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Joined: Mar 2010
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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I was cleaning a bolt action rifle the other day and thinking that I don't use any grease on them, just oil (Break Free CLP) or dry lube (Hornady). I do use gun grease where recommended on my M1 Garand, but got to thinking I don't on bolt actions...
Should I be? I haven't noticed any accelerated wear issues using break free CLP, and/or Hornady dry lube on bolts.
Was curious to hear from you guys on whether you grease bolts or not.
I am not a prairie dog shooter, but hear some guys run 600+ rounds a day or some such large figure. Does that warrant grease? I figure if any scenario needed it that would be the one with the high cyclic rate of fire (for a bolt gun anyway).
I can't speak for now, but 20+ years ago when I wsa in the infantry we only used Break Free on everything from the M2 .50 cal down to M16's, .45's, M60's, grease guns, you name it. That made me think that maybe the upgrade in anti wear agents and lubricity of modern lubricants like Break Free negate the use of gun grease?
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Campfire Tracker
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Yes, on the back of the locking lugs and cocking cam.
Cancer Sucks
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Campfire Tracker
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Yes, on the back of the locking lugs and cocking cam. What he said. I do it cause I've always done it. Sometimes that's reason enough.
Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of certain rights which may not be taken, not even by a 99% vote. *Marvin Simkin* L.A. Times (1992)
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Yes, on the back of the locking lugs and cocking cam. Yep the only places that need it.
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Yes, on the back of the locking lugs and cocking cam. Yep the only places that need it. +1 just a real thin smear on the lugs. Gus
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Campfire Tracker
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Nailed that one !! I've using it in those places since '73 and never had a problem,it's a part of clean up and prep...
Come on America, Athletes and actors are not heroes, only soldiers, airmen,marines and sailors get that respect�and let's add firemen and LEO's
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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High pressure graphite moly assembly grease gets used on a lot of my guns.
A little goes a long ways.
I replace valve cover gaskets every 50K, if they don't need them sooner...
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Campfire Regular
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I use grease on everything except the fire control groups on my semi autos where I can't get down in the little crevices. Oil sucks and has no other advantages I've found.
RLTW
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Yes, on the back of the locking lugs and cocking cam. Yup, always have and always will. Von Gruff.
Von Gruff.
Exodus 20:1-17
Acts 4:10-12
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I put RIG (Rust Inhibiting Grease) on a piece of chamois and use it to wipe the metal exterior of my rifles. Very thin amount to remove fingerprints, etc., and as a rust preventative. I currently live in a dry climate but started using RIG when living in western Oregon. Don't see any reason to change. Fingerprints, especially sweaty ones, can cause rust very quickly.
"It is wise, though, to remember above all else: rifle, caliber, scope, and even bullets notwithstanding, the most important feature of successful big game hunting is to put that bullet in the correct place, the first time!" John Jobson
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Campfire Greenhorn
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GonHuntin, everyone seems to agree you nailed the locations that merit grease. I don't argue that at all, and wonder if I should have been putting grease there myself versus Break Free CLP.
Grease is messy and does it do a better job than the premium oil lubricants we have available now is what I am wondering. I would prefer to keep using one oil and not use oil and grease on a bolt action rifle.
Anyone heard of any testing in this regard? I would think the military would have done extensive testing to approve CLP for being the only lubricant used on small arms (in my unit on mortars, and 50 cal and down). Before CLP, grease was definitely used along with oil in the military. My military experience was a long time ago, for all I know they may be using grease again.
I don't want to induce premature wear on bolt lugs, but would also like to not mess with grease either. Unless some good testing was done, I guess it is just people throwing opinions around. I have not heard of anyone ruining a bolt gun by not using grease, but most people don't shoot much (I'm talking about the average hunters out there, not us loonies on here who shoot and reload, and shoot some more...)
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Campfire Tracker
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The grease I use is formulated for high pressure applications......don't think much of CLP for that job.......you don't need much grease to prevent galling, just a thin layer will do......a friend that built custom rifles taught me to use it...
I use CLP for certain applications, but I use high pressure grease on the lugs and cocking cam.
Cancer Sucks
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Grease is not messy unless WAY too much is applied. When properly applied grease is actually neater than oil IMO cause it can't run into places it's not wanted. On most guns I don't think it really matters which you use. Don't feel like your gun was being excessively worn from using only oil.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Yes, on the back of the locking lugs and cocking cam. Yep. Trailer hitch ball high pressure grease with a generous portion of Moly stirred in.
The Mayans had it right. If you�re going to predict the future, it�s best to aim far beyond your life expectancy, lest you wind up red-faced in a bunker overstocked with Spam and ammo.
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Campfire Ranger
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Grease is not messy unless WAY too much is applied. When properly applied grease is actually neater than oil IMO cause it can't run into places it's not wanted. On most guns I don't think it really matters which you use. Don't feel like your gun was being excessively worn from using only oil. Yep, if you can see the grease, you've used too much. Never recall using grease in the military... used LSA before CLP.
"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
GeoW, The "Unwoke" ...Let's go Brandon!
"A Well Regulated Militia" Life Member
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I've been using Shooters Choice grease on the lugs of my bolts since I first read about it here. Had previously only used it on the trunions of my o/u shotgun (sparingly).
Jeff
"No good deed shall go unpunished!"
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Campfire Outfitter
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I use is on the locking lugs and cocking cam. Graphite is corrosive to aluminum. Be careful where you use it.
The Karma bus always has an empty seat when it comes around.- High Brass
There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
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Campfire Regular
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I use grease where specified on my M1, and I've tried it on locking lugs on bolt guns before.
Interestingly, the component in grease that does the lubeicating is oil. The 'grease' is jut a thicker carrier to hold it where you put it 'better.'
So, I don't think the question is one of better lubrication, so long as your grease is as new in lube technology as your oil is. Rather, I think it is one of whether the lube stays put better with a thicker carrier (grease) or a thinner one (oil).
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Campfire Tracker
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I always felt like weapons in the military were expeced to wear and brake. That's why we had the armorers scurried away in their holes fixing and inventorying those weapons full time. I have never seen another group of people who seem to have such a collective lack of vitamin D.
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Campfire Ranger
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Armorers are parts swappers.... gets a little more complicated at the forward or direct support level
"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
GeoW, The "Unwoke" ...Let's go Brandon!
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