How To Clean The Outside Of A Gun

Baird Antither · Friday, November 26, 2021

March 26th, 2017,08:46 PM #1

Oil Exterior Of Gun?

Who wipes their handguns/rifles with a remoil wipe or some other oil? How heavy? What liquid do you use? Wipe off I assume before shooting? Point of doing it?
Just wondering who does this.

Gunowner99 - NRA Benefactor Life Member
March 26th, 2017,08:56 PM #2

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

So, how wet are remoil wipes supposed to be? They seems almost dry to me. You use one wipe per weapon generally? What other stuff and how?

Gunowner99 - NRA Benefactor Life Member
March 26th, 2017,09:33 PM #3

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

I use Break Free CLP. Just a small drop on a rag and wipe down the exterior. Helps prevent rust, makes it shiny and pretty, etc...
March 26th, 2017,09:34 PM #4

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

Yeah they show they have stuff impregnated in them but they are not really wet. Even at the store they seem the same way.
It does not leave the gun wet or greasy. Is that enough?

Gunowner99 - NRA Benefactor Life Member
March 26th, 2017,09:43 PM #5

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

I take a 10 inch square of an old T-shirt and put some CLP (or sometimes even synthetic motor oil) on it. Not much, less than a teaspoon. Rub it around and you get a cloth with a very light coating of oil. After cleaning a firearm I rub all my fingerprints off the outside with the cloth. Then put the cloth in a ziplock bag when you are done. I have one on my bench, one in my shooting bag and one by the safe. Probably a few lying around other places too. Put a few more drops of oil on every now and then and when they get filthy just throw it away.
If you put enough oil on the gun where you think you have to wipe it off before using you put WAY too much. You shouldn't even notice it is oiled.
March 26th, 2017,10:38 PM #6

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

When I apply oil I wipe all metal down with enough on the cloth to leave it "wet". I figure this allows it to "weep" into cracks and corners where I can't quite get the cloth into.
Once finished, I take a lint-free rag and "wipe it all off". I just wipe it so that it doesn't look "oily" and stop.
You don't need to see it - it's there.

I usually slip my right hand into an old sock and use that hand to hold the gun while I oil with the other.
Keep my fingers off the steel and keeps me from getting oil on plastic or wood grips.

I stopped using that smelly crap (any commonly sold gun oil) that I grew up using a long time ago.
I use Weapon Shield. It's a cleaner, lube, and protectant - and it doesn't require opening all the windows or cleaning guns while the wife is away.

FUCK- joe BI- den ... FUCK- joe BI- den ... FUCK- joe BI- den ...
March 26th, 2017,10:47 PM #7

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

I spray Remoil liberally then wipe off the excess.
March 26th, 2017,10:53 PM #8

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

Buy a silicone cloth and wipe it down. Even Walmart has them. Blue and parkerizing need oil to prevent rust. That's what they do, act like oil sponge. Won't hurt any other finish to have it on. Much better than finding corrosion. Some people's chemistry rusts guns quick, some don't.
March 27th, 2017,07:13 AM #9

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

Originally Posted by Gunowner99

Who wipes their handguns/rifles with a remoil wipe or some other oil? How heavy? What liquid do you use? Wipe off I assume before shooting? Point of doing it?
Just wondering who does this.

Like everyone already said.
All the modern CLP/CLR will work, I don't recommend one over another.
I like to keep a saturated rag and/or a mini bottle with my gear.
Wipe it on, wipe it off, it will still be on the metal.
Try to keep your hands off the metal before storage with gloves or whatever if you can (I like nitrile gloves also).
The oil should not be so heavy that you need to wipe it off to use the gun.
Keep the oil off the non-metal parts as best you can.
The oil won't hurt the composite material, but it will trap dust/dirt/residue where it doesn't need to be, and it will make the grip slippery unnecessarily.

How can you have any cookies if you don't drink your milk?
March 27th, 2017,08:01 AM #10

Re: Oil Exterior Of Gun?

my blued guns get very liberal doses of CorrosionX all over the exterior. Stainless guns get the same treatment, but on a less regular basis.
I'd rather over-oil my gun, and prevent rust, than have rust on a gun and then it's there forever.