Does anyone have any recommendations for a product that will help protect the exterior of a firearm from rust that isn’t slippery like your average gun oil or CLP? I searched the forum but didn’t come up with anything on this topic, if this has already been discussed please point me in the direction of the threads I should be reading.
I’m looking for something non-slippery and waterproof that won’t rub off on or stain clothing, and is preferably non-toxic. I know the obvious answer is some kind of permanent coating like Cerakote, but I’m looking for something less expensive that can be reapplied as needed. I’d like to find something to use on safety selector levers (exterior only), bolt catch paddles, barrel exteriors, handgun slides & slide releases, bolt handles for bolt action rifles, etc… (I know the last two aren’t M4/AR15 related, but you get the idea.) Basically anything that needs the “P” part of “CLP” without the slickness of the “L”. Anything out there fit the bill?
Maybe take a look at FrogLube. Its messy to put on, but it does dry and does not leave a sticky, messy surface. I used it a little bit before deciding I liked other stuff better for cleaning and lube, but not because FrogLube was lacking in any way. When shooting the gun and it becomes hot, will become wet again to some degree - at least on the internal parts, but I don’t recall that being the case on the outside of the gun. You can pull up their instructional videos online.
I remember reading that Break Free CLP beat most other gun lube (including froglube) in rust prevention. Most ARs with parked, nitrided and with good milspec anodizing will ‘soak up’ the CLP. Any rifle that is going to sit for a while, gets a good coat of CLP where I work. We let it sit for a few hours and wipe off the excess with something lint free. After that nothing on the exterior is slippery.
Another substance we like (subjectively) is this stuff called Archoil. Got a few samples from it at a trade show. Haven’t bought any though.
No offense, but I’ve used Boeshield T-9 for years, and the one way to describe it, is SLIPPERY AND SLICK. Geezus, and you wonder how bad information gets dispersed over the internet. It’s one thing to make an honest mistake with complicated subjects, and possibly give some incorrect info, but how on earth man can you sit here and tell this guy Boeshield isn’t slippery? I suppose now you will play the “I somehow didn’t fully read the first sentence of his post” card on us.
Sorry man, I’m not trying to beat you up, but it doesn’t get much worse than this when it comes to blatantly giving out bad info.
To everyone recommending a lube, well, that simply isn’t going to work, as it will do EXACTLY what the op doesn’t want (it will be slippery and a slippery M4 is a bad M4). As I’ve noted, even some rust preventatives like Boeshield will be too slippery.
Op, sorry for the delay, as I had to get down in my shop to confirm the name of the product, but what you want to use is a product called “Rust Prevent” by Shooters Choice. It works, it lasts, and I have confirmed it will harm nothing on your firearm. Safe for polymers, plastics, etc, including all firearm finishes, and best of all, it is NOT slippery.
Anyone willing to shoot me their email and post up a pic for me which I took of the can?? It’s a great pic, but I cannot post pics from my mobile. Anyone? I just need an email to send to as I can’t attach pics via indirect emails thru the forum…
Oh, one more product to consider, that most of you fellow military types will recognize is Sentry Solutions “Tuf-Glide”. It’s a dry protectant, which goes on wet, and dries shortly after, leaving behind a corrosion inhibitor. However, IIRC, the drying agent that evaporates is mineral spirits, so not site what it may harm on certain firearm finishes.
Breakfree Collector.
Been using it for years, seems to work well. No mineral oil, supposedly safe for synthetics. Once dry, I wipe off excess and its not very slippery.
My vote goes to Amsoil HD. It has a waxy feel to it after it dries, but it is not really slippery. As to its corrosion resistance, I did a “test” on April 7 13. The HD is on the right side of the angle iron (“0” weight grease is on the left) these have been outside since 4/7/13.
Thank you to everyone who replied. I looked at a bunch of reviews of the Boeshield T-9, they all seemed very positive and most mentioned that it was not slippery… It was looking really promising until I saw Razorhunter’s comment. Does anyone else have any experience with it?
I found this not-so-scientific test of several of the products that have been recommended, including Shooters Choice Rust Prevent. Unfortunately the Rust Prevent didn’t prevent rust very well in the test…
As for the remaining recommendations, although I have not personally used any of them, from what I’ve been able to find on the internet none of them really strike me as quite what I’m looking for. Eezox seems to have just as good of a reputation as a lubricant as it does as a rust inhibitor, and I’m specifically looking for something non-slippery. Otherwise, of all the recommended products, it seems to rank very high in the rust protection department. Break Free CLP and Break Free Collector are in a similar boat - great reputation for rust prevention it seems, but also a good reputation as a lubricant (hence “clean, lube, protect”). That’s not really what I’m looking for.
I couldn’t really find much on Amsoil MP HD, other than that it is also said to work well as a penetrant, and I’m a little leery of using penetrants on firearms. Sentry Solutions Tuf-Glide looks promising, but I haven’t been able to find much info on it.
:sarcastic: I did that to the rocker panels on my last car, lol. Trying to be a little less noticeable on my rifle.
It was looking really promising until I saw Razorhunter’s comment. Does anyone else have any experience with it?