Oiling Barrel after cleaning

[Jim C]

:thumbsup:

 

[Gene L]

I have seen a test where steel plates were put outside exposed to the elements for two weeks. One was covered with a layer of engine oil (I think it was 5W40), one with a layer of WD40, another one with grease and the last one was a control plate left outside without any protection at all.

Guess which plate showed the least oxidation?

The WD40 plate. :idunno:

The control plate was completely evenly oxidized to a bright orange color, the engine oil plate showed mild oxidation on several spots, the grease plate showed nearly as much oxidation as the control plate, the WD40 plates was nearly in perfect condition.

WD40 is what I use in pretty much all my guns and I've never had any rust issues. Many people say that stuff is way too ''volatile'' to be used as protective oil, but the truth is that stuff never vanishes completely, its just kind of dries.

I saw that test and later read that test is not 100% accurate. Google it if you want to.

I'm not assured WD 40 is the best protectorant out there, although I have it and have used it. It's good, maybe not the best. I don't know. What is the best, I don't know.

I don't know if a slight coating of lube, whatever the composition, is all a bad thing for the first shot or maybe additional shots. I don't see how it could be. Fouling, maybe, but if you swap reasonably, is that an issue?

It seems to me to be about 100 things that affect accuracy and performance in a ML, and oil has to be somewhere down the list.

But what do I know? Our ancestors used everything from spit to urine to clean their bores (in emergency situations) and they seemed to work quite well.

I'm not an expert in ML shooting and "good enough" is fine for me. I don't think Daniel Boone shot off the bench or excessively worried about the patch lube he used.

Grease 'em up, spit on them...or dry patch (whatever that means). It's a fun game.

 

[MC One Shot]

After cleaning with warm water, I wipe the barrel in and out with WD 40 to diaplace any oil. I stand it muzzle down for 24-48 hrs. I then wipe the bore in and out and I then wipe it down with CRC Power Lube. Stand it back in the corner for 24 hrs then back on its butt after that. Never had any issues with rust.

 

[Austrian]

Actually it was a good friend of mine who did the test, I have not searched for any other tests with WD40 but I'll look into it.

I'm sure its not the best protective oil out there, but its doing its job because if weren't I'd have rusty guns by now.

 

[necchi]

I said this early on in this thread,, it doesn't matter what's used;

Bottom line,,,
,as long as you understand it's part of a maintenance routine,, meaning it's part of ongoing care.

The only "best" product is the one each individual uses as part of a care program/routine that works for him.

 

[hanshi]

To nobody in particular, FWIW.

So far I have never heard that anyone else uses this method so I may be the only one. Often when cleaning I'll end up, before using any oil, using an old hairdryer to heat & dry the bore and lock. a plastic funnel in the muzzle routes the hot air all the way down the bore. This will get rid of any moisture prior to using WD40 or the final (for me) Barricade swabbing.

 

Often when cleaning I'll end up, before using any oil, using an old hairdryer to heat & dry the bore and lock.

 

[nhmoose]

:dead: Kinda :dead:

Sorry not you Jack

 

[Mockingbird]

So the question I would have is since there are instances when you might see light haze rust on a barrel, how do most of you clean that before re-oiling or "protecting"?

 

[azmntman]

I oil after the last dry patch is clean.

 

[Snakebite]

MB,

I think what you're referring to is "flash rust". WD-40 works for me. Sometimes when using very hot to boiling water to clean my guns I'll get a little flash rust. A couple swabs of WD-40 clears it up.

When I was in the Army and my first deployment to Germany, I left my guns with my father. I used WD-40 in the barrels and 3 years and 3 months later I came home and they were still perfect.

Just keep in mind, everyone has their own way of doing things and what works for them may or may not work for you.

Chris

 

[azmntman]

:thumbsup:

 

[mooman76]

So the question I would have is since there are instances when you might see light haze rust on a barrel, how do most of you clean that before re-oiling or "protecting"?

Are you taking flash rust or may a light haze of rust on outside of the barrel after being stored awhile? For very light rust a well oiled cleaning rag and rub the barrel down. If it's a little more stubborn, I use .0000 steel wool oiled heavy and VERY LIGHTLY rub on the rust spots. I can't stress lightly enough.

 

[stronics]

"Oil for rust prevention ? No. I use wd-40 to displace the last of the water and then I use RIG rust inhibiting grease. Wipe out with alcohol wet patch before loading the next day, week, month or year."
I could never understand why anyone would do it differently. I've used this RIG on all my guns for 40+ years never had a rust issue. Done deal.
David

 

[Black Hand]

Clean with water and soap, dry and wipe the barrel (inside and out) with bear grease.

 

[Billnpatti]

I have used it in my engines but never on any of my guns. It may work, I can't say. The important thing to keep in mind when using anything to prevent rust and corrosion on a gun is that it needs to have an anti-corrosion additive to help prevent rust. Plain grease such as lard, bear grease, etc. have no rust preventive additives and prevent rust simply by excluding oxygen from the metal surface on which it is applied. It only works so long as the oxygen barrier stays in place. If oxygen finds a way to your metal surface, you get rust and corrosion. So, stick with something that contains a rust inhibitor. My personal go-to rust preventive for all of my guns is Birchwood-Casey's Barricade. It's great stuff for preventing rust. You apply it just like any oil but as it sits, it thickens into a grease-like film that stays in place. The down side to Barricade is that if it is applied to a modern firearm, it will tend to gum up the working mechanisms. Not a big deal since it can simply be wiped out and you are good to go with a rust-free gun. If you don't care for Barricade, use any of the good gun oils or simply 3 in 1 oil. It's good stuff, too. I used it on my guns for years. I still use it for short time (no more than a few days) storage of my guns when I don't want to have to mess with wiping out the grease film left by Barricade. You will still need to wipe out the film left by 3 in 1 but it is a bit easier to remove than the grease film left by Barricade. Grease film or not, my go-to rust preventive is still Barricade if I do not plan to use a particular gun for a matter of weeks or months. With Barricade, I know it will remain rust-free.

Marvel Mystery Oil on guns? I don't know. :idunno: It might work but I have no personal experience using it for that purpose.

 

[Jim C]

:thumbsup: