What is your favorite black rifle lubricant, solvent, and preservative?

[CJan_NH]

First off, thanks for looking :)

This is a multi-part questions with a quiz at the end ;f

I'm wondering what you folks prefer to use on your AR.

-For lubricants I use TW25B and 5W30 Mobil 1.

-For solvent I use good old fashioned Hoppes #9

A few of my extra uppers and partially assembled lowers are about to go into storage. I've been on a buying spree lately as a hedge against September.

I've heard good things about a product called Eezox for lubrication and long term storage but I haven't tried it yet. Have any of you?

Any tips for long term prep and storage?

[G23Adam]

Hoppes nitro solvent, Breakfree CLP, and haven't really decided on a solvent yet... but the Hoppes works pretty well.

[DJ Niner]

BreakFree CLP for just about everything (please, don't anyone waste your breath telling me how it doesn't do THIS as well as _______; it works just fine). I'm almost out of the big batch I bought at a clearance sale in '94; I suppose I'll have to pick-up some more soon.

For long-term storage of guys' guns who were going to long-term overseas duty stations, I've used Bianchi Blue storage bags. They are thick plastic, and coated internally with some kind of vapor-producing stuff that prevents rust/corrosion very well. Some of the guys had stuff in storage for years, and it came out looking like the day it was packed. Now the bad news; I'm not sure if these are still available. They came in a couple of different sizes. I'll keep my eyes open and see if I can find a current source.

[DJ Niner]

After a quick Google, this is all I could find:

http://kleenbore.bizland.com/store/product401.html

A similar product made by Kleen-Bore. Sounds like the same type of product, but not having used this exact one, I really can't endorse it; but it looks functional.

[CJan_NH]

Thank you DJ! That type of treated, sealed bag sounds like a perfect solution. My workroom and safe is in the finished basement of my home. Even though it's dry it tends to be a little more humid than the rest of the house-even with a dehumidifier running around the clock.

Edited to add: I'll order some Kleenbore bags right now-thanks again for your help :)

[DJ Niner]

Do me a favor and let me know what you think of them during packing (ease-of-use, etc.), and (if we're still around) how well they work(ed) when you're done with them. I'm going to have to find something else to use, now that the Bianchi bags seem to be unavailable; I may as well start collecting feedback on these.

Thanks in advance!

[CJan_NH]

I'll certainly let you know-I just ordered six of each. The smaller ones are the perfect size for completed lowers without a buttstock.

[coverdog]

FP-10

[mindonmatter]

Hoppes #9 and BreakFree CLP. I'm on the lookout for something better though. I'm going to pick up a bottle of Shooters Choice for the bore. And might try out some FP-10.

CJan, as far as the Eezox. I don't know how it is as far as a lube, but take a look at this pic and you'll agree it does a fine job for rust protection.

http://s94888967.onlinehome.us/eezox.jpg

[w30olds]

I use the stuff from Miltec. Works great and stays put. I also use CLP from time to time.

[Sulaco]

I use FP-10 as a lubricant exclusively. I use Hoppe's No. 9 as a solvent. Although, I am starting to use FP-10 in place of Hoppe's more and more lately. In fact, on my week old AR, I have only used FP-10 and it works great.

I chose FP-10 after using a lot of other brands because on my carry guns, it lasts longer (takes longer to evaporate). I can go a few weeks before re-lubing whereas with Breakfree, I re-lubed every few days.

I tried practically every brand and type of lube on the market and none came close to FP-10's lubing, cleaning and lasting properties. It also stays where I put it very well and has a pleasant odor (a plus for carry).

I tried Mobil 1 synthetic but it doesn't last very long compared to FP-10.

The only major brand I have not tried is Eezox. I recently bought a used Glock 19 and the guy who owned it used Eezox. It left a hard, slick surface where he used it and seemed to work extremely well. It was also hard as heck to clean off. I have not decided if this is good or bad but I may end up trying it out as soon as my sorry local shop gets more in stock.

[RepublicanMan]

I use Hoppes solvent and oil....learned in Basic Training back in wonderful Fort Jackson South (sandpit) Carolina that CLP tends to attract sand and grit and trap it making for one ***** of a time cleaning so I avoid it like the plague now.....I would think that Mobile 1 would have the same problem being so thick and all......

During the sandbox (Desert Storm) I used a can of graphite spray lubricant to keep it lubed after each (twice daily) cleaning and never had a malf.

[BoogerSnax]

From the booklet that came with my Professional Ordnance carbon fiber AR: <paraphrasing> The alloys used in the bolt and carrier require no lubrication.

I put a drop on the trigger spring every now and then.Does that count?
heh

[wishywashy]

Shooters Choice bore cleaner and CLP, use this on all my guns. I LOVE the smell of CLP, I wish my wife would dab some on her neck;3

[fatdog]

All cleaning: Simple Green
All lubrication: TW25b
Punching the bore a couple of times a year for copper: Hoppes #9

Works good, real cheap, no bad chemicals or fumes (except the occaisions for Hoppes)

Learned that combo from Jeff Gonzales and if anybody knows what they are talking about wrt this rifle....

[mindonmatter]

Originally posted by fatdog
All cleaning: Simple Green
All lubrication: TW25b
Punching the bore a couple of times a year for copper: Hoppes #9

Works good, real cheap, no bad chemicals or fumes (except the occaisions for Hoppes)

Learned that combo from Jeff Gonzales and if anybody knows what they are talking about wrt this rifle....

fatdog,
You may, or may not want to rethink using Simple Green on your AR.
http://groups.msn.com/TheMarylandAR15ShootersSite/tipstricks.msnw
Never use 'Simple Green' to clean your AR-15 (or any other Aluminum firearm). The US Army forbids it since they found Simple Green will remove the protective Andodized coating.
Simple Green's website also illudes to the fact that using it on aluminum could be a bad idea.

Just FYI.

[fatdog]

Thanks for the warning, but I am afraid I think this is internet urban legend at this point.

Simple Green's warning is pretty simple. They specifically warn about
..unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces...

Nothing at all to do with milspec annodized surfaces like my Colt receivers. Besides you only need to use it to clean the barrel, bolt, and bolt carrier.

Why on earth do I even need a solvent for to clean the receiver? I have been shooting an AR in competition for 20 years and all I ever do to the receiver is brush/wipe the crud out and wipe it down with a dry patch or cloth. No solvents or lubrcants are needed on the aluminum parts anyway.

As to the guy I don't know, never heard of, who doesn't cite any source other than himself, on some AR site somewhere, who supposedly "knows" this stuff is banned?

I will choose to believe Jeff Gonzales (Trident Concepts). Jeff just told me in November at his tactical carbine class that he, his team, and the rest of SOCOM pretty much are using the stuffy literally by the barrel over in Afgahnistan. It is by far the prefered cleaning agent because it works, doesn't harm the guns, and is so non-toxic.

We will have to disagree on the advisability of using the stuff. I started using it a year ago and it hasn't damaged or corroded anything. Maybe on non-milspec guns it could hurt something.

[mindonmatter]

I agree, that many have used it with no problem. I'm not saying you shouldn't use it, I just thought I would throw it out there for you in case you hadn't heard. As far as it being an "internet rumor", the Army has released a safetly bulletin telling their soldiers not to use it on aircraft aluminum. http://safety.army.mil/pages/lessonslearned/simplegreens.html

I'm not sure what the differences of aircraft aluminum and AR-15 aluminum are, as far as being parkerized or powder coated or not...but I feel safe to say it isn't a rumor. Anyways, not looking to start an arguement about it, just throwing it out there. Do with it what you will :) If aint' broke, don't fix it.

[fatdog]

Originally posted by mindonmatter
As far as it being an "internet rumor", the Army has released a safetly bulletin telling their soldiers not to use it on aircraft aluminum.

My rifle, the DoD's M-16's and M-4's are not aircraft. There is nothing credible I have seen, or you have pointed out, that says the army has found Simple Green unacceptable for use cleaning rifles with hard annodized and phosphated mispec receivers.

If there is something documented and credible to that effect, I would really like to see it. I want to know if that is factual.

But from what I see, this is all an inference and pure speculation that qualifies as the worst kind of "internet rumor". The fact is that there are military units out there acutally using stuff to clean M4 and M16 rifles. Furthermore the reasons to use it are pretty important.

Most of the rest of these cleaning compounds are toxic and in some cases mildly carcinogenic compounds based on either petroleum distillates or silicones. Heck Break-Free was so liver toxic that the EPA made the manufacturer reformulate it and recall their outstanding inventories a few years back. These costly exotic compounds are the kind of stuff people are being told they have to use regularly, and expose themsleves, their homes, their families, etc. to when its not clearly necessary. That is the primary reason that the SOCOM guys are using the stuff according to Jeff.

Its a disservice to spread this type of unfounded speculation because it convinces people that they have to keep using all of the very expensive and toxic crap to clean their guns when there are better and safer alternatives. Or show me I am wrong about our rifles, not the military's concerns about heavily riveted aircraft bodies that are exposed to the elements 100% of the time for years and years.

End of rant...

[mindonmatter]

Sheesh....take it easy man. I never said you were wrong, nor did I say I was right. I simply said that Simple Green has been found to be corrosive to aluminum. And the fact that it has been found to be corrosive to aluminum is not a rumor, it is a fact admitted by who?....Simple Green. If you don't think it will hurt the surface of your AR, then that is fine, it probably won't. Let me reiterate my earlier comments....

You may, or may not want to rethink using Simple Green
I agree, that many have used it with no problem.
Anyways, not looking to start an arguement about it, just throwing it out there. Do with it what you will

And just for the record, I never said your AR was an aircraft;) I said it was aluminum. There has been a safety bulletin saying not to use it on aircraft aluminum. The bulletin didn't say "don't use it on aircraft". It said "don't use it on aircraft aluminum". Take from that, what you will. Use it or don't use it....I could care less. I apologize for the disservice of spreading this so-called "rumor".

[DJ Niner]

Despite my best efforts to the contrary, several of my ARs have gotten nicks/dings/dents on the upper and lower receivers that have penetrated the hard anodized finish. I've also seen PLENTY of M16s/M16A1s/M16A2s with bare aluminum inside the uppers where a burr on the bolt carrier or other grit has worn away the anodizing and exposed bare metal.

My guns will never see Simple Green...

[mindonmatter]

Good point DJ Niner.

**EDITED to delete the rest of my post. I said I didn't want argue and I'll stick to that ;)**

[m4arc]

I use Break Free CLP exclusively.

[BoogerSnax]

Damn.
I guess it was worth the money for a carbon fiber gun.

A little bore scrubber for the Wolf dirty chamber and bore.
A toothbrush on the bolt and carrier, dry.
Silicone cloth on the carbon fiber body.

[Buzzsaw]

I use FP-10 exclusively.

[w30olds]

I've had good success with MilTech.