Lube question from a new AR owner

[Tom Threetoes]

I just purchased my first AR, an Eagle Arms made by Armalite. They recommend a Teflon lube for the upper which I don't have. I just wiped everything down with machine oil, what do you all use? Another question if you don't mind, the sales person said there was a pencil or Sharpie like marker that matched the finish on these black rifles to cover scratches. Any ideas what that would be? Thanks.

 

[bstewrat3]

I use Breakfree, because I have gallons of it. People use all kinds of things on their AR's, so I wouldn't over think it. Some guys use motor oil. The pens are probably a Birchwood Casey product. I don't worry too much about scratches though, so I don't know that for a fact.

 

[bigcraig]

I prefer Slip 2000 for AR lube.

The marker is called an "Aluma-Black" pen. It comes in both gloss and matte finish.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Birchwood Casey pen: https://www.amazon.com/Birchwood-Ca..._SR160,160_&psc=1&refRID=B5RFE5RJHAK4D3H9DFDH

Lube: yeah, whatever, you'll go through a bunch of different snake oils. Slip2000 is what I usually have on hand. I like aqueous based like Slip2000, whatever.

The kind of lube, matters little. How to lube, matters much.

 

[halfmileharry]

EGW and Slip 2000 here.
I am sold on this pair of lubes for the functioning parts.
CLP wipe down prevents rust.

 

[CavMedic]

I use the Lucas Oil Gun Oil. Love it. Just look up a video o youtube for lube pointers...lol...mrgunsngear has a great video on it for beginners.

 

[DragonGunner]

Since my Army days at Ft. Stewart in 82' to the present I run the AR bone dry. Can go about 1000 rounds before a good cleaning, but usually clean long before that. No problems out of any Colt I've had, or the M16's that we had.

 

[warriorbob]

Another vote for slp 2000

 

[M67]

Slip2000. Can go thousands of rounds without cleaning.

 

[Mgderf]

Permatex engine assembly lube.

 

[Principal Skinr]

I've been more recently using Lucas gun oil on the bolt/carrier. It is really tacky and doesn't burn off like some do. For storage, I wipe it down with a very, very light coat of rem oil or Break Free CLP. AR's don't seem to be picky. Motor oil would be my SHTF lube.

 

[Hop]

I've been more recently using Lucas gun oil on the bolt/carrier. It is really tacky and doesn't burn off like some do. For storage, I wipe it down with a very, very light coat of rem oil or Break Free CLP. AR's don't seem to be picky. Motor oil would be my SHTF lube.

^ same. I'm cleaning multiple AR15 rifles today & using Lucas on the bolts. I'm seeing a little wear on my cam pin & hope the Lucas will help.

 

[rhino]

I just purchased my first AR, an Eagle Arms made by Armalite. They recommend a Teflon lube for the upper which I don't have. I just wiped everything down with machine oil, what do you all use? Another question if you don't mind, the sales person said there was a pencil or Sharpie like marker that matched the finish on these black rifles to cover scratches. Any ideas what that would be? Thanks.

Some good suggestions on lubes so far. I'd also recommend FP-10 and it's more recent descendant, WeaponShield. Both are first rate CLP-type lubes that work well with ARs.

Ultimately, what you use to lube is less important than 1) using lube and 2) using enough of it. Your bolt and bolt carrier should be wet enough with lube to glisten. A "wet" AR functions better and longer than a dry AR. A filthy AR that is well lubed with function properly longer than a whistle-clean AR that has inadequate lubricant.

If you ever attend a defensive rifle class, when people start having malfunctions, it's common for instructors to go down the line and squirt some lube onto the bolt carrier groups of the ARs. Magically, the malfunctions go away (except for rifles with other mechanical issues). Pat Rogers was the exemplar of doing this and his advice to keep the bolt and carrier "wet" is sound.

There are people who truly do not clean their ARs, shoot a high volume, and do not have any malfunctions because they keep the gun lubed. There are also individuals who allow a dirty rifle to sit for years that will then function without issue with a little lube added. I am not advocating never cleaning your AR, but rather both the efficacy and prudence of keeping it wet. If your rifle is properly cleaned as needed and you also keep it adequately lubed, it will serve you well when you need it the most.

 

[KJQ6945]

Some good suggestions on lubes so far. I'd also recommend FP-10 and it's more recent descendant, WeaponShield. Both are first rate CLP-type lubes that work well with ARs.

Ultimately, what you use to lube is less important than 1) using lube and 2) using enough of it. Your bolt and bolt carrier should be wet enough with lube to glisten. A "wet" AR functions better and longer than a dry AR. A filthy AR that is well lubed with function properly longer than a whistle-clean AR that has inadequate lubricant.

If you ever attend a defensive rifle class, when people start having malfunctions, it's common for instructors to go down the line and squirt some lube onto the bolt carrier groups of the ARs. Magically, the malfunctions go away (except for rifles with other mechanical issues). Pat Rogers was the exemplar of doing this and his advice to keep the bolt and carrier "wet" is sound.

There are people who truly do not clean their ARs, shoot a high volume, and do not have any malfunctions because they keep the gun lubed. There are also individuals who allow a dirty rifle to sit for years that will then function without issue with a little lube added. I am not advocating never cleaning your AR, but rather both the efficacy and prudence of keeping it wet. If your rifle is properly cleaned as needed and you also keep it adequately lubed, it will serve you well when you need it the most.

^^This^^

The brand of lube doesn't matter, the quantity does.

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

Mobile 1 Synthetic and Slip 2000 for me.

 

[seedubs1]

Mobil 1 Synthetic (10w30 to 20w50). The higher weight doesn't seem to run off as easy. And Mobil 1 synthetic bearing grease where grease is needed instead of oil. The amount of R&D that's went into Mobil 1 is so much higher than any of the "wonder gun lubes." No need to spend money on fancy lubes when Mobil 1 works so dang well. None of the lubes will break down before they're packed with fouling and need replaced anyway.

 

[MohawkSlim]

There are people who truly do not clean their ARs, shoot a high volume, and do not have any malfunctions because they keep the gun lubed. There are also individuals who allow a dirty rifle to sit for years that will then function without issue with a little lube added. I am not advocating never cleaning your AR, but rather both the efficacy and prudence of keeping it wet. If your rifle is properly cleaned as needed and you also keep it adequately lubed, it will serve you well when you need it the most.

I'm one of these people.

I typically run a gun until it stops, lube it, then keep running it several more cycles before I'll clean it. My AKs sometimes need beat open with a Tokarev before they'll function again. Unlock the bolt, spritz in a bit of Hoppes, and keep trucking.

The whole, "Well, I shot 30 rounds so I need to go home tonight and give it a deep cleaning." seems like a waste to me, not only the wasted time but the inexperience of running a dirty system. If it has to be sparkling clean or else it won't run I hope there's plenty of time and supplies during the zombie apocalypse. I'd rather treat mine to the worst case scenario and know they're going to run well until ______ than to wipe them down like a baby's backside every time they soil themselves.

Run your AR until it stops. Then squirt a little oil (any oil) into the ejection port and/or down the sides of the bolt, run the action a few times in rapid succession, and press on. You'll get several hundred more rounds out.

I'm a firm believer in keeping weapons "dirty" because the gunk fills all the nooks and cranies that could catch something and cause a malf. The action will slide along the greased rails better than clean rails because all the nooks and cranies are full and now it's smooth.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Permatex engine assembly lube.

 

[Thegeek]

I drip Liberty Lube into the extractor/ejector and spray the carrier and bolt with TetraGun.

 

[1775usmarine]

I only use what I used while I was serving my country, so its Milsurp CLP for me.