WD40 - gun friendly?

skeetgunner said:
"Water-Displacer formula #40" is a doctored fish oil. While no product is completely safe on every gun ever made, if your gun can handle more toxic products like CLP, its probably safe to use WD40.

Primers, on the other hand, are a big no-no.
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No fish oil in WD.

50% Stoddard solvent (mineral spirits, also commonly known as dry cleaning solvent),
25% Liquified petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant, carbon dioxide is used now to reduce considerable flammability),
15+% Mineral oil (light lubricating oil), and
10-% Inert ingredients

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40
 
Without wanting to drift too far from the topic - does anyone know which 'break-free' product would have been the one we were using for cleaning our FN's back in the 80's (military use) - I don't know which one of the products is the 'civilian' equivalent... was it the bore cleaner? a lubricant? Seems to be it was an 'all in one' product but my memory is terrible...

... went and found a link since first posting: http://www.gunaccessories.com/breakfree/default.asp

Anyone sell this in Canada?

/gc
 
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A little off topic, but my 4x4's get the entire chassis sprayed with a mix of 50/50 WD40 and cheap 5w30 several times a year, despite being stored outside, rust on my older one literally STOPPED. The WD40 gums up after awhile in the cool putting almost a varnish on the chassis, and thins out the motor oil when first applied to penetrate nooks and crannies. Probably a fish and game cop's nightmare if you ever forded a river... but damn does the truck stay solid.
 
After hunting in rain or cold I spray WD-40 down the bore, Spray and wipe the rest with a cloth, I even try to spray a little in the barrel channel if theres room. Its never peeled or dulled a finish of a stock, so I don't worry about that. Any 'residue' that does build up just wipes off.

My grandfather swore by it, my dad swears by it and I too, swear by it. Heck I'm still using G-pa's old guns that were never cleaned with anything but WD-40!

I've got a bunch of old Outdoor Life magiznes from the late 60's - mid 70's, that have a full page advertisment that says WD-40 is the best gun cleaning product available.

I'm not saying its the best stuff out there, just that it works very well for me. Like Nechako said 'To each his own'.
 
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grayrc said:
Without wanting to drift too far from the topic - does anyone know which 'break-free' product would have been the one we were using for cleaning our FN's back in the 80's (military use) - I don't know which one of the products is the 'civilian' equivalent... was it the bore cleaner? a lubricant? Seems to be it was an 'all in one' product but my memory is terrible...

... went and found a link since first posting: http://www.gunaccessories.com/breakfree/default.asp

Anyone sell this in Canada?

/gc
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I got some of the military surplus weapons oil that is the same as this Breakfree have to shake up bottles as some of the ingredents have settled. Works in any weather have hunted in -46 c. weather with this only thing that would work as even WD-40 was too stiff .(on my gun has a very tight action)
I have used WD-40 on lots of my firearms pistols and rifles to preserve and store. I have put it on stocks and actions with no ill effects some of my guns are over 50 years old and they seem to take it WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT IT.
After I take them out I apply a fresh coat or apply Breakfree. Breakfree will stay around longer I have found WD-40 will dry out after awhile so needs to be reapplied once and awhile.
PS if any one can find a canadian supplier for Breakfree I would be interested
 
Nechako said:
To each his own I guess, sorry if I offended any WD40 lovers.:)

Later:wave:
Nechako
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No offense at all. Just pointing out my experience with it.

Many times we hear stuff, but have not actually tried it ourselves. I have used WD-40 a lot, simply because it was handy, I have heard a lot of concerns about it over the years, but have never experienced any of them myself.

Ted
 
Quadaholic said:
I got some of the military surplus weapons oil that is the same as this Breakfree have to shake up bottles as some of the ingredents have settled. Works in any weather have hunted in -46 c. weather with this only thing that would work as even WD-40 was too stiff . After I take them out I apply a fresh coat or apply Breakfree. Breakfree will stay around longer I have found WD-40 will dry out after awhile so needs to be reapplied once and awhile.
PS if any one can find a canadian supplier for Breakfree I would be interested
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That's exactly my recollection - Break-Free was the only stuff that could keep the action moving on an FN when firing blanks at -30 or below. I'll PM you if I ever find a canadian source for the stuff.

WD-40 Fish oil myth
There is a popular urban legend that the main ingredient in WD-40 is fish oil. Although it is unknown whether the formula contains fish oil, material safety data sheets for the product show that the main ingredient is Stoddard solvent, not fish oil.
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Worth noting that 'stoddard solvent' (the main ingredient in WD-40) is a cleaning solvent, a degreasing solvent and a solvent used in paints, wood preservatives, lacquers, and varnishes - which should alleviate concerns about it's use on wood finishes/stocks.

/gc
 
I have used WD 40 for many years for cleaning my guns.As Why Not pointed out they clean them up real quick after a hunt.I spray some on a rag and wipe the whole gun down stock and all.Makes them looks like new again.I have never had it harm any of my fiearms in any way.
 
Hell, I printed off a manual for the Cz 858 that recommended the use of oakum and wd-40 for cleaning. IN my experiance it works well as a light lubicant but G96 works better all 'round
 
Here's a link to an interesting test that Brownells ran regarding the rust proofing qualities of various products, including WD-40:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/GunTech/NewsletterArchive.aspx?p=0&t=1&i=503

Personally I've been using WD-40 on guns for over twenty years. I have never seen it gum up or cause rust on any of my guns. It makes a pretty good cleaner, a light rust proofer and a so-so oil. I will admit there are better cleaners, rust proofers and lubricants, but in my experience WD-40 will do pretty nicely if that's what you have handy.

One area where WD-40 excels is for its intended use: water displacement. It's a great product for emergency treatment of a shotgun that has had a bath in salt water, and will buy you the time to get a chance to rinse it out with clean water, and dry and oil properly.

I don't use as much WD-40 as I did in past years, mostly because I got a small parts washer and it does a better job of trigger groups and other small assemblies.

While it is better to have specialized products for any job, multipurpose products such as WD-40 do just fine for many people. I think we often over rate the importance of specific products - much more important is proper and timely maintenance with something
 
An old thread, but a worthy one...

Stumbled on it searching for a Kanuck supplier of Breakfree.
Love that Brownells test- always new the '40 was some good s**t.:dancingbanana:

Back in the old C5 days, there wasn't anything on that gun you couldn't fix with a swiss army knife (this was before Leathermans...:rolleyes: ), a bit of tie wire, a can of WD 40 and a nickle and a dime....

Back when C1's would bathe in Varasol, and love it....:canadaFlag:

WD is a great degreaser- works perfect on that Norc 'mystery mud'- you do need to let it flash off before you apply another lube, though.

Anybody found a supplier for Breakfree CLP up here (specific to the Wet Coast, or mail order..)...?
 
Anybody found a supplier for Breakfree CLP up here (specific to the Wet Coast, or mail order..)...?[/QUOTE]


Bass Pro Shops mail order has it.
Wholesale sports on their mail order side has it as well
Great stuff.

We also used WD40 as a quick clean especially after a patrol in the rain.

I also remember the Varsol baths for the GPMG's, used to put C1's and C2's in also
 
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Ah Hah...

So it's been relabeled to the 'Hoppe's" brand up here.

Is it still as good as the issue stuff, or have they watered it down...?
 
To go along with the Brownell's tests here are a couple more:

http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

http://www.thegunzone.com/rust.html

My favorites:

Best do all, short term, don't really care = WD40 (so so rust prevention and long term it gums up)

Best long term rust protection = Rig Gun Grease (messy and even messier to remove)

Best thin film corrosion protection = Eezox (All guns get a wipe/spray before storage)
 
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