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Posted: 1/11/2014 6:30:16 PM EDT
| I'm sure this has been asked before but when I tried to search I got an error. How often should I lube my buffer spring? |
| Keep a light coat of oil on it. Just a light coat, doesn't need to run or anything. It will prevent rust on the spring, and that spring does rub the inside of the receiver extension sometimes. Not a lot of wear there, but won't hurt to have a light (just visible to the eye) coat of oil on it. |
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I'm sure this has been asked before but when I tried to search I got an error. How often should I lube my buffer spring? Generally speaking you don't have too. Some people will lube the buffer to help quiet down the spring sound during the firing sequence. I admit I will every time I'm getting ready ffor a shoot but I don't flood the tube like some others. Perhaps about 4 drops of oil is all you need but as long as your spring moves freely then why bother? Impala |
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I prefer a light coat of grease inside the buffer tube. Same here. I use aerosol lithium grease. I don't reapply it often, maybe every few years or so? If you're lubing your BCG heavily, when you store the rifle, some of that lube will migrate down onto the spring. |
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I put a light coat of oil on the buffer and the outside of the spring but it doesn't need to be heavy. I've seen people use grease, and that works. I doubt anyone is going to put enough rounds through the gun without cleaning before it needs a heavy cleaning. I've seen a M16 do 20,000 rounds in one day (not a joke) and the guys kept throwing CLP into it throughout the day creating a gunky mess. I went to clear the weapon before we put it back in the armory and the bolt stayed to the rear without an empty mag inserted. The reason was because there was so much gunky carbon in the buffer tube that the bolt just got stuck in there to the rear. I can't imagine any of us would ever encounter this problem, so lube with whatever you want, I don't think it'll matter for the AR15.
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My theory on it is:
-If you AR will never get wet: no need -If your AR will get wet: yes, it is steel and can rust so of course protect it -Will it hurt anything or cause reliability issues: no The key is that it does not need any sort of lubrication at all, but that it can require protection depending on the environment. |
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I use a few SMALL dabs of wheel bearing grease, just to cut the sproing noise, also on the engagement points of my FCG, and a light coating on the rails of the BCG, then a few drops of Mobil 1, on the FCG (pins and engagement points), BCG rails, and Bolt lube holes.
It make for a very smooth slick rifle. |
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This. And the entire rifle only needs 3 drops of oil for lubrication after cleaning. Quoted:
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Never. This. And the entire rifle only needs 3 drops of oil for lubrication after cleaning. Myth! The M-16/AR-15 platform prefers wet, VERY WET! Read up on the Filthy 14 by Pat Rogers, AND Larry Vickers DIPPED an AR in oil and proceeded to run it. |
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Myth! The M-16/AR-15 platform prefers wet, VERY WET! Read up on the Filthy 14 by Pat Rogers, AND Larry Vickers DIPPED an AR in oil and proceeded to run it. Quoted:
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Never. This. And the entire rifle only needs 3 drops of oil for lubrication after cleaning. Myth! The M-16/AR-15 platform prefers wet, VERY WET! Read up on the Filthy 14 by Pat Rogers, AND Larry Vickers DIPPED an AR in oil and proceeded to run it. I disagree. It CAN run wet but too much lube does nothing but attract and hold onto dirt, dust, etc. A functioning rifle only requires a finger swipe of CLP or similar on the friction points. I don't even apply lube to the bolt past the gas rings, it will all burn off anyway. YMMV. |
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i use this stuff in buffer tube and when cleaning magazines:
http://www.superslickstuff.com/lubricant/Super-Slick-Slick-Stuff.html |
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I run ARs and 1911s wet. I run AKs and Glocks with only a "few drops" (or grease the AK......)
I'm not running an AR like I run a glock, sorry totally different weapons. I think to many people are living in the world of loose tolerance, plastic guns these days and want to apply the same principles to tight tolerance, metal guns. No. |
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Someone else probably cleans them for him. Quoted:
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I think I'll trust the Top combat rifle instructor in the country (probably the World) and also an ex-Special Forces operator who wrings out weapons for a living now. Someone else probably cleans them for him. Considering that Pat Rogers frequents these Forums, I'll be looking forward to his response to your slur. |
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Well all I can say is what works for me and my buddy,
I just recently built an AR with my buddy. Its his first (20" rifle length gas, M4 collapsible MOE stock)I was not watching him when he put the buffer spring in. I told him to "lightly" lube the spring. He put a handful of grease (Royal Purple High-Temp) in his hand like he was packing a damn wheel bearing. I was like "Dude, less is More". I had him wipe most off the spring. Well we went out right after we assembled it and to my amazement you could NOT hear that lovely Twang! I was very curious if it was the grease or his rifle length gas system. We run the same adjustable Magpul MOE collapsible stocks. Same PSA buffer tube and spring. Long story short, I took my spring out and greased it (not as much as his) and its almost silent! Huge difference now. I for one will continue to lube my spring with grease. I'm running 16" carbine length gas, M4 collapsible MOE stock) I have my wife's last few parts (barrel, lower build kit) on the way! I will have her use grease on her spring as well. Seems to make a difference. I am building a copy of my rifle for my nieces husband for Father's Day. I will let him decide but will let him know my Greasy Spring Theory.... Tony |
| Comics With Problems #25: Treat Your Rifle Like a Lady DA Pam 750-30 The M16A1 Rifle —Operation and Preventative Maintenance Circa 1969 |
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Comics With Problems #25: Treat Your Rifle Like a Lady DA Pam 750-30 The M16A1 Rifle —Operation and Preventative Maintenance Circa 1969 Classic, thanks! |
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Classic, thanks! Quoted:
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Comics With Problems #25: Treat Your Rifle Like a Lady DA Pam 750-30 The M16A1 Rifle —Operation and Preventative Maintenance Circa 1969 I noticed GOOK used often when referencing fouling which doing a search I found in the Merriam-Webster is a form of (guck —oozy sloppy dirt or debris). I found it interesting due to that eras use in referencing Viet Cong soldiers. |
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I noticed GOOK used often when referencing fouling which doing a search I found in the Merriam-Webster is a form of (guck —oozy sloppy dirt or debris). I found it interesting due to that eras use in referencing Viet Cong soldiers. Quoted:
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Comics With Problems #25: Treat Your Rifle Like a Lady DA Pam 750-30 The M16A1 Rifle —Operation and Preventative Maintenance Circa 1969 I noticed GOOK used often when referencing fouling which doing a search I found in the Merriam-Webster is a form of (guck —oozy sloppy dirt or debris). I found it interesting due to that eras use in referencing Viet Cong soldiers. Coincidence. Gook was an older term. Around the 1890s it was used to refer to low prostitutes. Or possibly the first use was in 1920. In Korea it was used by Koreans saying miguk when referring to Americans and likely was mistaken to mean, me gook. |
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Quoted: Same here. I use aerosol lithium grease. I don't reapply it often, maybe every few years or so? If you're lubing your BCG heavily, when you store the rifle, some of that lube will migrate down onto the spring. Quoted: Quoted: I prefer a light coat of grease inside the buffer tube. Same here. I use aerosol lithium grease. I don't reapply it often, maybe every few years or so? If you're lubing your BCG heavily, when you store the rifle, some of that lube will migrate down onto the spring. I store some of my AR's muzzle down and those I spray silicone into the buffer tube once a year. It keeps it quiet. Some get stored muzzle up and those the extra lube tends to migrate to the tube... Its because this is how I get all mine into my safe |
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