Every time you go out to the range with your friends you like to show them how accurate your shots can be. Every time, you keep shooting quicker, from greater distances and you’re still accurate. But one day, that accuracy suddenly drops. No matter what you do, how good your aim, all your shots are slightly off. You get closer to the target, but nothing improves. You might still be better than some of your friends, but you know you’re not at your best. It might not be you. It may be the weapon. You need to clean it. But for that, you need a good oil. Not any kind of oil. You need to find one that will bring you back to the top. If you want to find the best gun oil & Lubes, read the following top rated gun oil and lubricant reviews and you’ll have an informed opinion before buying.
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ballistol Multi-Purpose Lubricant Cleaner Protectant |
| View On Amazon |
 | Hornady One Shot Spray Case Lube |
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 | Hoppe’s No. 9 Synthetic Blend Lubricating Oil |
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 | Prom Hoppe’s M-Pro 7 LPX Gun Oil |
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 | CLP by Sage & Braker Gun Oil |
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Best Gun Oil & Lubes
1. Ballistol Multi-Purpose Lubricant Cleaner Protectant
The Ballistol Multi-Purpose Lubricant is a very popular product in Europe. Somehow, it is considered of the best gun cleaner solvent in the market. This combo pack contains one 16 oz. Non-aerosol can, one trigger sprayer, and two 6 oz. aerosol cans. This is a biodegradable oil that won’t harm you or the environment. This product was designed to clean, lubricate, preserve and protect not only weapons but gun stocks and leather gear, as well. Even though it was designed for that, you can use it for most of your household objects. The oil forms a protective film on the surface of the objects and it’s capable of going into the smallest cracks and fissures in order to protect every last bolt.
A great thing about this product is that it will emulsify with water. That means that the product and the water will combine, but once the water evaporates, you will still have the product all over your gear.
This oil is non-toxic and biodegradable. None of the byproducts that result from its use will harm the environment or yourself. Another great feature of this product is the fact that it is slightly alkaline. Once your palms get sweaty, the PH on the surface of the skin becomes a little acidic. The alkaline pH of the oil will neutralize the acidic one from your palms. This way, your handgun will show little signs of use, even after a long period of continuous use.
You can use it on all types of leather, except suede. It will keep it soft and moisturized. Use it before you start cleaning to clear all the residue inside the bore, and then put some in after cleaning for protection.
2. Hornady One Shot Spray Case Lube
The Hornady case lube is specially developed to create a thick micro-particle protective film on every kind of surface of your weapon. The technology used by Hornady ensures that the high-pressure film reaches even the deepest, smallest rifts in your brass case. The spray does not contain any kind of substances that might contaminate the primers or the powders, such as petroleum, synthetic silicone or Teflon.
Many shooters used to lube their ammunition with normal gun lube and then dry them up in a pad. If you’ve done this before, you know this leaves a lot of mess behind, and you have to spend a lot of time cleaning up.
This dry lube makes this problem a thing of the past. No more mess: it the best gun lube and cleaner. The only thing you need to do is to put your cases in a ziplock and arrange them so they are all laying on the side. Shake the spray can, then spray over the cases for 2 or 3 seconds and then roll the cases to distribute the product all over. You no longer have to saturate the cases, because each one will lube your die over time. Any dry spots on your cases should be covered by lube.
Another way to use it is to place your rounds on a rag with their necks up, spray on the cases making sure you hit the neck, pick up the rag and shuffle them a few times. After you let them dry for a couple of minutes, your cases will be ready for resizing.
3. Hoppe’s No. 9 Synthetic Blend Lubricating Oil
Hoppe’s No. 9 lubricating oil is a classical lubricant used by shooters for decades, and gun enthusiasts consider it the best gun oil to prevent rust. It is made in the USA and it faithfully served many generations of weapon handlers. This particular model was designed to offer superior lubrication to modern firearms. The oil is able to protect every surface of your weapon from environmental harm. It will reduce the wear and tear caused by friction. The oil is capable of penetrating every pore of your weapon and creating a sleek film that acts as a barrier against moisture and corrosion.
If you want to use this oil efficiently, you have to put some of it inside the bore before you start cleaning your weapon. Leave it to work for a while, so it will mix with all the dust and residue inside the bore. After that, clean the bore with brushes. After you’re done with the cleaning, put some oil on a bore snake or on a cleaning pad and rub it all over your bore. This will allow the oil to penetrate all the rifts inside the barrel.
You can use this oil on the other surfaces of your weapon, as well. You should be careful to avoid putting it on leather, as it might stain it. You can use this oil on other objects in your household, such as squeaky door hinges, rusty gates or windows. The great thing about this product is that it does not have any odor, so it won’t trouble you.
4. Prom Hoppe’s M-Pro 7 LPX Gun Oil
The M-Pro 7 gun oil provides protection against wear, moisture, and humidity. It can even protect your weapon from the corrosion made by saltwater. This oil will leave a thick film that is able to repel dust and dirt. It is long-lasting, so it will evaporate extremely slow. This makes the oil perfect for preparing a weapon when you intend to put it into storage for a long time. Unlike the traditional oils on the market, this oil combines quality synthetic oils with additives, to make it more performant. The technology developed for this oil allows it to resist evaporation, separation and even gumming. This product will clean all types of fouling without using solvents. It will lubricate your bore to lessen the friction coefficient.
This oil will be effective when used on most surfaces of the gun. You should be careful not to put it on wood or synthetic materials, like the ones usually used for the forearm, as it will not absorb into these materials. For the rest of the surfaces, just pour some oil on a rag and wipe every surface. It will remove all the fouling, the remaining powder and it will create a protective film on the surface. The film will act as a barrier against corrosion and rust. You should be careful not to use a lot of oil on outside surfaces, as it will make your weapon oily. You should not use a lot of oil when cleaning your bore because it will be hard to wipe all of it afterward.
5. CLP by Sage & Braker Gun Oil
The CLP all-in-one cleaning oil was developed with one purpose in mind – cleaning your weapon thoroughly. It has a solvent capable of infiltrating every surface on a microscopic level, in order to provide a deeper and better cleaning solution to copper, carbon, or lead fouling. It is able to engage and mix these elements even after years of accumulation.
The oil will coat and protect all the moving parts of your weapon and your bore, as well. After usage, the moving parts will have improved heat dissipation, making the weapon operate better because of the cooler working temperature.
The patented formula greatly reduces static, therefore reducing the attachment of residue and contaminants to your weapon. The oil produces a neatly distributed protective film overall kind of surfaces, coating them against corrosion and rust.
The product is biodegradable and non-toxic. You can clean your weapon whenever and wherever you want without harming the environment. The oil does not contain any foul-smelling chemicals. It actually smells quite pleasant.
A nice feature of the oil is the fact that it improves the heat dissipation for the bore. This will give the gun a longer life cycle. Not only that, but it lowers the friction between the bore and the bullet, increasing the latter’s velocity.
A slight disadvantage is the spray feature. While it’s easier to use, the spray is also messier. You need to put tissues or a rug underneath the weapon every time you want to clean it, to reduce the mess.
Gun Oil & Lubes Buying Guide
If you’re thinking about buying oil or a lubricant for your gun, you need to make an informed decision. Whether you are looking for the best gun oil for AR15 or the best lube for Glocks, check out our previous gun oil reviews and read the following guide to make sure you purchase the best gun oil for you.
1. Cost
Like every product out there, the market for gun oils and lubricants has grown in the last ten years, or so. There are products that have been best sellers for more than fifty years, but there are some interesting new products as well. Like every market, gun oil has a wide variety when it comes to prices.
- Cheap Oils – When it comes to buying cheap oils, you probably do it because you think all oils are the same. That’s not true. Some cheap oils might actually have water in them. That being said, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but when you put a cheap oil inside your bore, it will go through all the small cracks. If it doesn’t offer much protection against corrosion, you just put water, a corrosion agent, in the smallest and hardest to access parts of your gun. Not a good thing. Cheap oils also have badly designed containers. The cap may leak and you can find yourself covered in oil before you start working on your gun. A dispenser might not exist, or if you find one, it might be too wide for any kind of precision.
- Medium Priced Oils – Most of the products we presented on our list are medium-priced. This is the largest and most varied part of the oil market, so you have to be careful when you buy something. These models can be bad, decent, good or excellent, so you have to do some research before making a purchase. Most have good, reliable containers that come with dispensers so you can use them with more precision.
- Expensive Oils – This is a smaller part of the market, compared with the previous two. Most of the products in this category come with their own, exclusive formulas. Some come with patented container designs. They are made for precision. Some of them have other utilities, except oiling guns. You can use them all over your household.
2. Container Size
Oils come in different shapes and sizes. All of them have advantages and disadvantages. You need to think about these when you decide on a model.
- Small Bottles – Most of the above-average oil manufacturers provide a small bottle option for precision. They usually have a capacity of 10 – 29 milliliters, so under one oz. While placing your oil with precision is important, having such a small bottle might be a disadvantage in the long term. Small bottles are easier to handle, but the smaller caps they come with might be harder to tighten properly, especially after using them. If you don’t tighten the cap enough, you might find yourself with a bag full of oil and a bottle full of air.
- Medium Containers – Medium containers have a capacity of 5 – 16 oz. They usually come with a simple dispenser that allows you to put the oil on patches. Some of the dispensers might be a little loose, so be careful when you pour. These containers fit perfectly in your hunting bag, cabinet or toolbox. Depending on how many weapons you have and the frequency of use, a medium container will probably last for a long period of time, maybe even years.
- Large Containers – Large containers have a capacity of up to 32 oz., but some manufacturers sell even bigger ones. One of these will most definitely last for a long period of time, especially if you only have one handgun. These models might come with a normal dispenser for oiling patches, or they might come equipped with an aerosol. They are usually too big to carry around in your hunting bag, and you will most likely keep them inside your house or garage, without moving them very often.
3. Dispenser Type
All containers have a dispenser. The dispenser will vary with the capacity of the container or with the intention of the manufacturer. Some have many advantages, some have fewer.
- Precision Dispenser – Precision dispensers are usually found in smaller containers. They are designed to reach the most isolated and hardly accessible components of your gun. They can come in different types. Some have a long precision applicator, a longer shaft you can use to place the oil where it’s needed. Some come with a dripping system, much like the ones you’ll find on medicine bottles. This way ensures you can’t put more than one or two oil drops on your cleaning patch. This system is especially effective at cleaning small individual parts.
- Normal Dispenser – The normal dispenser for cleaning oil allows you to put the quantity you need on a cleaning patch without any problem. The only problem of this kind of dispenser is that sometimes it proves to be too thick to reach certain places. Some models are not suited for oiling small parts and will pour a higher quantity of oil than necessary. If the model you want to purchase comes with a normal dispenser make sure you close it well before storing it. Some models have problems with spilling. Try to go for the models that come with a cap you can screw in, not a push-to-pour one.
- Aerosol Dispenser – The aerosol dispenser is one of the worst models out there. While having an aerosol can be considered an advantage because you don’t waste time pulling off or putting the cap on, you should avoid it. The main problem with aerosol dispensers is that you will eventually spill a large quantity of oil. No matter if you’re careful or not, the aerosol disperses the oil on a wide surface, one you can’t control.
4. Oil Or Water-based?
There are mainly two types of cleaning oils and lubes. Those that are based on oils and those that are based on water. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
- Oil Based – Most gun cleaning products are based on oils. Most of these oils are synthetic, more exactly, mineral oils. They come with different viscosity, and every viscosity has certain advantages. The more viscose ones are thicker. That may seem like an advantage, but it’s actually not. Having a more viscose oil to clean your bore is a risk. If you don’t wipe enough for it to only leave a protective film behind, you might actually do more damage than good. Oils have the tendency to attract different materials, such as dirt, dust gunpowder residue, or even metal residue. Once it gathers enough materials, it becomes corrosive and it starts harming your barrel. Also, thicker oil is hard to wipe from the surface of your gun. It tends to stick, so you really have to wipe well to get rid of it. A medium viscose oil tends to flow more rapidly than the thicker ones. They are easy to wipe, so you don’t have trouble in that department. They will make a protective film to offer the highest protection against water, moisture, and wear. The less-viscose oils are of decent quality. They get the job done, but the protective film they form on the surface of your weapon is slightly thin, so you have to remember to clean and oil your weapon more frequently.
- Water-Based Cleaning Products – This is a more recent technology. These models are environment-friendly and they don’t stain. You can use them on the inside and on the outside of your gun. After you mix them with water and apply them on a surface, they make a protective film that lasts long enough.
5. Special technologies
While most of the cleaning oil follow classical recipes that have been employed for years, some manufacturers use new, creative ways to clean your weapon. All have advantages and disadvantages.
Classical Recipes – Most of the manufacturers use mineral oil for weapon cleaning products. They are not wrong to do this, as this has been used with success for decades. This way has some disadvantages, though. When you use too much oil or use oil with high viscosity, you risk doing more damage than good. The excess oil you leave on the bore of the weapon can stick to dirt and residue and become a corrosive agent. Another disadvantage is the fact that mineral oil stains. You have to be careful when you use it. The main advantages of using mineral oil are the fact that it is effective, it gets the job done when it’s used properly, and last, but not least, it’s cheap.
Classical Recipes – Most of the manufacturers use mineral oil for weapon cleaning products. They are not wrong to do this, as this has been used with success for decades. This way has some disadvantages, though. When you use too much oil or use oil with high viscosity, you risk doing more damage than good. The excess oil you leave on the bore of the weapon can stick to dirt and residue and become a corrosive agent. Another disadvantage is the fact that mineral oil stains. You have to be careful when you use it. The main advantages of using mineral oil are the fact that it is effective, it gets the job done when it’s used properly, and last, but not least, it’s cheap.- Teflon Formula – This is one of the recent formulas developed for weapon cleaning. The products that use this kind of formula leave a thin long-lasting film that is able to penetrate the smallest fissures and metal pores and keep your components working for a long time. They offer good moisture and rust protection. You can use them to clean all the dirt and grime from exposed surfaces. Keep in mind that some customers consider that the products using this technology dry up too fast.
- Water-Based Formula – The products using this formula are mixed with water before you use them. After that, you can clean all types of surfaces with them, even leather handles. After the water evaporates, the active substance in the product will leave a protective coating that will prevent corrosion and rust. The substances are environmentally friendly. The main disadvantage of these products is the fact that they smell absolutely disgusting.
How to Lubricate Your Pistol The Right Way?
There are two primary reasons for lubrication: one is for protection; and the other is for lubricity, to protect from erosion and friction. In the early days of shooting, up until the mid to late 60s, many of the oils that were on the market were natural-based oils and when they were used in excess they would cause blocks to build up inside the gun. They were very detrimental to the actual mechanics of a firearm when used without discretion. When you wouldn’t use your weapon for a longer period of time, an orange build-up could be seen inside of the barrel.
Modern gun oils are synthetic based. As far as metal protection is concerned, one or two drops are all that’s necessary to put a shine on the steel and wipe it down. Your only concern is to give it a microscopic film of oil. You don’t want to have a build-up of oil or to have a slimy gun. The microscopic oil film will protect the steel of corrosive elements. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that you need to do this from time to time.
For lubrication, you can use different types of oils. All oils have a lubricant property. You have to be careful when you use oil on the gun. Use little of it. Oil has the natural tendency to attract other materials, and that’s not acceptable when you use it for lubricating a gun. You don’t want to attract dust, gunpowder residue from firing, or metal residue. All these things have abrasive qualities, and when you combine these with oil they create a paste. The more foreign materials you have in the oil, the thicker the paste becomes. Eventually, you get to the situation where because of the oil, you have an abrasive paste that’s wearing down your components.
You just have to use one or two drops on the slide, one or two drops on the inside of the barrel, and one or two drops on the receiver. Wipe the oil off with a cloth and that’s it.
The best possible thing you can do for your gun is to clean it more often. If not, you will have to buy a new one by visiting our new post about top air pistols on the market. Anyway, if you take it to the range for a shooting session, clean it afterward. After you clean it, apply some small amount of lubricant to protect it from corrosion and from the elements, and then wipe it off. You don’t want to over-lubricate. Over-lubrication will cause more damage to a gun than under-lubrication.
Remember your gun parts are hardened steel. If you have a weapon that’s made to high-quality mechanical standards, the surface of those parts that are designed to rub together is extremely hard. You’re not going to break them by wearing those parts together. If you have a handgun that has such a rapid cyclic rate that you’re actually concerned about creating friction between the working components, you’re going to wear out the barrel long before you wear out those parts.
[Just remember! Use a little oil to lubricate your gun, but use it often, and always after cleaning the weapon.] Cleaning your weapon is essential for its durability. If you want to be able to fire your weapon accurately 20 years after you purchase it, you need to clean it regularly. It is well known that if you take good care of your gun, your gun will take good care of you. Cleaning your weapon might sound boring at the moment, especially if you didn’t do this kind of activity before, but it can turn out to be a great relaxing method. Some people even use it as a meditation technique. You must try it at least once before you decide it’s a waste of time. But cleaning your weapon must be done effectively. For that, you need to have the proper accessories (you can also use a gun vise for more easiness and safety). These are a cleaning kit and cleaning substances, such as oil. If you want to find the best gun oil, read the buying guide and the gun oil reviews we made for you. For more tactical gears reviews: tacticals.orgBest Gun Oils & Lubes Comparison Chart
PRODUCT PRICE DIMENSIONS CONTENT PROS BALLISTOL MULTI-PURPOSE LUBRICANT CLEANER PROTECTANT $$$ 9 x 6 x 6 inches 16 oz. Biodegradable Preserves and protects metal, wood, leather and plastics HORNADY ONE SHOT SPRAY CASE LUBE $$ 7 x 3 x 2 inches 5 oz. Contains no petroleum, teflon or synthetic silicone Will NOT contaminate powders HOPPE’S NO. 9 SYNTHETIC BLEND LUBRICATING OIL $ 4.6 x 1.8 x 1 inches 2.25-Ounce 100 percent designed M-PRO 7 GUN OIL LPX, 4 OUNCE BOTTLE $$ 3.3 x 1.6 x 1.4 inches 2 FL oz. Decreases friction and wear High quality synthetic oils and lox additives CLP BY SAGE & BRAKER GUN OIL $$$ N/A 4 oz. LONG LASTING PROTECTION BIODEGRADABLE AND NON-TOXIC Wrapping Up!