Top Choices for Gun Oil: What Works for You?

[Alan]

I've been experimenting with various gun oils and would love to know what everyone else is using. Whether it's for a long-range rifle or a compact pistol, what brand do you find delivers the best performance?

 

[Tim Horton]

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..

 

[CTom]

Very little oil is used on any of my guns, me preferring dry graphite powder as a lube. All of the bores and surfaces do get a wipe with WD-40 Specialist Corrosion Inhibitor though and I see nary a sign of rust. Ever.

 

[johngalt]

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

 

[Tim Horton]

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..

 

[Big Goose]

Agree with the above... Ed's Red or similar modifications. inexpensive and effective.

 

[Tim Horton]

To add...... Along with a modified Eds Red formula I always kept a small bottle with a drip aplicator spout of 20W synthetic motor oil on my work bench..

That and a small tube of copper color anti sieze compound.. The 3 seemed to work for most everything mechanical..