The various lubricants noted in Army manuals reflected where they were used. Oiling in the desert invites trouble, in Korea it froze etc. None of that has anything to do with nursing 75 year old rifles through another year of life in the US. I always oil and grease carbines and M1 rifles. They need all the help they can get.
The AR 15 is a design with tiny by comparison bolts and attached parts. The rifle uses a barrel extension as well. It also has a operating rod system that is a bad joke. Two fingers??? If you start firing an AR that is the least bit too dry, and you happen to smack the forward assist, you have a serious problem. A rifle with a live round stuck in the chamber and you must knock it out with a cleaning rod. I use plenty of teflon oil and some grease on that carrier and bolt. I'm not in Iraq and nobody is going to inspect how I keep my weapons.
Using light weapons oil in tiny quantities on a carbine because a manual said that's what I should do, makes no sense today. There are no Ordnance Level people any more and parts are drying up. Pamper that Carbine.
The various lubricants noted in Army manuals reflected where they were used. Oiling in the desert invites trouble, in Korea it froze etc. None of that has anything to do with nursing 75 year old rifles through another year of life in the US. I always oil and grease carbines and M1 rifles. They need all the help they can get.
The AR 15 is a design with tiny by comparison bolts and attached parts. The rifle uses a barrel extension as well. It also has a operating rod system that is a bad joke. Two fingers??? If you start firing an AR that is the least bit too dry, and you happen to smack the forward assist, you have a serious problem. A rifle with a live round stuck in the chamber and you must knock it out with a cleaning rod. I use plenty of teflon oil and some grease on that carrier and bolt. I'm not in Iraq and nobody is going to inspect how I keep my weapons.
Using light weapons oil in tiny quantities on a carbine because a manual said that's what I should do, makes no sense today. There are no Ordnance Level people any more and parts are drying up. Pamper that Carbine.
ARs love to be run wet. Primarily the BCG and the chamber. Even when wet, they still don't seem to like steel case ammo.
all we ever used was CLP, and we never used any kind of grease. the CLP we used at the time had a very bad smell about it,
I don't remember it smelling bad. My first introduction with CLP in the military had nothing to do with weapons. I was a Construction Mechanic in the SEABEES and we got this lowboy in that had been sitting in a Naval yard for awhile. We were told to get in O1 condition. When we went to fold the outriggers out they were frozen up something solid. The trailer was subject to the saltwater air so it was no surprise but no amount of Military penetrating oil or Oxy-Acetylene rosebud heat would get these outriggers to giveaway.
When we went to Supply to get some more penetrating oil he said he also had this CLP stuff that came in but had no idea what it was for, neither did we at the time; it had just been issued. We grabbed a case of it an went back. We soaked all the outrigger with it and left for lunch. When we got back the pry bar got the outrigger out far enough to be able to wack them with a sledge and they all loosened right up. We went WOW what the H*ll is this stuff. a few bottles were librated by us. We later found out it was for our weapons. It became a staple in our shop, the stuff was magic back then and still today.
I also have a personal story/experience with Breakfree CLP that cause me to be forever sold on it and my main maintenance oil for ALL of my weapons. But I'll post that story later. My wife is calling.
Last edited by usabaker; 04-03-2021 at 07:52 PM.
Veteran US Navy Seabees - US Army Corps of Engineers - American Legion Post 0867
" Only two defining forces have offered to die for me. 1.) Jesus Christ 2.) The American G.I. "One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! "
The various lubricants noted in Army manuals reflected where they were used. Oiling in the desert invites trouble, in Korea it froze etc. None of that has anything to do with nursing 75 year old rifles through another year of life in the US. I always oil and grease carbines and M1 rifles. They need all the help they can get.
The AR 15 is a design with tiny by comparison bolts and attached parts. The rifle uses a barrel extension as well. It also has a operating rod system that is a bad joke. Two fingers??? If you start firing an AR that is the least bit too dry, and you happen to smack the forward assist, you have a serious problem. A rifle with a live round stuck in the chamber and you must knock it out with a cleaning rod. I use plenty of teflon oil and some grease on that carrier and bolt. I'm not in Iraq and nobody is going to inspect how I keep my weapons.
Using light weapons oil in tiny quantities on a carbine because a manual said that's what I should do, makes no sense today. There are no Ordnance Level people any more and parts are drying up. Pamper that Carbine.
Hello Dave.
I agree with you, any weapon needs or welcome all the possible help.
Which teflon oil and grease do you use?
Regards, Eddie
I don't remember it smelling bad. My first introduction with CLP in the military had nothing to do with weapons. I was a Construction Mechanic in the SEABEES and we got this lowboy in that had been sitting in a Naval yard for awhile. We were told to get in O1 condition. When we went to fold the outriggers out they were frozen up something solid. The trailer was subject to the saltwater air so it was no surprise but no amount of Military penetrating oil or Oxy-Acetylene rosebud heat would get these outriggers to giveaway.
When we went to Supply to get some more penetrating oil he said he also had this CLP stuff that came in but had no idea what it was for, neither did we at the time; it had just been issued. We grabbed a case of it an went back. We soaked all the outrigger with it and left for lunch. When we got back the pry bar got the outrigger out far enough to be able to wack them with a sledge and they all loosened right up. We went WOW what the H*ll is this stuff. a few bottles were librated by us. We later found out it was for our weapons. It became a staple in our shop, the stuff was magic back then and still today.
I also have a personal story/experience with Breakfree CLP that cause me to be forever sold on it and my main maintenance oil for ALL of my weapons. But I'll post that story later. My wife is calling.
Hello Bill,
Interesting story, thanks for share.
I´ll be ready for your Breakfree CLP story.
Regards, Eddie
I was in a “transitional” period in the mid 90’s, pretty much all I will say about that, but it caused me to put almost everything that was mine in storage. These were still the days of the gun display cases – you know the ones, wood cabinet glass in the door and a drawer at the bottom.
Because I had to rush to get my stuff and including my firearms in storage, I got a hold of an old refrigerator and gutted it. I then glued car carpet you get on the roll from the auto parts store to the interior and made racks to hold my rifles. I fixed padlocks on the door.
I moved the refrigerator into the storage unit, which was nothing more than a building with a steel roll-up door that you can drive up to—not environmentally controlled at all. I placed the refrigerator in the far corner of the room. I gave my rifles one more cleaning and a nice coating of Breakfree CLP and brought them (incognito) to the storage unit. My big mistake is that I did not have access to them after the storage unit was filled.
I would wake up at night thinking about my firearms and how they would be rusty, and every month I would get more and more anxious. It got to the point I was afraid even to see them. I expected the worse; I thought all of my firearms would be trash. I would not be able to get at my firearms for three years.
When I finally relocated to San Diego, I had a house again and had unloaded everything and moved in. I cut the padlocks off the refrigerator. I got to tell you my anxiety was pining some this fierce. I opened the door and pulled out the packing that kept the rifles in place. I was shocked! I pulled each rifle out and inspected each one, and out of 16 rifles, only one, a Remington Model 12 22 WRF with an octagon barrel, had a little surface rust on the barrel, so slight that bronze wool and CLP took it right off.
I was overjoyed at my good fortune and amazed at how well Breakfree CLP preserved my firearms. I don’t think I was ever so happy to teardown and clean all of my firearms in my life.
Do I think this is the best oil? Well… no, I don’t; I'm sure there are oils just as good, maybe even better. But I trust Breakfree CLP for my firearms based on my military experience and what happened in my personal life. I think people should use what they trust, not what people or advertisers tell them.
What happened to the refrigerator? Well, it got repurposed into a raised bed planter LOL
Veteran US Navy Seabees - US Army Corps of Engineers - American Legion Post 0867
" Only two defining forces have offered to die for me. 1.) Jesus Christ 2.) The American G.I. "One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! "
My little handicapped buddy lives out in the country on a hilltop and has some Sketchy neighbors down the road. He is easily seen coming and going from his home. When I can lure him out for a fishing trip or Casino run I always pick him up, so his truck is there to look like he is home. When not needed I'd leave a couple of our work vans parked out there so he could move them around or take one in to town. Trying to fool the Meth Heads down the road on whether he was home or not. F'ing shame a Vietnam veteran has to live like that...
We Deer and Turkey hunt his place and over the years we now have a couple of county sheriff officers that come out also. They'll look in on his place when their on this side of the county now... a win win.
Old Freezer
We did nearly the same with a old upright freezer. Gutted the shelves inside but left the inner liners and insulation. Built in some racks and were able to stick with the factory lock on it after some reinforcement.
He uses the Dehumidifier Canisters from Hornady with the Silica beads you recharge when the moisture indicators reach peak level.
You can see the freezer cord plugged in off to the side. But the cord powers a light inside he can turn on when needed. It's in his basement which is damp and cold.
If anyone looked in the basement all they'd see would be the furnace, dryer, washing machine, hot water tank, dehumidifier, and this old beat up freezer in the corner.
It's worked so far as he's been broken in to twice in the last 6-7 years.
Maybe works because: You can't see the forest for the trees
And no one but him and I know about it...... Well except you guys now.
But I'm not telling where that hill top is !
Charlie-Painter777
A Country Has No Greater Responsibility Than To Care For Those Who Served...
It's worked so far as he's been broken in to twice in the last 6-7 years.
Maybe works because: You can't see the forest for the trees And no one but him and I know about it!
That was the reason I chose the refrigerator, deception. The upright freezer would have been easier since it only has one door to deal with. The fridge has a top and bottom door so there was a bar I had to work around. But it was free and did serve the purpose. I see people selling old soda machines that are refitted firearm lockers.
Veteran US Navy Seabees - US Army Corps of Engineers - American Legion Post 0867
" Only two defining forces have offered to die for me. 1.) Jesus Christ 2.) The American G.I. "One died for your soul, the other for your freedom! "
Bill,
Pretty cool,
I don't know why? But it reminds me of the Bruce Willis movie RED where he meets up with the paranoid Marvin (John Malkovich). When Marvin opens the trunk on the junk car and goes down to his secret lair.
I prefer the out of sight out of mind angle. I posted here about a Bunker I built in my basement. You'd need a Torch to get in.... IF you find it: https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=72607
Years back we did a new home for a Ex pro ballplayer. 8' solid core interior doors we call 'Herman Munsters'. Also called 2 maners, because it takes 2 men to haul them around.
They had 2 Bi-fold doors to what you'd think was just a walk in closest.
When opened and after you were shown where and how to pull on the pre-finished shelving a Murphy style bed (without mattress) pulled down to reveal his hidden arms room.
All the joints were hidden by the upright shelving stiles. The fixed shelves had attached shoe boxes... etc sitting on them. Those shelves became the base when pulled down.
It was pretty nifty.... but word got around the job sites pretty quickly about it.
Charlie-Painter777
A Country Has No Greater Responsibility Than To Care For Those Who Served...