Raminator

I posted this question over at a certain AR 15 forum, but no one seems to want to answer. Funny thing. They will talk all day about this and that accessory, which AR is better than the other, but when you ask a real question about something seemingly as simple as whether or not to use a dry lube on your AR, everyone suddenly shuts up and no one knows what to say. So, I'm asking it here (I should have in the first place).

I'd like to know what some of you good folks think of using dry lubricants, like Eezox on AR 15's. I use Eezox on my pistols at home and it works very well since they are CCW. But I'm not as sure for my new AR rifle. I'm currently using a petroleum CLP and it seems to be working well at this point. Will the AR take kindly to a synthetic dry lubricant or do these guns want to run wet?

Doug Cook

Everything I've ever read suggest they like to run wet, although, with products like Militec, they may not need to run as wet. I would feel more comfortable using a dry lube on a gas piston setup simply because there is less buildup.

78CJ5

I run mine wet, It is makes it easier for me to clean it when I am through. I lube the bolt and carrier with CLP or Rem oil. It will work dry but then I have noticed more dry carbon to clean up when I am finished Just my 2 cents.

Raminator

Yeah, the CLP stuff seems to work pretty well for mine. I did notice however, that my bolt was easier to clean because I put a light film of tetra gun grease on it. The rest of the gun ran dry after a couple hundred rounds, but was easy to clean off in a hurry.

KKBMTGG/go army

James, that AR forum you speak of is too full of "perfeshnuls and eggspurt" to waste time on your silly question Perhaps you should have prefaced it with a question about BCM or Stag vs Colt
There is some knowledgeable folks there but there is a bunch of couch commandoes also.
The answer to your question is this.....Dry lube, not good. Wet lube, good. In fact it is necessary. The AR system is known as the weapon that sh-ts on itself because of where it deposits it's exhaust gasses.
Wet is needed when high volume usage is the order of the day and it is nice when the time comes to clean that beast.

Raminator

LOL @ eggspurts. Yeah, for sure. There are some knowledgeable cats over there, but hot damn. You really have to wade through a pool of verbal feces to get to the good stuff.

liberalsmakemepuke

You need to step up your "tacticool" to hang out there. The best way to get an answer is to very loudly proclaim a position on something,, ie. "AR's run best when dri-lubed." Then sit back and count responses like a poll. When you're done counting, print them out and use the paper for Charmin.

KKBMTGG/go army

Roger that.

KKBMTGG/go army

Yep LMMP, Tommy tactical is alive and well @ arfcom. There are some good folks there but it's getting harder and harder to get a word in edgewise.
The AR is extremely popular and as such that site is too, problem is, every nimnull with a half dozen mags and a Clint Smith DVD seems to think he's an authority.
My favorite get-em going type of question is something like....Buffer spring poundage, light or heavy?
Sorry, I can't help myself.

liberalsmakemepuke

I spent some time there, and at another DARKrifle site when I first bought an AR. I understand smartassin newbs a little bit once in a while, but if they're sincere, and really trying, a guy backs off and tries to help. I've been around guns my whole life, no expert by any means, but a little ways from a newbie.

There are some very knowlegable people at both places, but the mall ninjas seem to overrun the show now. It's sort of an inmates runnning the asylum thing.

When I bought my second AR, in the SR 556, about the only person who addressed the carrier tilt discussion anywhere in any kind of decent way, was you. (Thanks for that by the way).

There may not be a lot of black rifle talk around here, but you have one helluva lot better chance of getting real help if you ask nicely.

Raminator

I got sucked into an argument because some asshat mentioned that my comment regarding the quality of a RRA rifle was fanboy BS. Of course, he was pushing Colt and LMT as if murphy doesn't strike at those rifles ever. I decided after a few responses to just let them have their internet victory and never went back to look at the thread. Useless.

I used Winchester break free CLP so far, and it seems to have worked like a charm. I let is soak overnight before assembling it to shoot and I could not believe the crud that came out of it. But that's to be expected with new stuff. Is the Rem oil not a CLP?

KKBMTGG/go army

My pleasure sir.

b.hutchman

In the US, we used BreakFree. In the desert, we used miltec or if you did use BreakFree you had to make sure you wipe off the excess or it will be a dirt magnet. The bolt is easier to clean (don't have to scrape the carbon in front of the gas rings) if you run it wet with BreakFree but that may not always practical.

When we would turn in weapons for inspection or turn in ... it would take three days. You clean with BreakFree until you "think" it is clean and turn it in. The next day you would clean it again and it would magically be dirty (the BreakFree is doing its job breaking down carbon and lifting it out of the pours) ... on the third day they were pretty clean and would usually pass inspection.

BronxBoy

The Rem oil is not a CLP but it is a good lubricant!

b.hutchman

I think it has teflon in it too. I have some and I think I remember something like that being in it.

madtown

I have used Eezox (CLP) on my AR's for years and haven't run into any problems yet. I use liberally on the bolt carrier & assembly but keep the rest of the weapon dry.

I hear you about the "AR Attitude". I don't even bother going to the AR sites anymore. I commented on another post today about it.
I am a firm believer of Iowegan when he says the less Lube or grease you use on a firearm the better. Eezox is all you need. IMHO.

BronxBoy

Yes, it does contain Teflon which leaves a film protective barrier. If you were to use it on a rag/patch and run it over an area of residue it would clean it to some degree, maybe a lot depending on the amount. Yet, it is touted by Remington as being primarily a lubricant. The cleaning and protection aspects are secondary and that is why it is not a true CLP. Hoppe’s #9 and REM oil are popular gun maintenance chemicals in my extended family.

rezman762

Search for "Ed's Red" homebrew.

You mix it by the gallon, and it works great for me.

AR system must be run wet in my experience, no such thing as a reliable dry lube.