M14's and AR's both run better with grease than oil.
Especially the M14....I use synthetic wheel brg grease.
The important thing is to put the lube where it needs to be and wipe it away from where it does not.
Lube anywhere other than where it is doing its job for moving parts to interface is just making a mess and collecting powder and other substances into a mess.
Every type of gun is different and has different lube requirements/points.
Simply slathering lube everywhere is not only messy but counterproductive and will gunk things up to the point of FTF......
This is for lubrication for shooting.
Storage is a different matter and long term storage a different matter again.
Cleaning yet another matter.
Enviroment and or temps also factor in.
Some guns are very sensitive to temps...to the point of needing to be run nearly dry and or with an entirely different approach altogether.
Some are unaffected.
Cost is an issue for some as well....you don't need to spend the value of the gun on lubes/potions/snake oils and high techery.....it sometimes makes the job easier and often makes the owner feel good about things...but it isn't nec to spend huge $$ on lubes or cleaners.
There's no one answer....too many types of guns, enviroments, ammo types etc. Don't overthink it.....or overspend on it...or overlube it...
