Choosing the Right Gun Oil Formula with Effective Additives
If you are a certified firearm holder, ensuring that the weapon is well maintained can significantly go along way to improve the effectiveness and functionality of your gun. Proper firearm maintenance involves a series of procedures that use specialized tools, chemical solutions and lubricants like the gun oil used by military.
Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or arming yourself for self-protection, it’s imperative to have a firearm that performs properly. You wouldn’t want a gun jamming when you need it the most. When it comes to choosing the best gun oil or lube, you have a huge selection available on the market, which makes the buying process a bit daunting. Each has its specifications which is what determines the area of application.
Understanding military oil specifications can help you source the right firearm oil. According to a recent survey, 89% of lubrication professionals consider an oil’s viscosity index when selecting a lubricant.
1. Grease
Ideally, you’ll be looking for a firearm grease, which is just a gun oil in a more thickened state. To achieve the best oil specifications, the grease is mixed with an adhering base and other additives. Depending on the type of base you choose to form the mixture, the base may offer several benefits such as oxidation-reduction and improve water-resistance.
Greases come in different grades and each grade is suitable for a particular environment. Check for the NLGI number to confirm the grade type; this is a system used to measure the consistency range of the grease. A thin grease will be denoted by a small number and the thicker it becomes, the higher the number. This essential when choosing the right type for your needs.
2. Anti-Wear/Extreme Pressure
There are many additives in the market, and when mixed with oil they form a mixture/lubricant that offers a specific function. You’ll most likely come across AW/EP when choosing a gun oil; it means anti-wear and extreme pressure. This is an essential quality in gun oil as it protects your gun from wear and corrosion improving its effectiveness.
Gun oil used by military personnel is rich in quality additives that are mixed with oil to form a thick mixture with additional properties for different applications.
Commonly added additives that improve lubricant performance include:
- Detergents
- Friction modifiers
- Dispersants
- Boron
- Tactifiers
- Extreme pressure
- Anti-foaming agents
- Run and corrosion inhibitors
- Anti-oxidants
There are many other additives in the market combined with gun oil used by military forces for firearm maintenance. In addition to gun oil, these additives are also added to engine oils, cutting fluids like castrol syntilo, gear oils and other synthetic lubricants.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Gun Oil
The type of oil you’ll need for gun maintenance depends on how often you use your gun. Regular users and those who keep their guns on locker for later use will need different types of oil for their application. Guns that are cleaned and lubricated well function properly whenever it’s fired.
If you reside in regions with high levels of salinity like the coastal areas, your weapon is more susceptible to rust than those living in high temperatures regions. You are recommended to choose gun oil that is rich in rust preventative additives that help store guns. During winter guns are vulnerable to jamming if not well maintained. For those living in regions with long winter seasons and extreme cold, you’ll want to find an oil that is ideal for that kind of environment.
There is a pool of gun oils, lubricants, cleaners and protectants to choose from. But it helps to know some of the most reliable brands in the market and the type of protection your gun deserves; this helps you determine and choose the best gun oil for your needs.
Whether you’ll be looking for the same kind of gun oil used by military forces, or approved products in the market, be careful not to end up buying a low-quality gun oil that will only compromise on the integrity and performance of your gun.