Top Choices for Gun Oil: What Works for You?
- Thread starter Alan
- Start date
Tim Horton
Active member
Many years ago, I went to a ....down-sizing... garage sale of an old guy who was a retired chemist with Federal Cartridge.. He had many ....interesting.... things in his hobby equipment and supplies..
One thing I learned from him was a mix of 2 parts red automatic transmission fluid and 1 part K1 kerosene will be a good lube for most all cold weather applications.. Also 1 part ATF, 1 part K1 is a good first use cleaning solution.. When your fire arm is clean then use a much smaller amount of your more expensive products if you must..
My 5 cents of experience..
One thing I learned from him was a mix of 2 parts red automatic transmission fluid and 1 part K1 kerosene will be a good lube for most all cold weather applications.. Also 1 part ATF, 1 part K1 is a good first use cleaning solution.. When your fire arm is clean then use a much smaller amount of your more expensive products if you must..
My 5 cents of experience..
CTom
Member
after years of expensive and overpriced gun oils, I switched to Ed's Red, it works far better than Hoppes #9 as a solvent and is an excellent lube:
1 part Dexron ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.
1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1
1 part mineral spirits
CAS #64741-49-9, or substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or equivalent.
It also calls for acetone, but that is nasty stuff and dissolves wood finishes, so I leave it out. it works good enough without it. I mix it in a 1 gallon gas can. I decant into a whiskey bottle.
I hold back a little 1:1 ATF/kerosene mix to use as a gun oil.
I found the recipe here: https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/EdsRedRecipe.htm
1 part Dexron ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.
1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1
1 part mineral spirits
CAS #64741-49-9, or substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or equivalent.
It also calls for acetone, but that is nasty stuff and dissolves wood finishes, so I leave it out. it works good enough without it. I mix it in a 1 gallon gas can. I decant into a whiskey bottle.
I hold back a little 1:1 ATF/kerosene mix to use as a gun oil.
I found the recipe here: https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/EdsRedRecipe.htm
Last edited:
Tim Horton
Active member
For a long time I also used a modified ...Eds Red... formula..
1 part K1
1 part Dexron ATF
This for a general cleaner, lube..
I mixed
2 parts K1
1 part Dexron ATF
This for tougher jobs, like when we cleaned Firearms Safety Class 22 rifles once a year..
The old retired Federal Cartridge chemist I met recomended this mix.. NEVER using acetone, lanolin, amonia.. As these corrode worse than powder fowling..
My 5 cents of experience..
1 part K1
1 part Dexron ATF
This for a general cleaner, lube..
I mixed
2 parts K1
1 part Dexron ATF
This for tougher jobs, like when we cleaned Firearms Safety Class 22 rifles once a year..
The old retired Federal Cartridge chemist I met recomended this mix.. NEVER using acetone, lanolin, amonia.. As these corrode worse than powder fowling..
My 5 cents of experience..
Big Goose
Member
Agree with the above... Ed's Red or similar modifications. inexpensive and effective.
