lube for the AR-15

Oldjarhead · July 20, 2016, 11:04 AM

I used a M-16/AR-15 in the military in as an LEO. I am retired from both. I bought my first AR recently. I seem to recall I used Mil-comm TW25B lube on the rails and parts of the bolt carrier group in my career. I currently have a good supply of Shooters Choice red grease, that comes in a plastic syringe. Is this okay for my AR, or should I go ahead and get the TW25B lube? Any other good choices out there? Thanks.

bonglee0507 · July 20, 2016, 11:26 AM

If thats slide-glide thats very good for ar's. Been using them.for yrs

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Bart Noir · July 20, 2016, 01:26 PM

You're going to get many different replies.

The late Pat Rogers told of people using almost anything slippery as an AR lube, successfully. I mean, Vagisil was even used

But his personal choice for best possible lube was SLIP 2000 EWL (Extreme Weapons Lube). This include full-auto weapons which got almost too hot to hold.

Bart Noir

Dfariswheel · July 20, 2016, 08:57 PM

Lubricants are something people WAY over think and don't need to.

All you need is a good grade heat and water resistant grease.
Most any will do fine.

I know National Match shooters who buy Lithium grease at Walmart, a hardware, or farm supply store and it works as well as the expensive stuff in tiny jars from the gun store.
Just buy some grease. If it works, you're done, move on.

qrz · July 20, 2016, 09:13 PM

I like frog lube for the upper and clp and an air compressor for the lower. There's other good stuff out there, so pick something that works well for you and is readily available in your lgs.

Polinese · July 20, 2016, 09:40 PM

I always use CLP for everything never had an issue in any of my guns including ar's

Mobuck · July 20, 2016, 09:50 PM

I use red wheel bearing grease on the cam pin track and bolt lugs. CLP on everything else unless it's really cold. Then I use RemOil on the BCG.

Gunit · July 20, 2016, 10:39 PM

Mobile 1 grease and Mobile 1 oil. A can of each will last long time. Be careful with the grease though, grease viscosity and in the wrong places will kill reliability. Oil however, hard to use too much.

Ibmikey · July 20, 2016, 11:37 PM

What Gunit said, Mobil one, however i forego the grease and use the oil on everything in the carrier. "Keep em wet" is a good motto you can burn off any excess if things require hard shooting.

mehavey · July 21, 2016, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibmikey

Mobil one... forego the grease and use the oil on everything

^^^^ THAT ^^^^

TMD · July 21, 2016, 06:16 AM

Any lube is better than no lube. Pick one that you like and works in your gun and stick with it. Next to Glocks, lubes are about the most debated topic on this forum with no clear answer.

Mobuck · July 21, 2016, 07:31 AM

"Be careful with the grease though, grease viscosity and in the wrong places will kill reliability."

I won't argue this BUT how many non-military shooters are actually out there at -25* or in a dust storm? I've had lube related failures at 0* and colder back in the old days before I knew about such things. Modern lubricants are so much better than 40 years back.
A: you don't need a heavy lube to stand up to high friction
B: even thicker modern lubricants are less likely to clot up in the cold
C: it's much easier to flush out the thicker lube and relube with appropriate cold weather lube than it once was

Gunslick · July 21, 2016, 09:34 AM

Regular CLP or motor oil burns off around 400 degrees where EWL SLIP 2000 burns off around 1250 degrees I hate clp.

stagpanther · July 21, 2016, 10:04 AM

I never lube anything except perhaps the sear and trigger shelf when disassembling the fire control group. Lube is nothing more than a debris attractant IMO inside the operating surfaces of an AR. Otherwise, an occasional cleaning and light rub of CLP works for me

Gunslick · July 21, 2016, 02:12 PM

To each their own. I run my gun hard and do carbine courses every year. I've seen guns fail because of not being lubed. Ar was meant to be wet.

stagpanther · July 21, 2016, 02:42 PM

Quote:

To each their own. I run my gun hard and do carbine courses every year. I've seen guns fail because of not being lubed. Ar was meant to be wet.

Understood. I don't run my AR's hard like that--I try to make my barrels last as long and as accurately as possible. I almost never even run a 20 or 30 round mag. If you mean by "lube" a light viscous oil--then yes--I can see running a BCG wet--but not slathered with an actual thick grease-like gloop.

Erno86 · July 21, 2016, 02:58 PM

Semi-synthetic motor oil

Fishbed77 · July 21, 2016, 04:19 PM

I've been using plain old CLP for years and have never seen the need for anything else.

rickyrick · July 21, 2016, 06:03 PM

Whatever bottle of lube is within my reach. Plain ole motor oil works.

Toney · July 21, 2016, 10:11 PM

Hoppe's Elite or Mobil 1

Gunslick · July 21, 2016, 10:20 PM

Technology has come a long way, old school CLP is a thing of the past in my opinion. Take the burn off rate for example; around 400 degrees F where as Slip EWL is over 1000 D F. Also standard CLP has pretroleum which attracks grime and dirt and what not, EWL Slip 2000 is a full synthetic and makes cleaning easier. Bottom line EWL is a better lube, just plain and simple, less wear, word.

Pacman · July 23, 2016, 04:35 PM

5w-20 Mobil 1. Quart should last forever.

Gunslick · July 23, 2016, 04:41 PM

Get on Amazon and order EWL Slip 2000. Just make the jump. Its the future for gun lube. Burn off rate over 1000 degrees and operates at sub zero temps. It has no petroleum.

849ACSO · July 23, 2016, 07:22 PM

Quote:

I never lube anything except perhaps the sear and trigger shelf when disassembling the fire control group. Lube is nothing more than a debris attractant IMO inside the operating surfaces of an AR. Otherwise, an occasional cleaning and light rub of CLP works for me

I used to think that until I was issued a full auto M-16 a few years ago. It will not run totally dry. There has to be some lube in the gun to ensure reliability. Every since then, I have used a light amount of oil in my semi auto AR and heavier in the M-16.

stagpanther · July 23, 2016, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Quote:
I never lube anything except perhaps the sear and trigger shelf when disassembling the fire control group. Lube is nothing more than a debris attractant IMO inside the operating surfaces of an AR. Otherwise, an occasional cleaning and light rub of CLP works for me
I used to think that until I was issued a full auto M-16 a few years ago. It will not run totally dry. There has to be some lube in the gun to ensure reliability. Every since then, I have used a light amount of oil in my semi auto AR and heavier in the M-16.
__________________
"The day you stop learning SHOULD directly coincide with the day you stop breathing."

I do run my AR's with light oil liberally applied--but not a heavy grease-like lube. but like I said--I do not heavily stress mine to full-auto military type standards.

July 20, 2016, 11:04 AM	#1
Oldjarhead Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2008 Posts: 508	lube for the AR-15 I used a M-16/AR-15 in the military in as an LEO. I am retired from both. I bought my first AR recently. I seem to recall I used Mil-comm TW25B lube on the rails and parts of the bolt carrier group in my career. I currently have a good supply of Shooters Choice red grease, that comes in a plastic syringe. Is this okay for my AR, or should I go ahead and get the TW25B lube? Any other good choices out there? Thanks.

July 20, 2016, 01:26 PM	#3
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	You're going to get many different replies. The late Pat Rogers told of people using almost anything slippery as an AR lube, successfully. I mean, Vagisil was even used But his personal choice for best possible lube was SLIP 2000 EWL (Extreme Weapons Lube). This include full-auto weapons which got almost too hot to hold. Bart Noir __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!

July 21, 2016, 10:04 AM	#14
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 11,797	I never lube anything except perhaps the sear and trigger shelf when disassembling the fire control group. Lube is nothing more than a debris attractant IMO inside the operating surfaces of an AR. Otherwise, an occasional cleaning and light rub of CLP works for me __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

July 21, 2016, 02:58 PM	#17
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,739	Semi-synthetic motor oil __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell

July 20, 2016, 11:26 AM	#2
bonglee0507 Junior Member Join Date: January 1, 2014 Posts: 10	If thats slide-glide thats very good for ar's. Been using them.for yrs Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

July 20, 2016, 08:57 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Lubricants are something people WAY over think and don't need to. All you need is a good grade heat and water resistant grease. Most any will do fine. I know National Match shooters who buy Lithium grease at Walmart, a hardware, or farm supply store and it works as well as the expensive stuff in tiny jars from the gun store. Just buy some grease. If it works, you're done, move on.

July 20, 2016, 09:13 PM	#5
qrz Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2016 Posts: 101	I like frog lube for the upper and clp and an air compressor for the lower. There's other good stuff out there, so pick something that works well for you and is readily available in your lgs.

July 20, 2016, 09:40 PM	#6
Polinese Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2010 Posts: 950	I always use CLP for everything never had an issue in any of my guns including ar's

July 20, 2016, 09:50 PM	#7
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I use red wheel bearing grease on the cam pin track and bolt lugs. CLP on everything else unless it's really cold. Then I use RemOil on the BCG.

July 20, 2016, 10:39 PM	#8
Gunit Junior Member Join Date: March 31, 2013 Posts: 3	Mobile 1 grease and Mobile 1 oil. A can of each will last long time. Be careful with the grease though, grease viscosity and in the wrong places will kill reliability. Oil however, hard to use too much.

July 20, 2016, 11:37 PM	#9
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	What Gunit said, Mobil one, however i forego the grease and use the oil on everything in the carrier. "Keep em wet" is a good motto you can burn off any excess if things require hard shooting.

July 21, 2016, 06:16 AM	#11
TMD Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,293	Any lube is better than no lube. Pick one that you like and works in your gun and stick with it. Next to Glocks, lubes are about the most debated topic on this forum with no clear answer.

July 21, 2016, 07:31 AM	#12
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	"Be careful with the grease though, grease viscosity and in the wrong places will kill reliability." I won't argue this BUT how many non-military shooters are actually out there at -25* or in a dust storm? I've had lube related failures at 0* and colder back in the old days before I knew about such things. Modern lubricants are so much better than 40 years back. A: you don't need a heavy lube to stand up to high friction B: even thicker modern lubricants are less likely to clot up in the cold C: it's much easier to flush out the thicker lube and relube with appropriate cold weather lube than it once was

July 21, 2016, 09:34 AM	#13
Gunslick Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2016 Posts: 321	Regular CLP or motor oil burns off around 400 degrees where EWL SLIP 2000 burns off around 1250 degrees I hate clp.

July 21, 2016, 02:12 PM	#15
Gunslick Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2016 Posts: 321	To each their own. I run my gun hard and do carbine courses every year. I've seen guns fail because of not being lubed. Ar was meant to be wet.

July 21, 2016, 04:19 PM	#18
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 4,862	I've been using plain old CLP for years and have never seen the need for anything else.

July 21, 2016, 06:03 PM	#19
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	Whatever bottle of lube is within my reach. Plain ole motor oil works.

July 21, 2016, 10:11 PM	#20
Toney Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: Stillwater Oklahoma Posts: 790	Hoppe's Elite or Mobil 1

July 21, 2016, 10:20 PM	#21
Gunslick Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2016 Posts: 321	Technology has come a long way, old school CLP is a thing of the past in my opinion. Take the burn off rate for example; around 400 degrees F where as Slip EWL is over 1000 D F. Also standard CLP has pretroleum which attracks grime and dirt and what not, EWL Slip 2000 is a full synthetic and makes cleaning easier. Bottom line EWL is a better lube, just plain and simple, less wear, word.

July 23, 2016, 04:35 PM	#22
Pacman Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Location: Maryland Posts: 53	5w-20 Mobil 1. Quart should last forever.

July 23, 2016, 04:41 PM	#23
Gunslick Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2016 Posts: 321	Get on Amazon and order EWL Slip 2000. Just make the jump. Its the future for gun lube. Burn off rate over 1000 degrees and operates at sub zero temps. It has no petroleum.