AR - lubrication

[alpacaheat]

Just lubed up my first AR build using this video as a guideline. Did I miss any parts that should be oiled?

Charging Handle Track / Top of Charging Handle
Underside of Bolt Carrier
Cam Pins
Bolt Lugs
Bolt body tracks
Gas Rings
Buffer
Trigger + hammer springs





Used this oil:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[ArmyVet]

I've been using this for about 5 years now...same bottle

[DucatiRon]

Honestly i just dribble some oil on the BCG (mainly along the sides) and gas rings. Hand cycle it a few times and shoot. I only do the above procedure when I deep clean. And I use Mobil 1 5-w30 or what ever else Mobil 1 is left over from the last oil change.

[jthrelf]

Literally any gun oil will work fine... And of course even synthetic motor oil.

You hit all the major points. Not that you have to strip it down again right now, but next time I'd add to your routine: very light coat on the firing pin, a drop in the takedown and pivot pin detent channels, backside of the bolt catch

Here's another guide (G = generous, L = light)

[bogey1]

Normally I weapon shield it. In the field its pb blaster or wd40 (just spray it).

[alpacaheat]

Literally any gun oil will work fine... And of course even synthetic motor oil.

You hit all the major points. Not that you have to strip it down again right now, but next time I'd add to your routine: very light coat on the firing pin, a drop in the takedown and pivot pin detent channels, backside of the bolt catch

I actually did a light coat in the firing pin, just what was on my fingers after doing the bolt. Also added a drop to the safety lever that I didn't mention.


Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything major. I just picked up ammo for it and my range just re-opened. Time to have some fun.

[51158]

I like a little grease (lithium or moly)where the bcg ride in the upper.. very little, I put it on with a bore patch

here's a pamphlet on maintenance and lube from .gov

http://www.astrotx.com/M-16A1%20Rifle.pdf

[X-RAY]

Despite the retold reputation of the AR, it doesn’t need to be squeaky clean to run. It needs 4-5 drops of oil....any oil.....in each hole of the BCG and a few drops on the exposed side of the BCG every 400-500 rounds (or 13-16 mags). Give it a try. They’ll run like champs.

I’m not suggesting to not clean any firearm that’s gonna sit for a few months. I’m just saying that the level of care to keep an AR dependable isn’t as much as the rumors and tales suggest. Just my 2 cents.

[jthrelf]

Despite the retold reputation of the AR, it doesn’t need to be squeaky clean to run. It needs 4-5 drops of oil....any oil.....in each hole of the BCG and a few drops on the exposed side of the BCG every 400-500 rounds (or 13-16 mags). Give it a try. They’ll run like champs.

I’m not suggesting to not clean any firearm that’s gonna sit for a few months. I’m just saying that the level of care to keep an AR dependable isn’t as much as the rumors and tales suggest. Just my 2 cents.

Lubed is more important than clean

[X-RAY]

Too much oil holds grit and forms something similar to lapping compound. Heard from several Navy shooters (back in the early 80's) who spent lots of time in an area with fine windblown sand which got everywhere and stuck to those oily action parts and went against military doctrine (if it moves oil/grease it , if it sticks , apply MORE oil/grease!). They used aerosol Teflon mold release spray. It leaves a white Teflon coating. Of course , it's highly unlikely civilian weapons will be subject to these conditions. But it didn't hold the sand.

Respectfully, this is an example of the rumors and tales that I mentioned. This may have been the belief of Navy shooters in the 80s, but if that’s the case, they were wrong. My only qualifications on the topic are my deployments to windy and sandy environments. Nobody was using Teflon or any other magic lube in their DI ARs. Just oil. If they stumbled on a lube that amazing 30 years ago, I can assure you it would be in widespread use today. Sand/dust/dirt got into our actions. They sounded horrible sometimes. The dust absorbed the oil and dried it out sometimes. But the fact of the matter is, lube in in the areas and manner that I mentioned will keep the gun running dependably for thousands and thousands of rounds. jthrelf is correct. Your magazines, worn springs or extractor will most likely fail before fouling causes failure on a properly lubed AR.

Regards.