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Feb 12th, 2024
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 Grease vs oil
#6546053
11/16/16 02:42 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 991
Kevin1
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Can you help me understand how and why people use grease? I typically use Ballistol and recently switched to Hornady One Shot TAP ( https://www.midwayusa.com/product/925397...-1-2-oz-aerosol). The Hornady product is a dry lube and its rust prevention capabilities are superior to Ballistol. I think that my handguns, AR, and bolt guns are well served with just the Hornady product. So here’s the question: I have never used any gun grease. Have I been missing anything?
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546062
11/16/16 02:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657 |
are you using or for storage?
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546070
11/16/16 02:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 991
Kevin1
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For both. My guns are in a safe inside the house and all of them gets shot at least once a year. I never had any rust problem by just using Ballistol and the Hornady is even more performant in that department.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546077
11/16/16 03:00 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,422
jeffbird
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For a bolt rifle, grease on the bolt, rails and bolt lugs for actually using it. Just a touch, a little on metal to metal surfaces is all that is needed.
The grease prevents galling on the face of the bolt lugs after firing pushes the bolt back.
For storage, inside of the barrel is the most critical surface to protect. Oil on a patch is the easiest to apply on that surface.
Just make sure to clean the oil out before firing the first round, as oil inside the barrel can cause bulges inside of the barrel.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546083
11/16/16 03:03 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,774
Gone to Texas
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That Hornady stuff if great, I need to get some after I use up all my Ballistol.
Grease is great for storing firearms for a long period of time. There are different types like packing greese and grease meant to lube the the firearm while in use.
I mainly use oil but I have a syringe bottle of military greese/lube that I use to put drops on the rails of my bolts and shotguns.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546084
11/16/16 03:04 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,193
Korean Redneck
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I only used oil for a long while. Last couple years we got a couple ar's and I concluded that I was running them too dry, especially the bcg. So on the two ar's I started using grease, as opposed to heavily oiling, and haven had an issue since. Do I think grease was the only way to go? No, but this works for us now so I continue to run with it.
To me it comes down more to how it's applied than whether oil or grease is vastly superior to one or the other.
I'm a dude who likes long barrels!
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546097
11/16/16 03:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,158
J.G.
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I never use grease. I've seen too many shooters use it in dirty conditions, and it turns to a gross paste. Only oil for mine.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546114
11/16/16 03:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,934
ChadTRG42
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I've never used the Hornady OS stuff. I'm sure it will do fine. As a dry lube, that's a huge plus. I see grease used a lot in bench rest. I've seen some tactical shooters use grease on their bolts and action raceways, and it collects dust and dirt easily. With a chamber open and a little wind with a rifle on the ground, it will collect some dirt and start grinding the bolt when closing. The grease feels good and works, but I'm not a fan of grease because of the dirt in the field.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546280
11/16/16 05:01 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 645
7x57
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You should be using both for different purposes.
Grease doesn't dry as quickly as oil, so it is generally better for long term things and as mentioned it prevents wear on heavier use portions like rails, races, lugs, etc.
Depending on whether I'm going to be out in the field or not, I will smear the grease lighter to prevent the issues pointed out. Over greasing will just make a mess and gunk up a gun, as will over oiling. I haven't had too many problems myself and find oil collects dust just as easily if the situation is really that dire but that's just me.
I grease the rails and races of my carry weapons, use spray oil very lightly on the trigger group and springs. Oil on the patches down barrels. Clean them maybe once a month to prevent any build up. Use a compressor to spray out any old lubes.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546665
11/16/16 09:17 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499
charlesb
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On a bolt action rifle, I use grease on the bolt's cocking cam. This will be located near the rear of the bolt. The angled surface that you see here is the cocking cam on my Winchester model 70's bolt. The rear of the firing pin rides on this cam when you open the bolt, cocking the rifle.  When it comes up all of the way, it is held in a little detent, pictured here.  When you push the bolt in and lock it, the firing pin is held back by the sear, as the bolt rotates so that it is suspended above the deepest part of the cam. - You pull the trigger, and it snaps forward to pop off the round in the chamber. This cam greatly benefits from a dab of grease along the length of the camming surface. Your bolt will open more smoothly, and wear is reduced. Since this part is rarely exposed to the elements, dust has to be pretty bad to be a problem there. A dry cocking cam will eventually gall, and oil does not stay there nearly as well as grease will. That's the only place that I apply grease on a bolt action rifle, other spots to be lubricated get oil, or in some cases dry-moly lubricant.
Last edited by charlesb; 11/16/16 09:22 PM.
Kind regards, charlesb
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546752
11/16/16 10:04 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,088
Creedmoor
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If anyone uses an O/U shotgun they should be greased in the "joint" ... never oiled. I've seen many galled by using oil instead of grease.
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There's a fine line between BRAVE ... and STUPID.
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6546794
11/16/16 10:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,394
booradley
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I used to put a lot of time and effort in to using the best lubricants. I had numerous products I used, oil and grease. For around five years now I've used Breakfree CLP for everything and am happy with the results. If I had a SxS or O/U I'd have some grease for the reason mentioned by Creedmoor.
Don’t roll those bloodshot eyes at me.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: charlesb]
#6546817
11/16/16 10:41 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251
Texas Dan
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On a bolt action rifle, I use grease on the bolt's cocking cam. This will be located near the rear of the bolt. The angled surface that you see here is the cocking cam on my Winchester model 70's bolt. The rear of the firing pin rides on this cam when you open the bolt, cocking the rifle. When it comes up all of the way, it is held in a little detent, pictured here. When you push the bolt in and lock it, the firing pin is held back by the sear, as the bolt rotates so that it is suspended above the deepest part of the cam. - You pull the trigger, and it snaps forward to pop off the round in the chamber. This cam greatly benefits from a dab of grease along the length of the camming surface. Your bolt will open more smoothly, and wear is reduced. Since this part is rarely exposed to the elements, dust has to be pretty bad to be a problem there. A dry cocking cam will eventually gall, and oil does not stay there nearly as well as grease will. That's the only place that I apply grease on a bolt action rifle, other spots to be lubricated get oil, or in some cases dry-moly lubricant. Thanks!
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6547108
11/17/16 02:20 AM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,516
RiverRider
THF Trophy Hunter
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I do as Charles does on the cocking cam, but I also use a bit of grease on locking lugs. A little bit goes a long way.
I've bought into the notion an AR bolt needs to be liberally oiled, but I still use a very small amount of Tetra Gun fluoropolymer grease to lubricate the locking lugs. It sets up as a dry lube.
A trick I learned a long time ago is to use Hoppe's Gun Grease for exteriior preservation. I take a baby food or pimento jar and squeeze about a three-inch long bird turd of grease into it, then fill it about 2/3 full of acetone or lacquer thinner and shake it up good to get the grease dissolved. Then I'll cram a 10" x 10" flannel rag into it and let it soak up all the solution. Take the rag out and let the acetone or lacquer thinner evaporate, and now you have a nice rag impregnated with Hoppe's Gun Grease. I use the rag to wipe down all the exterior parts of a gun, and it works like a champ. No rust, no corrosion, and it's such a light coat of grease that it does not attract or collect dust and dirt. It just protects.
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6547215
11/17/16 03:43 AM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,092
HandyMan91
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love the hoppe's grease rag trick , will be using it.
The only thing flat earthers have to fear is sphere itself
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6547372
11/17/16 11:02 AM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499
charlesb
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Ultimate Gun Grease:This is the grease that I use. PTFE gel grease A clear gel grease with Teflon that is good for temperatures between -45 F to +450 F, stays put, non-toxic, non-corrosive, does not break down, does not attract dust or contaminants, impervious to fresh or salt water. I got a tip on this grease being outstanding for use on an M1A, and it was. - A big step up from lithium grease! A 3-oz. tube seemingly lasts forever, costs just over seven bucks. - A little dab will do ya. It's at the top of this price list at Super Lube: Super Lube price list I've tried many products, I quit looking after trying this one out. - I have never found any drawback to using it on firearms, it just works. Great on trigger mechanisms, parts that rotate on pins, or anything else that one might normally use gun grease for.
Last edited by charlesb; 11/17/16 11:14 AM.
Kind regards, charlesb
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: charlesb]
#6548079
11/17/16 08:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251
Texas Dan
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251 |
Ultimate Gun Grease:This is the grease that I use. PTFE gel grease A clear gel grease with Teflon that is good for temperatures between -45 F to +450 F, stays put, non-toxic, non-corrosive, does not break down, does not attract dust or contaminants, impervious to fresh or salt water. I got a tip on this grease being outstanding for use on an M1A, and it was. - A big step up from lithium grease! A 3-oz. tube seemingly lasts forever, costs just over seven bucks. - A little dab will do ya. It's at the top of this price list at Super Lube: Super Lube price list I've tried many products, I quit looking after trying this one out. - I have never found any drawback to using it on firearms, it just works. Great on trigger mechanisms, parts that rotate on pins, or anything else that one might normally use gun grease for. I have a tube of this but have never used it on any of my firearms. Except for the slides on my handguns, I've only used oil. The trick is getting grease into tight spaces. The grease that I've been using on my handguns comes in a large, syringe-type applicator (no needle of course) that makes it easy to squeeze into crevices and tight areas. Once it runs out, I will be refilling the same applicator with the suggested Super Lube grease.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Grease vs oil
[Re: Kevin1]
#6554421
11/22/16 04:58 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251
Texas Dan
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Ace Hardware stocks tubes of Super Lube Synthetic Grease for $10 bucks. Surprisingly, this is a better price than online sources. You will find it in the Automotive section with traditional grease products.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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