Does anyone dry-lube their AR buffer tubes?

kymasabe · April 21, 2020, 05:48 AM

I'm assembling an AR lower and remembered I'd run out of some dry lube that I liked that I'd picked up at a gun show, worked well in buffer tubes. Was wondering if anyone else is doing same and what you might be using, i'm trying to find an easier to find/buy alternative to what I was using.

Kreyzhorse · April 21, 2020, 05:38 PM

I've never heard of using dry lube on a buffer tube. What advantage is there in using it?

kymasabe · April 21, 2020, 08:30 PM

Well, I suppose a little dry lube inside it wouldn't hurt.

Nathan · April 21, 2020, 08:42 PM

Might not....might lock it up tighter than a drum when you really need it to work. Personally, I wipe the spring with oil and slide it in.

benEzra · April 21, 2020, 11:51 PM

I just oil it (I’m a big fan of Mobil 1, personally). Oil helps dampen the “sproinnnnng” sound too.

If you do choose to use use dry lube, don’t use graphite in an aluminum receiver; it promotes corrosion of aluminum, IIRC.

dahermit · April 22, 2020, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

Might not....might lock it up tighter than a drum when you really need it to work. Personally, I wipe the spring with oil and slide it in.

It depends what he means by "dry lube". Instead of meaning something that is applied dry like graphite, he might mean one of the products that is applied from a spray can and then dries. I have a couple of those products that I use on the priming and the powder systems of a Dillon 550b and various firearms and after observing how they work, have no concern that they will "lock up" a buffer spring on an AR.

jrothWA · April 22, 2020, 12:29 PM

WHAT, and remove my audible confirmation of firing a round and loading a fresh one!

I haven't but consider dusting the OD with graphite dust.

mellow_c · April 23, 2020, 03:17 AM

Nah.

Not a bad idea to be honest.

But not a great one either in my opinion.

The only way I could imagine dry lube being a benefit is in ridiculously cold conditions. But what do I know. I'm no expert.

I'd chose a wet lube for corrosion protection, reduced friction, and reduced wear, every time. Even a bit of grease.

I think if the rest of the rifle is taken care of, you could probably get away with everything to nothing as a lube in the buffer tube and as long as nothing was physically impeding the motion, I speculate that the rifle would keep working just fine.

2wheelwander · April 23, 2020, 04:02 PM

My drill sergeant didn't tell me to do it, so I still don't.

dakota.potts · April 23, 2020, 07:15 PM

I tend to use TW-25B grease on my buffer assembly. Stuff stays slick forever and doesn't tend to get sticky when there's buildup. Works great for smoothing charging handles too.

kymasabe · April 23, 2020, 09:01 PM

Well, I've been using XF-7. Sprays on, dries quickly, leaves a dry film that's not sticky, doesn't attract dirt or grime, seems to make buffer springs move a little more easily and quietly. I've run out and was wondering if there was an easy to find alternative. I dont want to use grease or oil in the tube.

dakota.potts · April 24, 2020, 01:29 PM

If you want to stick with a dry lube, you could look for powdered graphite. You could also look for a molybdenum disulfide dry lube. Never tried either one in a buffer tube though.

Dfariswheel · April 24, 2020, 07:14 PM

As above DO NOT USE GRAPHITE ON ALUMINUM.... it destroys aluminum.
People found this out the hard way after using a graphite based anti-seize on AR barrel threads.

I always apply Super Lube grease with Teflon on my buffer springs, but lately I've been using a dry lube on shotgun magazine tubes.
What I'm using is WD-40 Dry Lube with Teflon I buy at Menard's.
You can find it other places.

This seems to work well in shotgun magazines. It so far has prevented rust or corrosion, won't hold dirt or debris, and seems to lubricate well.
I don't see any reason it wouldn't work in an AR buffer tube, BUT an AR buffer is operating much faster and harder then a shotgun magazine tube, so it might fail there.

I will not use a dry lube in any other firearms application. For firearms actions a liquid lube or grease is best.

veprdude · April 28, 2020, 12:00 AM

I was thinking Bike Chain lube that goes on wet and dries. It's teflon based. White Lightning or something.

Scorch · April 28, 2020, 01:35 AM

I lube the buffer spring with Militec grease. Works great. Why not dry lube, you ask? Teflon spray costs a lot more than grease. And I have grease. No other reasons.

10-96 · April 30, 2020, 05:27 PM

I guess I don't shoot any particular one of my AR's to notice wear on my buffer tube & spring, but I did just receive another bottle of 99% alcohol. I might mix up some HBN powder suspension and see what it does. Uncle Sam always said to leave that area dry, so I have so far.

April 21, 2020, 05:48 AM	#1
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Does anyone dry-lube their AR buffer tubes? I'm assembling an AR lower and remembered I'd run out of some dry lube that I liked that I'd picked up at a gun show, worked well in buffer tubes. Was wondering if anyone else is doing same and what you might be using, i'm trying to find an easier to find/buy alternative to what I was using. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

April 21, 2020, 05:38 PM	#2
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	I've never heard of using dry lube on a buffer tube. What advantage is there in using it? __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

April 21, 2020, 08:30 PM	#3
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Well, I suppose a little dry lube inside it wouldn't hurt. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

April 23, 2020, 07:15 PM	#10
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	I tend to use TW-25B grease on my buffer assembly. Stuff stays slick forever and doesn't tend to get sticky when there's buildup. Works great for smoothing charging handles too. __________________ Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus) Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.

April 23, 2020, 09:01 PM	#11
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	Well, I've been using XF-7. Sprays on, dries quickly, leaves a dry film that's not sticky, doesn't attract dirt or grime, seems to make buffer springs move a little more easily and quietly. I've run out and was wondering if there was an easy to find alternative. I dont want to use grease or oil in the tube. __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

April 21, 2020, 08:42 PM	#4
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	Might not....might lock it up tighter than a drum when you really need it to work. Personally, I wipe the spring with oil and slide it in.

April 21, 2020, 11:51 PM	#5
benEzra Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2001 Location: Down East in NC Posts: 220	I just oil it (I’m a big fan of Mobil 1, personally). Oil helps dampen the “sproinnnnng” sound too. If you do choose to use use dry lube, don’t use graphite in an aluminum receiver; it promotes corrosion of aluminum, IIRC.

April 22, 2020, 12:29 PM	#7
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	WHAT, and remove my audible confirmation of firing a round and loading a fresh one! I haven't but consider dusting the OD with graphite dust.

April 23, 2020, 03:17 AM	#8
mellow_c Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,862	Nah. Not a bad idea to be honest. But not a great one either in my opinion. The only way I could imagine dry lube being a benefit is in ridiculously cold conditions. But what do I know. I'm no expert. I'd chose a wet lube for corrosion protection, reduced friction, and reduced wear, every time. Even a bit of grease. I think if the rest of the rifle is taken care of, you could probably get away with everything to nothing as a lube in the buffer tube and as long as nothing was physically impeding the motion, I speculate that the rifle would keep working just fine.

April 23, 2020, 04:02 PM	#9
2wheelwander Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2018 Posts: 539	My drill sergeant didn't tell me to do it, so I still don't.

April 24, 2020, 01:29 PM	#12
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	If you want to stick with a dry lube, you could look for powdered graphite. You could also look for a molybdenum disulfide dry lube. Never tried either one in a buffer tube though. __________________ Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus) Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.

April 24, 2020, 07:14 PM	#13
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	As above DO NOT USE GRAPHITE ON ALUMINUM.... it destroys aluminum. People found this out the hard way after using a graphite based anti-seize on AR barrel threads. I always apply Super Lube grease with Teflon on my buffer springs, but lately I've been using a dry lube on shotgun magazine tubes. What I'm using is WD-40 Dry Lube with Teflon I buy at Menard's. You can find it other places. This seems to work well in shotgun magazines. It so far has prevented rust or corrosion, won't hold dirt or debris, and seems to lubricate well. I don't see any reason it wouldn't work in an AR buffer tube, BUT an AR buffer is operating much faster and harder then a shotgun magazine tube, so it might fail there. I will not use a dry lube in any other firearms application. For firearms actions a liquid lube or grease is best.

April 28, 2020, 12:00 AM	#14
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 430	I was thinking Bike Chain lube that goes on wet and dries. It's teflon based. White Lightning or something.

April 28, 2020, 01:35 AM	#15
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I lube the buffer spring with Militec grease. Works great. Why not dry lube, you ask? Teflon spray costs a lot more than grease. And I have grease. No other reasons. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

April 30, 2020, 05:27 PM	#16
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	I guess I don't shoot any particular one of my AR's to notice wear on my buffer tube & spring, but I did just receive another bottle of 99% alcohol. I might mix up some HBN powder suspension and see what it does. Uncle Sam always said to leave that area dry, so I have so far. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.