Shouldn't automatics be oiled?

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  • emanon

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    Now that I have my LTC, I joined the security team for my church. One member at the meeting said I should her never oil my Glock 48. He said automatics should never be oiled but only cleaned thoroughly. All over the internet are instructions for oiling automatics! I'm assuming this guy is giving me wrong information. Is he?
    DK Firearms
     

    HKShooter65

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    I have a leftover Castrol 10w-60 quart of fully synthetic oil from when I owned a BMW M5.

    I use is sparingly on the metal-on-metal bearing surfaces.

    Ain't no way it could be harmful to do that to a firearm.

    That quart will last me forever in the 0.01 cc aliquots that a pistol requires.


    On a more objective note:
    Page 26 of my Glock manual:

    "Your GLOCK pistol should be cleaned and lubricated
    as follows:
    1. when brand new, before first time it is fired, plus
    2. after each time it is fired."

    Not sure what part of "Cleaned and lubricated" malformed buddy does not understand?
     
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    Renegade

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    Now that I have my LTC, I joined the security team for my church. One member at the meeting said I should her never oil my Glock 48. He said automatics should never be oiled but only cleaned thoroughly. All over the internet are instructions for oiling automatics! I'm assuming this guy is giving me wrong information. Is he?

    The Glock instruction manual that should have come with your gun explains lubricating your gun. If it didn't, you can get a pdf copy here:

    https://us.glock.com/en/downloadable-materials

    It does not appear your member buddy knows anything about guns.
     

    SA_Steve

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    I use a tiny dab of food grade lubriplate smeared around really thin. You can buy gun grease in pretty colors and that smells good too. (It's the same stuff, with fun additives)
    Some years ago there was no end of discussion on forums about pistol lube. Now most folks know that anything you buy is plenty ok. If you don't use too much. And read the manual.
     

    emanon

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    I really hate to say this as I hate it when others say it but did you read the manual that came with your gun? You can trust the manual more than your knowledgeable member.

    Yes I mentioned to him that the manual instructions says to lubricate. He said don't follow that instruction!! I knew he was wrong but I thought I'd better bring the question to this forum to be sure.
     

    Renegade

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    Yes I mentioned to him that the manual instructions says to lubricate. He said don't follow that instruction!! I knew he was wrong but I thought I'd better bring the question to this forum to be sure.

    Sounds like your church member is a stubborn idiot, and if he thinks he knows more than Glock, he probably thinks he knows more about church security than your team leader. Watch your back, people like him are the ones who have AD's or accidentally shoot people.
     

    emanon

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    Sounds like your church member is a stubborn idiot, and if he thinks he knows more than Glock, he probably thinks he knows more about church security than your team leader. Watch your back, people like him are the ones who have AD's or accidentally shoot people.

    You are right!!!
     

    zaitcev

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    Some exceptions exist. For example, the Robar coating has a natural lubricity. Unfortunately, the company went out of business in 2019, and it's not going to be possible to get a similar business approved by environmental authorities. In all other cases, firearms need lubrication. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

    And yes, it differs, and the official manuals specify the lubrication regime. In case of Walther PPQ, for instance, some of the lubrication points are metal-to-plastic. So it's not just metal-on-metal that may need oil.

    In certain extreme cases, even a specific lubricant may be specified. For example, Boberg XR9-S and family required a specific grease on the lugs of the rotating barrel. Coincidentally, it was a nasty, dark stuff that left spots everywhere. When Bond Arms acquired the Boberg line of the pistols, the biggest change they made was re-designing the profile of the cam and pin, so as to remove a need for a special lube. You can use a regular axle grease for Boberg Bullpup now. It just shows that trusting the manual is the right thing to do.

    A Glock can run dry, purely because it's a robust design with deep margins. But if the manufacturer tells you to oil it, then do it.
     

    zackmars

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    All mechanicap devices need some form of lubrication.

    On glocks, grease works best, im partial to TW25B, but as long as you arent using frog lube, you'll be ok
     

    Dawico

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    All autos including Glocks should be oiled.

    On Glocks a drop of oil on each slide rail and one drop where the barrel lock into the slide (the top front part that wears the black off).

    What oil? Whatever new fancy whizbang product you want.

    I use motor oil. If you check the oil on your vehicle when you wipe the dipstick that amount will oil your Glock four times or oil half a 1911.

    How often? For a Glock every few months or when you clean it. For a 1911 three times a day at least.
     

    oldag

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    Any gun might function for a while without lubrication.

    However, it is not wise for either short term operation or long term service life.
     

    Army 1911

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    I have a leftover Castrol 10w-60 quart of fully synthetic oil from when I owned a BMW M5.

    I use is sparingly on the metal-on-metal bearing surfaces.

    Ain't no way it could be harmful to do that to a firearm.

    That quart will last me forever in the 0.01 cc aliquots that a pistol requires.


    On a more objective note:
    Page 26 of my Glock manual:

    "Your GLOCK pistol should be cleaned and lubricated
    as follows:
    1. when brand new, before first time it is fired, plus
    2. after each time it is fired."

    Not sure what part of "Cleaned and lubricated" malformed buddy does not understand?

    Wow! Clean and lube after each shot fired! Low maintenance my (well probably your) ass.
     

    claymore504

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    I would bet that this guy that told you not to lubricate your handgun is most likely giving out other bad advise. I hope he is not steering people in the the wrong direction.
     
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