ATF, Mobil 1, Really?

[flmason]

Hi All,
    Have read around the web, various discussions of gun lubes. ATF and Mobil 1 come up consistently as alternatives to packaged "gun oil".

Picked up a quart of ATF at the grocery for grins. Unfortunately it smells like an old auto garage. *That* ain't going on my guns, LOL! Is Mobil 1 the same in this respect?

Any other readily available alternatives out there?

Picked up some edible grade mineral oil. Certainly seems slippery enough, etc. but I'd expect there's no additives in it of any value. However the MSDS on Remoil makes me believe it's little more than mineral oil and a thinner?

Ruled 3 in 1 out as the perfume in it is some sort of citronella-like stuff. Don't really want that on the guns either.

Thoughts? (Yeah, I know this is one of those controversial areas, just looking for ideas, want to hear what other folks do.)

[yukondog]

Why not just use remoil?

[Empty Quiver]

All ATF smells "funky" same as all diff fluid smells "funky". Mobil1  smells about like any other motor oil.


I'm assuming you are concerned about animals smelling your gun. I don't know if what I do is perfect but it is what I do.


I clean and oil my guns with a high quality gun oil known for corrosion protection more than lubrication or super d duper slickness. Brand matters not , pick one. Go to the range and verify your sight alignment with a few shots. Put the gun in the case and stand it in the corner about two weeks. Remove the gun from the case and hunt till you kill some thing  (or the season is over in my case  ). Clean as before and return gun to safe area. During the two weeks all the volatile compounds will flash off of the gun and smell should not be a problem. I will on occasion wipe the gun down with a silicon cloth between hunts.


I came to gun hunting from a background of 25 years behind a bow. The smell thing really bothered me, I have come to terms with it. Nice thing is I don't have to set myself up to shoot 25yds any longer.

[oneoldsap]

I wax my guns now , instead of using oil on the outside . Wears longer , won't wash off , provides complete weather protection and it don't stink ! I only use oil as a lubricant , and sparingly at that . Try it , you'll like it !

[flmason]

Why not just use remoil?

As much of a reseearch question as anything else. But if Remoil really is just mineral oil, why not get more for the $$$? My preference in days gone by was Browning's gun oil. But no idea what was really in the can. Also like the idea of being able to walk into any grocery store and get neccesaries.

Where I'm at right now, I can't even get my brand of shoes and I've bought them all across the US for the past 15 or so years, LOL! So it just got me to thinking on the topic of substitutions.

No doubt, if you have guns you're serious about, no point in scrimping on oil, but also good to know "what's what" as well, I'd think.

As an aside, I like the wax idea presented above. I most often hear Johnson's Paste Wax mentioned as having no abrasives in it like car polishes. Darned if I can find a can of it in the local grocery or Wally World though.

[mdwest]

I have found that white lithiunm grease (wheel bearing grease) is an incredible lubricant...
 
it takes a very small amount..
 
it doesnt wear off like oil does...
 
its cheap (you can get a gallon tub cheaper than you can get a 6 oz can of remoil)..
 
it is incredibly heat resistant..
 
it has no odor..
 
one very light coat can stand up to litterally thousands of rounds fired in a single day (have done this more than once with my M4's, AK's, glocks, etc..).. no need for re-lubricating in the middle of a training session..
 
 
I dont use it as a protectant for the outside surfaces of my weapons.. i use either CLP or rem oil when necessary for that (after coming in from the woods).. this isnt too much of an issue for me though as I typically alumihyde or duracoat all of my hunting and working guns..
 
 

[charles p]

Avoid Breakfree is you object to the "lube" smell.

[Bugflipper]

Internally I use silicone spray. Forms a slippery film that gun powder doesn't cling to. Wouldn't imagine it would do much for corrosion resistance on the outside though. Dead down wind sales a scent free oil. My hunting guns get painted and a spray of water and baking soda. No rust that way and no oil.

[tboy]

I personally use "Ed's Red", more than anything.
I also just use Dexron II or III mixed 50/50 with K1 kerosene for general gun lube.

Everything you ever wanted to know about homebrews;

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm

[oldandslow]

I use three products for gun lubrication depending on where it's applied. One product to prevent external rust.

I use 100% synthetic ATF where I want the very least resistance and friction isn't high. In a nutshell, trigger assemblies.

I use Mobil 1 15-50 where there is sliding friction as it stays where you put it longer than light ATF. For example, semi-auto slides and bolts.

I use 100% synthetic wheel bearing grease where there is high pressure and it needs to stay in place. That is mainly on sear contact points.

I use wax for external protection on both metal and wood. For over 45 years I've had no rust with Johnson's brand of waxs.

The smell, what there is, of all these products disappears quickly.

My products cost me essentially nothing. The oil and grease is left over from servicing my vehicles and I just swipe my wife's can of furniture wax when I need it. 

[SHOOTALL]

Clenzoil works well , Amsoil works as does most oils . If you are shooting an AR 15 alot and building heat a synthetic oil may have an edge. If you are shooting a M1 , M1A , 30 carbine or similar nothing beats lubriplate . So in reality the lube should match the weapon and its use. I have used graphite grease on guns ( similar to gunslick) , its a lube for impact attachments that fit Backhoes and trackhoes. I have to many bottles of other lubes/oils .

[Airsporter]

Unfortunately it smells like an old auto garage.

And Hoppe's 9 smells like a home cooked meal?    LOL

[eye shot]

I don't lube before hunting but after and then use regular A-1 household oil.

[pastorp]

Gents,

I lube the moving parts of my guns with WW2 surplus gun oil. Yes I have a lifetime supply I picked up years ago. The outside of my guns I spray with pledge wax with orange oil in it. I've shared this several times before and it seems to go unnoticed, but I live in southeast Alaska, where it rains almost 200" annually and that along with the salt spray will eat your gun up with rust. My guns are not rusty....  

If you live in a dry climate anything will work. Ezoxx works well too but the wax stays on better.

Regards,

[oldandslow]

Gents,

I lube the moving parts of my guns with WW2 surplus gun oil. Yes I have a lifetime supply I picked up years ago. The outside of my guns I spray with pledge wax with orange oil in it. I've shared this several times before and it seems to go unnoticed, but I live in southeast Alaska, where it rains almost 200" annually and that along with the salt spray will eat your gun up with rust. My guns are not rusty....  

If you live in a dry climate anything will work. Ezoxx works well too but the wax stays on better.

Regards,

The Johnson's wax I referred to is Pledge but I'm not picky about it having orange oil. Just what ever the boss has in the cabinet and she uses both. I started out with Johnson's paste wax long before the spray wax came along. I switched to Pledge at least 20 years ago. It is so easy and cheap and works so well I'll never use anything else again.

Synthetic oils not only stand up to heat much better than natural oils they also stay fluid at much lower temperatures. The low temp factor really doesn't matter to me as it doesn't get that cold here and if it did I wouldn't be out in it. Cold weather and I aren't on friendly terms anymore.

[flmason]

Gents,

I lube the moving parts of my guns with WW2 surplus gun oil. Yes I have a lifetime supply I picked up years ago. The outside of my guns I spray with pledge wax with orange oil in it. I've shared this several times before and it seems to go unnoticed, but I live in southeast Alaska, where it rains almost 200" annually and that along with the salt spray will eat your gun up with rust. My guns are not rusty....  

If you live in a dry climate anything will work. Ezoxx works well too but the wax stays on better.

Regards,

No, the Pledge thing didn't go unnoticed. I tried Lemon... wasn't sure if Lemon or Orange was a better choice. Went with Lemon, because I used to use it on guitars back in the 80's, LOL!

Not sure if it was the Pledge or not, but I see to recall it yellowing some of the white pick guards on guitars.

Puts a nice shine on the grips of my Super Blackhawk, LOL! But not sure if I trust it to actually protect the metal or not. But then, never had a rusty guitar either. Well, except the strings. I seem to have acid hands. I generally buy stainless guns these days when I have the choice. Switched over decades ago. But still accept blue if that's all the model comes in.

I can see where the auto oils are probably excellent for moving parts. Got a quart of ATF, opened it though, and couldn't bear to make my guns take on that odor. Gotta believe the game would notice that in a heartbeat. Have to admit, I don't much care for it either.

As a kid I used Castrol on a couple of guns I had. Always seemed to do OK. Didn't have quite the strong scent that ATF has.

From what testing I can find, looks like Ezoxx is the real deal. But I definitely like the paste wax idea. Pledge is fine too if it holds up as well.  To be honest I prefer the paste for another reason. No overspray.

200" a year, didn't realize that. Guess you have some serious motivation there.

[flmason]

Unfortunately it smells like an old auto garage.

And Hoppe's 9 smells like a home cooked meal?    LOL

Lookin' for a replacement for that too, LOL!

But there is something about #9 that I like the scent of. Don't know why, perhaps because it was what I was taught to use as a kid.

[Sometime later....]

Hmm... maybe this is why, apparently this stuff is in #9..

Amyl Acetate (CAS#544-60-5) 8.5 oz ("banana oil")

[flmason]

Avoid Breakfree is you object to the "lube" smell.

In general I don't mind too much. But the ATF was really bad. Having just bought a few guns after being without for years (was predicting I was going to be living out of my car shortly) just could not make myself put ATF on a new Ruger, LOL!

Whether the game picks up on it strikes me as a valid concern though.

[flmason]

I personally use "Ed's Red", more than anything.
I also just use Dexron II or III mixed 50/50 with K1 kerosene for general gun lube.

Everything you ever wanted to know about homebrews;

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm

Thanks for the link, much appreciated.

[oldandslow]

No reason to have overspray with Pledge. Hold it close and spray it on your wiping cloth/rag. WIPE it on your gun, then buff off. My wife slapped my hand when she caught me doing the overspray thing and showed me this trick. Women are smart. 

[STUMPJMPR]

I used WD-40 for years with no problems at all.  I recently switched to RemOil.  Both work for me.