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Weapons maintenance article
11/15/2006 10:33:00 AM
A good article about weapon maintenance in this month's issue of SWAT magazine. A good review of what to look for as far as metal fatigue goes, where to clean, where to lube, etc. After mentioning the frequency of "frankengun" builds these days, the article showed an inset photo of what lubes are suggested with the quote:
The rifle featured in the photo had an unmistakable CY6 logo on the receiver...
Nice looking rifle, Sully!
I can't wait to get a hold of my new SLR15!
Thanks for the article, Denny. It's an important review of what many people overlook when it comes to weapons maintenance. I especially agree with the part about lubing the "worn" or bare metal areas of your rifle. Proper lube, cleaning and replacement of worn parts will make most quality rifles function flawlessly for thousands of rounds regardless of the shooter's environment.
| ...It helps if you have a quality rifle to start with.. |
The rifle featured in the photo had an unmistakable CY6 logo on the receiver...
Nice looking rifle, Sully!
I can't wait to get a hold of my new SLR15!
Thanks for the article, Denny. It's an important review of what many people overlook when it comes to weapons maintenance. I especially agree with the part about lubing the "worn" or bare metal areas of your rifle. Proper lube, cleaning and replacement of worn parts will make most quality rifles function flawlessly for thousands of rounds regardless of the shooter's environment.
11/16/2006 2:33:58 PM
Once again, the article by Pat Rogers stands out for its nuts-and-bolts, operational approach. No theories; just relating experience.
Of course, it's easy for me to be impressed when I agree with everything he says.
I teach 80% introductory courses, which means most of my people have little or no face-to-face instruction. Fully half the guns I see in class come in dry. We learned to fix that straight away. Just as Mr. Rogers says, the causes of malfunctions are magazines first, crummy parts/assembly second, and dry guns a close third. I use the "machine tools" analogy, and point out Western Pennsylvania is relatively dust free 99% of the time, and does not ever get cold enough to require specialized lubrication. One can lubricate an AR-15 with cooking oil in a pinch, and it will run.
What I find amazing is the amount of argument I get on the point (not in classes, but in "discussions" elsewhere). People are actually offended. HA! Maybe now that someone "famous" has recited the obvious, people will begin to proclaim this heresy as though it were their own idea.
If so, SWAT and Pat Rogers have done a service.
Of course, it's easy for me to be impressed when I agree with everything he says.
I teach 80% introductory courses, which means most of my people have little or no face-to-face instruction. Fully half the guns I see in class come in dry. We learned to fix that straight away. Just as Mr. Rogers says, the causes of malfunctions are magazines first, crummy parts/assembly second, and dry guns a close third. I use the "machine tools" analogy, and point out Western Pennsylvania is relatively dust free 99% of the time, and does not ever get cold enough to require specialized lubrication. One can lubricate an AR-15 with cooking oil in a pinch, and it will run.
What I find amazing is the amount of argument I get on the point (not in classes, but in "discussions" elsewhere). People are actually offended. HA! Maybe now that someone "famous" has recited the obvious, people will begin to proclaim this heresy as though it were their own idea.
If so, SWAT and Pat Rogers have done a service.
11/18/2006 5:43:02 PM
Thanks for the kudos Pete.
I don't know about being "famous" but i am opinionated, and that is the result of four decades worth of doing this.
I am constantly amazed- and disheartend- at the amount of disinformation that goes on here (and on other forums).
People who have close to zero hands on make declarations that border on the absurd, and then want to fight about it.
I'm pretty confident about what i put in to the SWAT articles.
Now, we'll see who picks it up...
I don't know about being "famous" but i am opinionated, and that is the result of four decades worth of doing this.
I am constantly amazed- and disheartend- at the amount of disinformation that goes on here (and on other forums).
People who have close to zero hands on make declarations that border on the absurd, and then want to fight about it.
I'm pretty confident about what i put in to the SWAT articles.
Now, we'll see who picks it up...
11/18/2006 11:27:22 PM
| Originally Posted By mcnielsen: A good article about weapon maintenance in this month's issue of SWAT magazine. A good review of what to look for as far as metal fatigue goes, where to clean, where to lube, etc. After mentioning the frequency of "frankengun" builds these days, the article showed an inset photo of what lubes are suggested with the quote:
The rifle featured in the photo had an unmistakable CY6 logo on the receiver... Nice looking rifle, Sully! I can't wait to get a hold of my new SLR15! Thanks for the article, Denny. It's an important review of what many people overlook when it comes to weapons maintenance. I especially agree with the part about lubing the "worn" or bare metal areas of your rifle. Proper lube, cleaning and replacement of worn parts will make most quality rifles function flawlessly for thousands of rounds regardless of the shooter's environment. |
Trust me, you're going to be very happy with your SLR. Excellent rifles.
11/25/2006 6:27:45 PM
| I use the "machine tools" analogy, and point out Western Pennsylvania is relatively dust free 99% of the time, and does not ever get cold enough to require specialized lubrication. |
Some lubes can be too special as I found out.
I went shooting with a friend this past Febuary. The guy is a two tour combat vet from Nam and Mr. Horn is very a gun savvy individual. He has shot IPSC for decades and has come up with his own special witches brew "IPSC Sauce" he called it.
We took two franken AR's he built out to the farm on a day when it was proabally around 35 degrees as he wanted to test them.
Turns out his "Slicker than snot" (his exact words) special sauce turned into gum.
First attempt: CLICK!
Second: CLICK!
Third: CLICK!
Turns out that his special sauce is real slick on a 70+ degree day but does not like cold at all.
We pulled the bolt from the carrrier and when you dropped the firing pin down into the bolt (setting face down on his trucks tailgate) the firing pin would slide about half way and stop an inch or so short of the bottom.
The action wasn't stiff when hand cycling, just the firing pin was being robbed of too much energy to reliably ignite the primer.
Cleaned it and CLP'd it and everything ran.
Moral is otherwise savvy people can do some screwy things on occasion and commercial lubricants are tested for serious use under a range of conditions for a reason. There is nothing wrong with using something that is proven. 35 degrees ain't that cold.
11/29/2006 5:46:02 PM
| Originally Posted By Pat_Rogers: Thanks for the kudos Pete. I don't know about being "famous" but i am opinionated, and that is the result of four decades worth of doing this. I am constantly amazed- and disheartend- at the amount of disinformation that goes on here (and on other forums). People who have close to zero hands on make declarations that border on the absurd, and then want to fight about it. I'm pretty confident about what i put in to the SWAT articles. Now, we'll see who picks it up... |
As I am sure you well know, just handling the rifles a lot will eventually demonstrate what is important and what is not, even to the most oblivious rifleman. Machines made of metal run better when lubricated, and they don't care all that much about which lubricant it is. No mystery or magic to it. This is why the source of the arguments virtually always turns out to be someone who does not handle the rifles a lot.
At the 2006 SHOT Show one of the vendors (POI, I think) was selling T-shirts that said, "JUST SHUT UP AND SHOOT." I think that alone would get us past the pedestrian aspects of the craft, so we can concentrate on the parts of this which really are magic.
Continue to use your fame for good, and not for evil.
Hope to see you again soon.
12/1/2006 12:07:02 PM
Man, I love this magazine. I never fail to learn something new, usually several somethings new, and I look forward to it every month.
One comment,
I personally feel that, though it may work, Vagisil should ONLY be used on weapons with pink furniture.
And one minor correction,
Caption, p. 91, LMT barrel changes picture, should read Torx wrench, not torque wrench to remove screws
One comment,
I personally feel that, though it may work, Vagisil should ONLY be used on weapons with pink furniture.
And one minor correction,
Caption, p. 91, LMT barrel changes picture, should read Torx wrench, not torque wrench to remove screws
12/1/2006 12:16:09 PM
Picked this up on the 21 when it hit the news stands. The article was excellent and I purchased some Slip on the authors advice. Great mag and even better writing. Keep up the good work Pat!
12/5/2006 10:17:28 AM
My wife has pink handguards on her AR I told her she should use Vagisil to lube it up. She died laughing then she picked up my SWAT mag for her turn to read.
| Originally Posted By fish223: Man, I love this magazine. I never fail to learn something new, usually several somethings new, and I look forward to it every month. One comment, I personally feel that, though it may work, Vagisil should ONLY be used on weapons with pink furniture. And one minor correction, Caption, p. 91, LMT barrel changes picture, should read Torx wrench, not torque wrench to remove screws |
12/7/2006 9:25:07 AM
| Originally Posted By Pat_Rogers: Thanks for the kudos Pete. I don't know about being "famous" but i am opinionated, and that is the result of four decades worth of doing this. I am constantly amazed- and disheartend- at the amount of disinformation that goes on here (and on other forums). People who have close to zero hands on make declarations that border on the absurd, and then want to fight about it. I'm pretty confident about what i put in to the SWAT articles. Now, we'll see who picks it up... |
12/12/2006 3:17:29 PM
I agree. very good article.
12/14/2006 3:13:51 PM
| Originally Posted By PeteG: At the 2006 SHOT Show one of the vendors (POI, I think) was selling T-shirts that said, "JUST SHUT UP AND SHOOT." I think that alone would get us past the pedestrian aspects of the craft, so we can concentrate on the parts of this which really are magic. |
That would be my buddy Jered Joplin from Patriot Arms. The man builds a hell of a rifle and is an outstanding marksmen. The original t-shirt design had an extra four-letter word in the verbiage. Jered's friends convinced him maybe less was more.
Always enjoy SWAT. That was a good article indeed.
Mark
