there anything out there better? And how about the price? Twenty-five dollars for 16 ozs. seems a tad high, though buying it in bulk it can be had for as little as $13.

There also used to be varying "grades," but this seems like it was mostly hype. Now there's just one grade.

Finally, how good is the grease? Can one generally get by with just the lube without the grease?

Thanks!

Oh...one more thing. I almost forgot. What's with all the political stuff about being invited and univited to the 2007 Infantry Warfighting Conference? There seems to be an ongoing fued with the government.


MILITEC-1 treated weapons have been tested and proven to be more accurate, deliver higher muzzle velocity with the same load, and show decreased wear at all critical wear points. Also, the weapons subjectively "feel" better in blind tests.

MILITEC-1 has a very low evaporation rate and will not dry out and "disappear" like MilSpec CLP. Firearms remain properly lubricated for a much longer period of time. In fact, MILITEC-1-treated firearms can even be taken out of extended storage and fired immediately with no additional care. It seems to be an unfortunate but unavoidable fact of life that the proper care of weapons is sometimes ignored. MILITEC-1’s long-term lubricating potential helps guard against this eventuality and will allow even badly neglected weapons to fire without jamming. After proper application with MILITEC-1 insures that a weapon will fire properly first time, every time.

MILITEC-1 makes firearms much easier to clean. Since MILITEC-1 seals metal surfaces, fouling and other residue do not build up as quickly. In most cases, a weapon can simply be wiped clean with little effort. This saves a lot of time and frustration and makes cleaning almost fun.

MILITEC-1 is ideal for firearms that are exposed to harsh weather conditions. After proper application, a light coat of MILITEC-1 is highly corrosion resistant—approximately three times more effective in preventing rust than MilSpec CLP. This will cut down on damage caused by damp weather, and makes MILITEC-1 especially useful for firearms carried on motorcycles, bicycles or boats.

 

[Black Knight]

At my Department of the Army Police force, my shift uses Militec-1 almost exclusively. It is the only lube I use at home and at work. I'm one of my department's armorers (firearm repairmen). It will saturate the pores of the metal over time and due to the heat of firing will bond to the steel. We also use it on weapons we send with soldiers over seas. We had one treated with it that went over and came back about 18 months later (fired but not cleaned). My job was to clean it and check it for function. The pistol cleaned up very well quickly with little effort. We like it.

 

[PPGMD]

Militec is a metal conditioner, not a lube. It can be used as a wet lube, but it will bake into the metal as you fire the weapon.

Right now I am expirmenting with a grease, and might give the Militec-1 grease a try when I run out of my current grease.

As far as being a little expensive, a 4 oz bottle will likely last you 2 years if you clean two guns a week. Many only do application procedure every 1,000 rounds because after it's baked on it's a dry lube that only needs to be renewed every 1,000 to 2,000 rounds.

 

[Confederate]

Sounds pretty good.

The thing I hate most is leading. If it will reduce that, I'm with Jack Benny, "I'll take a gallon!"

I do need a lubricant for some of my autos. I'm using some black stuff in a tube that I got years ago. Still haven't used it all.

 

[ZeSpectre]

If you feel like wading through it all you can go to this thread over on "The firing line" read about my adventure with Militec-1, a challenge by another manufacturer, and the end result of my testing.

If you want the "cliff notes" version of my opinion it is this. Militec-1 seems to have excellent lubricating properties, is not really a cleaner by itself, and seems to be pretty weak protection against corrosion.

Personally I've switched over to Weapon Shield and been sticking with it so far.

 

[Valkman]

"Weapon Shield"? Isn't Fennel the guy that made FP-10? What happened to that stuff? It was supposed to be the wonder lube so I bought a bunch and my Uzi and AR both run dry with it - and it doesn't take long. My XD's and 1911's run fine with whatever but I need something more for those 2.

 

[PPGMD]

Militec-1 is not a cleaning agent, it wasn't designed to be one, because if you are a jack of all trades you are a master of none. It was designed exclusively to be a lubrication agent when used as a metal conditioner.

I looked at Weaponshield but I don't see any user lists, nor do I see any independent testing. So I am a bit wary, Militec is a know quantity I likely won't get any surprises down the road from it.

 

[XDKingslayer]

I got a bottle of Militec and it now sits on my shelf collecting dust. I didn't see anything fancy about it.

The application instructions are flat out retarted. Shoot the gun, clean the gun, lube with militec, then shoot it to get it up to temp. to let the Militec do it's job.

First, I just got done cleaning the darn thing, now I have to shoot it again to get this stuff to work? Insert circle of stupidity here.

Second, shooting it so it soaks into the metal? Taking with it what contamination from shooting it to get it to soak into the metal?
Insert second circle of stupidity here.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't have guns made out of that porous metal that the snake oil soaks into.

I tried Militec-1 used as a conventional oil and with the heat by shooting and heat in oven rituals and could see no particular advantage. I will likely mix it with the remainder of my big can of milsurp oil (predating CLP or LSA) because it was originally offered as a lube additive anyhow.

As the one champion said, my favorite lube is the one they gave out free samples of at the last match.

 

[PPGMD]

I don't have guns made out of that porous metal that the snake oil soaks into.

You must have a gun made of Unobtainium then. Because the surface of all metals are not perfect, not even guns treated with a process like Tennifer.

Also you don't have to clean lube, shoot, lube, right after each other, you can apply to it faster. But you can apply it at your own schedule, it just takes three lubings with Militec 1 before you can it's suggested that you go dry (if you are planning to use it as a dry lube).

 

[NORTEXED]

From an older post of mine:

"I got a trial sample of MiliTec 1 through their website a couple of years ago, and the first thing I tried it on was my CRKT M-16 knife. I followed the clean with a degreaser, warm with a blow dryer, apply Militec and let set, and wipe dry procedure. Several weeks after applying it, I lost the knife. I really missed that knife, for almost a year, and low and behold, while cleaning a pistol one day, I found it in the bottom of the gun cleaning box (a large tackle box converted to cleaning kit). I was happy to see my knife, but also amazed to find a bottle of cold blue had leaked in the bottom of the cleaning kit and a lot of stuff in the bottom was rusty (that stuff is corrosive big time). The knife however, was untouched, not a flek of rust anywhere. I started through the safe completely dissass. everything and treating . I have been very pleased with the rust protection as well as smooth operation of everything treated with MiliTec."

 

[Confederate]

I don't think the MILITEC-1 people say their lube "soaks" into the metal, but rather "bonds" with it. And there are a lot of people who report that after firing any given number of rounds through their barrels, that the lands and grooves still seem to have some residue of lubricant remaining, and that would be good, if true.

I, too, have tried BreakFree, hoping it would stay between the steel and the powder and lead. Alas, it didn't. Velocity of bullets increased during the first four to six rounds, but after that, all traces of the miracle lube seemed to have been blown out the other end! People also report that cleaning afterwards is easier after using MILITEC-1.

So if the stuff would keep a dirty autoloader firing longer, keep it easier to clean, and increase bullet velocity for a significant time, it would be worth it. If not, it may as well be snake oil.

Regarding the M16 knife, bluing generally doesn't have much effect, if any, on stainless steel, and CRKT is using some pretty lower grade steels, like AUS4 and AUS6, but even an AUS8 knife shouldn't show much corrosion. And the liner material even less.

 

[Confederate]

Okay, I just finished reading through ZeSpectre's excellent review of the lubes, including Gunzilla, and I'd love to try WeaponShield. Now where can I buy it? The only place I could find wanted eighteen bucks for a 16 oz. bottle and eight bucks to ship it. Is anyone selling this stuff in Maryland (like Wal*Mart), or is it available in quantity prices like MILITEC?

 

[ZeSpectre]

You used to be able to order direct. Apparently now it's just via Olympic Arms. That's a little dissapointing. I bet if you called SteelShield that you can still order from them direct (800-390-1535). I will agree that $8.00 for shipping is a total rip!

I will tell you though that a 16oz bottle will last a LONG time. I bought mine on 6/4/2007 (8 months ago) and I shoot and clean a lot and the bottle still has maybe a little less than 13oz left. (easy to keep track with the 1oz needle oiler I use). That translates out to about 4.5oz of product used for a year (or in other words about 3.5 years to use a 16oz bottle).

I put it into a needle dropper and I would estimate that cleaning a really dirty gun takes about 10-30 drops total to do everything.

My local hardware store carries the 30ml (1oz) "squeeze jet"
(number 02011)

with the 18ga metal "needle" tips
(part 90286)

and the safety tip to go on the end when not in use
(part S18GN2)


It works great and I get no waste!

 

[Confederate]

Thanks, Ze. I'll call tomorrow. It helps if places sell other products so one isn't just ordering a bottle of something. You sure this isn't something some guy isn't mixing up in his garage? And, seriously, next to WeaponShield, what's your next favorite? (I agree that BreakFree just doesn't make it.)

 

[ZeSpectre]

George Fennell (the creator of FP-10 and now Weaponshield) has a long history that I looked into when he first came to my attention about 12 months ago and I was saying "who the hell is this guy and what is this product he keeps going on about" (probably the same thing folks say about me now).

My second favorite lubricant? Probably Militec-1. I still think M-1 is a good lubricant, just lousy protection against corrosion.

 

[Confederate]

Well, I spoke to Russle Logan at MILITEC today and it seems that there's some kind of a "history" between Mr. Fennel and MILITEC. Just what that is, I don't know, but the name elicited an immediate response. From what I've been able to find out outside any personal hard feelings between the two, MILITEC seems to be much more widely used, has won enthusiastic responses from military, federal, police, and competitive circles, is easy to buy, readily shipped and insured in its performance. A large number of very expensive and extensive collections are lubricated and maintained using only MILITEC-1, including two very expensive Beretta shotguns housed at the NRA Musuem, Logan said. He also claims to have in excess of 30,000 individual, and wildly enthusiastic communications from service and law enforcement personnel concerning MILITEC-1.

WeaponShield, on the other hand, seems to be available only from two sources, the manufacturer and Olympic Arm Owners Association. It comes in 4 oz. and 16 oz. bottles and shipping is eight dollars for any quantity. A case of 12 costs $203.88 + $8.00, which brings it to about $17.66 a bottle in bulk. Otherwise, the price is about $18 + $8, which brings a 16 oz. bottle to about $26, shipped. Quite a price difference.

WeaponShield may very well be worth the difference providing:

1. Whatever additive WS uses to protect the gun against corrosion doesn't attract particles which could interfere with the functioning of the gun; and,

2. The formulation is exactingly consistent.

Even now, I'm tempted to try some WeaponShield, but the price difference isn't the only thing. Do a Google search and you turn up NOTHING on WS. No reviews, no independent tests. If it weren't for Ze's excellent review, I wouldn't even be considering it. Yet when I put in "Militec," dozens of references pop up, the overwhelming number seemingly glowing.

To be perfectly honest, while lubrication is very important, I want the steel surfaces of my guns to be protected, too. It may be easy to "set" a lube in a desert, but where can one find a hairdryer in the woods? If we were fighting in Viet Nam today, would the praise be as enthusiastic as it is today? Not if rust was breaking out in critical areas!

I also tried calling BreakFree today to see if they have anything to add or to find out if they'd changed their formulation significantly over the last several years. (I've still got a bottle of it and it's really messy stuff.) Still, when it came out, it was touted as a real miracle lube.

Not knowing anything about WeaponShield, except that they make it themselves, I don't know how consistent their formula is, whether they're making it in bathtubs or vats or what. Unfortunately, samples only are good for the short term, yet I'm impressed that they resist corrosion whereas MILITEC-1 only claims to when "set" with a hair dryer.

Does anyone else have any experience with WeaponShield?

 

[ZeSpectre]

Yeah I understand that there is some "history" between the Militec folks and the Weaponshield folks. Can't say much more there as I don't know.

As for the product history, I think Weaponshield is -just- over a year old. As I understand it George had built a company out of FP-10 and then fell prey to a hostile takeover or something of the sort which hit at the same time he was having some serious health issues. After all the entanglements were over he started over with a new formula (Weaponshield) that he's trying to get off the ground.

This thread over at TFL illustrates his efforts to get things up and running.

My entire affiliation with George is laid out in my posts from beginning to now and basically I know him from my review thread and the fact that I really like how his product works on my guns. Beyond that I can't say much more and I certainly understand the caution surrounding a new product.

Cheers
Ze

 

[ZeSpectre]

double tap deleted

 

[Valkman]

While Fennell still had FP-10 he had a forum devoted to it, and yes he used to bash Militec quite a bit. I felt I had to choose one and chose FP-10, and bought a 3-pack of it. Still have a bunch, never have thought it was that great so I'm hesitant to embrace the new stuff. Never know though, might wind up trying it!

 

[Rustynuts]

FP-10 and Militec both suck for corrosion. Take a look at this test. FP-10 is blown out in the various tests. The final long term test shows them all. Eezox is the best for corrosion. Use it, then lube as normal.

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

 

[Confederate]

Well, what is good for corrosion? Let's say a guy has a blued rifle and gets an early start hunting. The morning mist rolls in, what should he have on his gun? Or someone lives near a beach or near a salt water environment and needs to protect his service revolver or shotgun?

Is BreakFree the way to go? Or would a good wax do the trick? I'm not that fond of grease and BreakFree CLP has always claimed to be a put on, wipe off type of a product.

Oh, and I was going to ask about Blue Wonder, or something like that. That's a cleaner. How good is that? Or is Hoppes still the best?

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Weapon Shield 4oz 8 dollars MidwayUSA.com

Steel Shield Weapon Shield Gun Oil 4 oz Liquid - Product #: 220438
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=220438

I like FP10 and Weapon Shield but I find there is no universal lubricant for all environments. I'll use oil for a carry gun and grease for a high round count exercise, match, or class. Grease for the trunnions and locking lugs of a break action gun - I've used a variety of things on lockwork including Iskendarian new cam lube for a high pressure lube with lots of moly.

Dave Berryhill has been promising a new wonder lube real soon now for a long time - the issue is apparently packaging among other things and Hilton Yam sells a wonder lube. I've used Wilson oil and grease as they shipped with a pistol and have no problem. I find FP10 and Weapon Shield easier to buy in larger but not large economy size quantities. I don't use enough to sweat the price. I've used Militec 1 when I had some with no complaints but bother to chase it down only for extreme environments.

Slide Glide from Brian Enos on a 1911 for summer temperatures in the high desert and almost nothing for cold soak winter temperatures in the high desert - nothing like grease on the firing pin of even a Mauser 98 when it gets really cold to slow things down - cold and dust call for a surface treatment and a dryer firearm. No question Militec 1 has a track record for working in extreme environments where other products suffer - I'm not sure the advantage Militec offers in extreme environments carries over to night stand guns and safe queens.

I also find that wax does a better job of protection than anything else for hunting in wet neighborhoods - including reducing water in the wood around the barrel in the forend - where the firearm is handled. I still use RIG for storage.

 

[Soybomb]

So for all you "militec is amazing, it whitened my teeth while I was shooting" guys, I have to ask what criteria has convinced you that it is a good lube? This is the only thing that I've seen that resembles any sort of test of lubricating ability and personally I've never seen any difference. Personally I'm switching to cheap stuff. I just bought a $7 tub of mobil 1 synthetic grease that should last me until I die. The pink color isn't the most masculine thing on a gun but I'll make do
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cach...tog.org&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us&client=opera

Got bored because it has rained all day, so I decided to do some testing of oils & greases I had on hand. While not scientific, it did show some surprising results, to me at least.

Method:
>1/4" aluminum rod chucked in lathe and spun at 1,500 RPM.
>1/4" x 1" steel bar on a pivit riding on rod, on edge.
>4 pound NRA trigger weight set hanging on end of steel bar, 12" from aluminum rod. (4 ft/pd pressure on rod?)
>Spun in lathe until galding on aluminum rod caused noticable chatter.
>New section of rod used for each test.
> Lubed as follows:

Remington DriLube Spray= 2.37 sec.
Militec-1 oil applied 3x, heated, and wiped off each time = 3.48 sec. **
Dry, run with no lube = 3.97 sec.
Militec-1 oil applied wet and left wet, over 3x treated surface = 5.73 sec. **
Red Lithium automotive grease = 8.68 sec. *
Pro-Gold gun grease = 10.37 sec.
Militec-1 grease applied over 3x treated surface = 10.52 sec. ***
GI issue CLP = 12.62 sec.
RCBS case sizing lube (STP?) = 13.20 sec.
30w motor oil = 15.93 sec.
Lubriplate (M1 Garand) grease = 25.12 sec.
Vasaline = 1 min. 31.38 sec.
Outers Gunslick Graphite grease = 2 min. 52.93 sec.
RemOil w/Teflon gun oil/bottle = 3 min 6.99 sec.

I'm not sure what all this means, but there it is!


rcmodel

PS> I'm staying with Outers Gunslick Graphite grease because it performed almost as well as RemOil, and much better then anything else I tested. But being a grease, it won't run off, and will stay where I put it.
rcmodel

* Edited to add Lithium grease on 6-29-05

** Edited 7-6-05 to add Militec-1 oil. (Militec-1 Oil applied & heated with heat gun, wiped, applied again and heated, wiped, applied again, heated, and wiped.

*** Edited 7-6-05 to add Militec-1 grease applied over Militec-1 oil treated surface with three coatings.

 

[Rustynuts]

Well, what is good for corrosion? Let's say a guy has a blued rifle and gets an early start hunting. The morning mist rolls in, what should he have on his gun? Or someone lives near a beach or near a salt water environment and needs to protect his service revolver or shotgun?

Read the corrosion link. Best performer was Eezox, CLP was pretty good also. Eezox is NOT an oil or grease, it's a treatment. I use it after a good cleaning. I generally follow it with CLP overall with wipe down, AND Tetra gun grease on all sliding surfaces. For wipe downs while hunting, etc., I would get one of those silicone cloths.