Barrel rust and water soluble oils

[The Shrink]

I found some rust scale in the barrels of rifles oiled with Lube Gard after the last shooting, unfortunately some time ago.  I broke my collar bone Easter Sunday, and haven't shot since.  

Anyway, since these were BPCR rifles, I used Lube Gard to avoid using petroleum products.  I re-oiled them with Dixie's artificial Sperm Oil, but I'm wondering if any water soluble oil is adequate for protecting barrels in a humid environment.  If the oil is water soluble, how can it prevent water from penetrating and creating rust?  

I'm thinking about going back to Break Free as a barrel preservative and trying to clean it out before firing.  I'll take the chance of back crud forming, at least it doesn't subtract from the steel.

[nohorse]

I am with ya on the Break Free.  It's all I use regardless of what the internet experts say about petroleum products.  Got too much invested in my Sharps to do otherwise :lol:

[Charles Vail]

I don't know what the "experts" say on preserving the insides of a barrel and such but I for one use Kroil after shooting, just because thats what I have. I havn't noticed any fouling problems etc. as a result. Someone needs to enlighten me on the problem of using petroleum based oils in a blackpowder barrel. I would like to see the empirical evidence of how it has affected a barrel and the actual problems that resulted.  :eek:

[The Shrink]

Marsh

Yeah, I iimagine the ambient conditions here are very different than in the mountains or generally in the west.  Rain or mist almost continually the past three weeeks, humidities near 100%, and no change in the forecast for this week.

[Brasskisser]

You can use what you like but I always use "BreakFree" in every rifle barrel after it is cleaned and before storing.  This stuf works!!!! I just swab out the barrels with one dry patch and start shootin'.  Sometimes I pre-condition the barrel with a swip of home made bullet lube (similar to bore butter w/LubeGuard) but unless it is very dry that day, I usually skip this part.  Any way, RUST is not a good thing!!!

[Coydog C.]

I’m with Brasskisser on the Break-Free, I love the stuff. I figure if it’s good enough for a 155mm, it will work in a .45   I’ve been using it since it replaced LSA, and I have yet to have a rust problem. This includes duck guns that I’ve used in saltwater.

I usually just run two dry patches down my bore and then shoot. I haven’t seen any adverse accuracy reaction yet.

   Chuck

[howdy doody]

Count me in on the wagon. I have been using Breakfree and I have no problems of any kind. Mineral or not, some things just work. Anyone want to buy some ballistol?

[John Traveler]

Okay, guys!

I'm a tech manual writer and researched the Breakfree CLP development history.

The US Military established MIL-SPECS for a one-step all-purpose weapons cleaner/lubricant/preservative back in the late 1970"s/early 1980's.  

The end product that evolved from the years of testing and selection was Breakfree CLP.  It exceeded all specifications for cleaning, maintenance, and lubrication of small arms, medium cannon, and large cannon.  

It's been NATO Standard for weapons cleaning for almost 20 years and does amazing stuff, including removal of corrosive primer and black powder firing residue, displacing water, dissolving gunpowder and bullet jacket residue, etc.

I've seen Canadian Army armourers strip, clean, assemble, and coat liberally small arms and seal them in polyethelene plastic bags for long-term storage.  The guns may be inactive for several years, but there is every confidence they will be realy for use when opened.

If Breakfree has a fault, it is the fact that it's widely available as military surplus and many people think that anything selected by the Government for general issue can't be any good.  In this case it IS good, and probably the best single cleaning product you could use for small arms.