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Posted: 1/14/2003 12:35:19 AM EDT
| As far as I was concerned it was only good for packing at the warehouse, now I get the impression that grease (the new stuff, not packing grease) is the lube of the future. Inspired by an earlier post, I purchased some Tetra Gun Grease and applied as instructed to any and all metal-on metal friction surfaces of all my weapons. That means bolts & inside the receivers in my AR & other rifles and on the slides and barrels of my pistols. In effect I am almost using the grease like it was lubricating oil. Sound good to you? Keep in mind that while I applied the stuff to damn near every surface of the weapons, I was using a light film, no sloppy goopy buildup at all. So is it a gimmick, a special purpose (apply to a few areas only) lube, or the new lube of the future? |
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I use grease with my M1 Garand. I use VERY little of it since the tech manuals claim a toothpick will cover all the important parts. No problems yet. The only thing I do not like about grease is I have to clean it all off and regrease when I clean my rifle. At least with CLP I can just spray more on and wipe it down. Cleans, lubricates and protects all at the same time! Grease just lubes as far as I know. Av. |
| Tetra Grease works fine in moderate climates like spring, summer and fall. Weekend before last when the temp was around 20F, the AR bolt/carrier did not want to work with Tetra grease. VERY sluggish... I had to clean it off and use a liberal amount of BreakFree CLP. I think for winter use I will stick with CLP. |
| I like using CLP both for its protectant properties and for the continous cleaning effect that it provides. I often clean my AR by running a boresnake down the chromed barrel and flushing everthing out with brake cleaner (well maybe a little toothbrush action on the bolt). No concerns about cleaner lubricant compatibility either. |
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From what I have read, Tetra is a space-age fluoropolymer grease which has a very wide temp range and works at the molecular level, hence the ability to only use a light coating. I have found it an excellent lube for pistol slides and barrels, as you have, and for all heavy metal-to-metal contact areas on my pistols. I also use it on my M-1 Garand and my M-1 Carbine, with excellent results on both; keep in mind that the lube milspec for the Garand is grease everywhere except the firing pin, and only oil for the Carbine...but it appears to be light enough, viscosity-wise, for the Carbine, and "grease-enough" for the Garand. Interestingly, one shooter with more experience than myself once advised me not to use it on an AR until after the weapon has had a chance to "wear in" (it does too good a job!) ... he advised using only something like CLP during the "break in" period. A CSR at DPMS said he highly recommends Tetra on their ARs. I am not sure of its preserving properties, and I don't know of any grease which is expected to be used for cleaning, but its lubricating properties appear legend with every gunshop owner and gunsmith I have spoken with. As to its viscosity at very low temps I cannot say ... have no personal experience there. In short, it's intended for one purpose ... HD lubrication ... and it appears to do that very well. |
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Pulpsmack, I switched our rifles over to TW25B grease about 7 months ago after a serious T&E involving several different lubes including Tetra,CLP,FP10,WD-40,and LSA. Breakfree wins hands down for an all in one cleaner/lube/preservative and it was no shock. However,when it came to the lubricating properties the TW25B came out on top by a huge margin,Tetra came in a not so close second. WD stunk up the place,and LSA wasn't much better. For preservation,all of them except the TW25B failed after 20 days of exposure. To be fair the CLP(Old stuff,not the watery new junk) held on better than I expected,and better than the Rem Oil which was the worst. In application on the inner working parts a very light coat applied either as an EP spray or with a soldering flux brush worked best. Heavy coats just held more firing residue and did not enhance lubricating qualitys. I applied the TW25B to 2 different rifles,and left them in the freezer for 2 days and no malfunctions occured. Lately it's been a warm day if it breaks into the upper teens,and we have had no issues with the TW25B causing stoppages. One thing you will notice is that it just dosn't "Feel" right not having a wet looking bolt/carrier group. A side benfit is that using a synthetic grease in a light film will keep the firing residue from sticking,and cleaning is easier than with oils that tend to run away from heat. I left my personal rifle out in the barn last night,and will be firing a mag or two in the morning.I still cannot accept that a grease wont get stiff in the serious cold even if I have seen it already. It's already in the single digits. If the stuff gets thick,I'll post ASAP. I like the stuff,but old habits and trusts die hard with me. Good luck to ya!!! S-28 |
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Just a follow up. No stoppages this morning. Temp was 7 degrees above zero according to the Pioneer feeds Thermometer.Windchill was probably in the minus teens. Burned 28 rounds of SA ball at the steel gong. Possibly I should try the Tetra the same way but I have settled on the Mil-Comm stuff. BTW.Clean up is really easy with just a spritz or two of simple green or M-pro-7 with this stuff. Come febuary when it finally gets cold around here I'll try it again. Keep safe! S-28 |
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