10W-40 for guns?

February 03, 2004 09:44

I used it for years with no obvious ill effects. The general opinion on this board is that there are other products much better suited for using on firearms.
Oops, I thought that said WD-40....

Semper Fi

Remember Ruby Ridge.

Experience is the best teacher and usually charges accordingly.

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rldowns3

February 03, 2004 09:47

10W-40 is not a good idea. It is thick and will trap lots of dirt and crud in it. Some motor oils can also be corrosive.

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257izmycal

February 03, 2004 09:49

10W-40 or WD-40? I have never heard of using motor oil on firearms.

257

You're a statistic whether you want to be or not.

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Contender Man

February 03, 2004 09:55

Personally I wouldn't use it because of the residue. However if it is all you've got it's better than nothing. And if it is WD 40 and not 10w40 same answer applies ... there are better, fit for purpose, products.

If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!

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He Dog

February 03, 2004 11:08

It is kerosene and oil. Why use kerosene on a gun, and why not use better oil? It is useful for displacing moisture and to some degree for rust penetration, but mostly that is not going to be an issue with well maintained firearms. There really are much better products for anything you would do with WD-40 on a gun.

He Dog

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NickCWinter

February 03, 2004 11:54

Clear and helpful responses. Thanks.

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chunkstyle

February 03, 2004 13:05

You can use WD-40 for cleaning, but it really shouldn't be used as a lubricant or protectant. As for 10W40 or any other motor oils, they have numerous additives that help them do their proper jobs. Lubricating and protecting a gun is not one of them. Even "3 in 1" household oil would be a better choice. Singer sewing machine oil works very well.

"Go to Lakedaemon, stranger passing by;
And say there, that in obedience to her law, here we lie"

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jonk

February 04, 2004 02:53

So far as motor oil, because I'm cheap...

If you look you can find non detergent motor oil. Don't use it in your car, but I find that it, mixed with 50% kerosene, makes a wonderful rust preventative. The kerosene thins it enough that it isn't sticky, is easier to apply, etc. Also sometimes have bought jugs of WD40 (not spray cans) and mixed that with motor oil. It works, but then I have a lot of problems with rust, so I need to oil my guns weekly and can't afford that much RemOil. Darned damp attic! My really expensive guns are in a safe with electric dehumidifier but the others are in a closet... not bad in the summer as it is a HOT attic, with ventilator fans to kill most of the humidity and dessicant to handle the rest, but in the winter, I have out TUBS of dessicant that add up to about a gallon of water a month from a little closet. Eeeks!

"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conf

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bobski

February 04, 2004 03:06

has anyone ever tried to start a car left in the cold? ever notice how its sluggish until its warmed up? imagine what it would do to a guns action? thick oils were designed to carry heat away from friction causing metals. you gun doesnt get hot enough to break down the oil. youll gum up your gun! ask a korean war vet how they use to have to urinate on machine guns to keep them from jamming in battle from too much oil. sewing machine oil is a better choice for guns. both are precision machines requiring a special blend of oil. use what is required for each. scientists make a living finding perfect oils to suit the correct job. to ignore them is to insult them. whats next? we use a garden hose to clean off powder residue because we cant afford rags? and for the record, hoppes #9 is not a lube, its a degreaser/cleaner. its like gunk for an engine. you still have to treat the metal afterwards.

former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.

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Suspension

February 04, 2004 11:36

Talking about oil and guns, here's one for ya. I picked up a 1100 and an 870 from a newspaper classified ad about a year ago. When I went to the guys house to see the guns and make an offer they both had a serious residue on the barrels and stocks. I rubbed it slightly and it never did anything to the residue. So I asked the guy what he put on them and he said.......when he put them away for the year he was out of gun oil so he used CRISCO vegetable oil. Big time bad idea, I bought the guns anyway, but I cleaned on that crisco 10 or 12 times before I got it all off. To boot we eat that stuff........

"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent

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rldowns3

February 04, 2004 11:40

I use crisco on black powder guns....an old timer gave me a tip to "season" my bp guns with crisco in the oven....and I can say that the old fart was right....they clean up now super easily after shooting and since then they haven't rusted a single bit in my humid home.

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tatercats

February 04, 2004 11:53

dont use either-my friend uses wd-40 on his shotgun-when it gets cold here in indiana it gums up

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rhmc24

February 04, 2004 11:58

See my General Discussion forum subject re Synthetic Auto oil for guns.

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bobski

February 04, 2004 12:17

oh oh...a snake oil pitch![:0]

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Pearyw

February 04, 2004 13:19

The big problem with most motor oil is the rust inhibitor that is in it. I have a friend who wrapped up a S&W pistol in a rag with motor oil on it and it removed a good bit of the blue finish. A lot of the bluing used on firearms is a rusting process. I guess if you find some without the inhibitors in it. it would be ok.

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10W-40 for guns?

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