Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Stainless steel handgun lube

Does anyone have a recommendation for a really good lubricant for stainless steel handguns? I have a S&W Model 60 that I would like to lube properly. It's my understanding that SS guns need a different lube than blued steel guns. Is that correct?
Thanks.

A couple of drops of oil down in the lockwork occasionally will work just fine. You may be overthinking the stainless on stainless galling issue, but you don't have stainless rubbing against stainless as in slide rails.

Galling in stainless guns hasn't been an issue for near to 20 years. The manufacturers know to vary the grade of stainless where bearing parts are, to avoid galling. Just a good light oil ought to do just fine, and when oiling, less is more.

Thought I better make a teeny correction.. Hope ya don't mind.. But galling on O/U shotguns, IS an issue I watch for constantly.. Happens most often in mid-summer temps when trapshooting..

I use Break Free on all my weapons, Blue and SS

Not sure that galling has been gone in stainless handguns for 20 years. Les Baer stated that his stainless 1911's aren't fitted as tightly as the carbon steel counterparts due to this. Varying the formulations of the stainless parts has reduced the galling issue significantly, but it still can occur due to tightness of fit.

I use just a bit of moly graphite assembly lube.

Pro Gold
http://shop.proshotproducts.com/PGL-1-PGL-1.htm

I use a small amount of Tetra grease (use it in my M1 Garand and for shotgun choketubes as well); just use a tiny bit.

I use any gun oil on my revolvers and a tiny amount of moly base grease on the slides and frames of my semi-autos.

If you're going to use grease on a firearm, that's the best stuff to use.

Redneck & Hound -

You're right, there are some circumstances where galling can occur. In shotguns at the trunion because of the heavy recoil and the very tight fit (most new shotguns have forends that are fit way too tight), so a light amount of grease at the trunion is a very good idea.

As for Baer's guns, noticed he said he doesn't fit too tight though? Essentially, he makes it a non issue.

Yeah, push anything hard enough, you could conceivably see galling. But for the past 20 years, I haven't seen galling on a stainless handgun; it's very rare.

While still uncommon, I see more galling on aluminum alloy pistol frames nowadays than on anything else. Proper lubrication would probably prevent that also, but I always check for tight spots and if necessary lap before shooting.

Notice he doesn't offer the 1.5 inch option on stainless pistols? There's a reason for that.