Lube Issues--Basically Cement

[Mgreen4452]

Switched from using Slip 2000 EWL to TW25B grease in my P320 Legion. It's been running great for USPSA, but yesterday I competed in a run-and-gun, and after getting wet and sandy, the gun completely seized. I couldn't get the gun to cycle on its own at all. When I got home I barely got the take down lever to move, and it took a good bit of force to remove the slide. Am I doing something wrong with this grease (that claims not to attract dirt), or do I just need to go back to Slip? 

Edited December 11, 2022 by Mgreen4452

[echotango]

Yes, don't use grease. 

3 hours ago, Mgreen4452 said:

 Am I doing something wrong with this grease (that claims not to attract dirt), or do I just need to go back to Slip? 

Yes, don't use grease. Use oil of your choice. Problem solved. 

[Al Capizzo]

I had a friend with a Ph.D in metalurgy who shot USPSA.  His lube of choice (and subsequently mine) was 30 wt motor oil.  That was in the context of handguns, don't know about AR's or anything else. 

[Joe4d]

left over oil from when you do a truck oil change, drain the bottles over night... no phd required

 

[motosapiens]

don't put sand in your gun. sand has very poor lubricating qualities.

[usmc1974]

18 minutes ago, motosapiens said:

don't put sand in your gun. sand has very poor lubricating qualities.

Lol ..

[RangerTrace]

The folks at Grayguns use grease on their P320 builds.  

[Mgreen4452]

1 hour ago, RangerTrace said:

The folks a Grayguns use grease on their P320 builds.  

Sounds like a ringing endorsement for going back to oil. 

[LMS]

And let's not forget Benos Slide Glide, which looks a lot like grease to me.  

 

I think all bets are off when you get sand gumming up the works.

[RangerTrace]

6 hours ago, Mgreen4452 said:

Sounds like a ringing endorsement for going back to oil. 

They know a little something about Sigs and my guess is they are loose enough to run with light grease in the winter time.  I tend to do what the builder says.  Atlas like oil, so oil it is on AGW pistols.  

 

 

[motosapiens]

1 minute ago, RangerTrace said:

They know a little something about Sigs and my guess is they are loose enough to run with light grease in the winter time.  I tend to do what the builder says.  Atlas like oil, so oil it is on AGW pistols.  

 

 

does atlas say anything about sand? use, or not to use? I use a smidge of slide glide around the tip of the barrel and on the locking lugs on my atlas. 50/50 mix of atf and mobil1 everywhere else. If it's below freezing I skip the slide-glide just to be safe. I never put sand in my gun under any circumstances. If I were carrying a gun somewhere with a lot of sand/dust (like my colleagues at burning man or wintertime events at the socal dunes), i would use minimal amounts of some extremely light and/or dry lube, and still clean the gun after every shift.

[HOGRIDER]

Been following TSAs recommendations for lubrication.........

 

https://www.facebook.com/sigarmorer/videos/330628088119887

 

But in a sandy environment, would probably revert to a little light oil...........

 

[Nathanb]

22 hours ago, RangerTrace said:

The folks at Grayguns use grease on their P320 builds.  

Cajun gun works recommends their blend too

 

https://cajungunworks.com/product/ss/

 

and we know most czs aren’t loose

[Zachjet]

I’ll stick to my hoppes oil

[anachronism]

Sand sticking to grease. Impossible!

[Twilk73]

On 12/12/2022 at 3:45 PM, LMS said:

And let's not forget Benos Slide Glide, which looks a lot like grease to me.  

 

I think all bets are off when you get sand gumming up the works.

I tried this stuff, I’m not convinced it’s not just packing grease. Regardless, it makes my gun cycle softer and I like it. Don’t use it in your striker. I use it on the slide and anywhere the trigger swivels or any part that rides against another part. Works great!

Edited December 17, 2022 by Twilk73

[Johnny_Chimpo]

On 12/14/2022 at 8:26 PM, anachronism said:

Sand sticking to grease. Impossible!

 

Just like it sticks to oil

[Johnny_Chimpo]

On 12/11/2022 at 1:03 PM, Mgreen4452 said:

Switched from using Slip 2000 EWL to TW25B grease in my P320 Legion. It's been running great for USPSA, but yesterday I competed in a run-and-gun, and after getting wet and sandy, the gun completely seized. I couldn't get the gun to cycle on its own at all. When I got home I barely got the take down lever to move, and it took a good bit of force to remove the slide. Am I doing something wrong with this grease (that claims not to attract dirt), or do I just need to go back to Slip? 

 

Neither grease nor oil "attract" anything.  It's just another one of those stupid gun myths that won't die.  Just like "nitriding is a coating" and a dozen more.

 

Make a little pile of sand or loose dirt and pour a little oil an inch away on one side and a finger dab of grease on the ground an inch away on the other side.  Then sit back and wait for either to attract that dirt to it........

 

Lubricants suspend contaminants in them.  Fancy way of saying s#!t sticks to oil and grease.

 

Put a very light coat of oil on a piece of metal and drop it in the dirt or sand.  Do the same with a piece of steel that has a very light coat of grease.  Both will be immediately and completely coated in dirt and neither will clean itself.  The only way lubricants (oil specifically) get rid of dirt is when they're flushed away and replaced with clean lubricant.  But since pistols don't have oil pumps, sumps, and filters, it doesn't make any difference (from a contamination aspect) whether you use oil or grease.

 

If you want to use grease in the cold, use one that is rated for temperatures below freezing.  Same as with oil. 

 

If you want to use a pistol in an environment where it will be exposed to lots of solid contaminants (fine dirt/dust/sand/muddy water) then use something that won't let that stuff stick to it, like a teflon dry lubricant.

 

 

Edited December 17, 2022 by Johnny_Chimpo

[HesedTech]

1 hour ago, Johnny_Chimpo said:

Neither grease nor oil "attract" anything.

You mean it's not like fly paper

 

[Johnny_Chimpo]

2 hours ago, HesedTech said:

You mean it's not like fly paper

 

 

LOL

[ddc]

On 12/11/2022 at 11:03 AM, Mgreen4452 said:

 after getting wet and sandy, the gun completely seized.

 

That's sort of the way it works.

Some guns are more forgiving of getting wet and sandy than others.

Some lubes handle particular conditions better than others.

But eventually too much is too much.