A Tikka "Cleaning" Regimen. A Little Brake Clean and Homemade Olive Oil is All You Need.

[JGRaider]

My oldest Tikka I bought in 1998, a Model 695. The firing pin has never been lubed, cleaned, nothing. Still works like new every shot.

 

[wind gypsy]

Do you find yourself using pink fingernail polish on all your firearm hardware but wonder if that is “rokslide enough”? Take it to the next step and lube your rifle with organic, conflict free, small batch olive oil!

 

[Deadspace]

Is there a reason you choose cooking oil over traditional gun oil or is this a once a year on April 1st kinda thing?

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Do you find yourself using pink fingernail polish on all your firearm hardware but wonder if that is “rokslide enough”? Take it to the next step and lube your rifle with organic, conflict free, small batch olive oil!

I prefer Jalisco New Generation cold pressed, extra virgin, Avocado oil. Higher smoke point and all.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I appreciate you cleaning my rifle for me! That’s awful kind!

 

[BLJ]

Not trying to hijack but I think it goes with the discussion.

I’ve always used Mobil 1 0w-20 in the past with success.
My assumption is that if an engine can function in with their tolerances, a rifle action and trigger should be okay as well. I’ve personally never had an issue.
Thoughts from everyone on this?

 

[JGRaider]

My thoughts are I don't understand why people want to reinvent the wheel and not use oils specifically designed to lube/clean rifles with the exception of Mobil one/synthetic motor oils. This olive oil idea is crazy IMO.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Is there a reason you choose cooking oil over traditional gun oil or is this a once a year on April 1st kinda thing?

I used gun oil for about 15 years before switching to olive oil around 10 years ago. The reason is because it works very well.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Do you find yourself using pink fingernail polish on all your firearm hardware but wonder if that is “rokslide enough”? Take it to the next step and lube your rifle with organic, conflict free, small batch olive oil!

Zero olives were harmed in the making of this lube job.

 

[Clarktar]

I'll keep going with that big tin can of bacon grease under the sink. Bonus is the titillating smell with a proper cheek weld!

 

[Marbles]

Not trying to hijack but I think it goes with the discussion.

I’ve always used Mobil 1 0w-20 in the past with success.
My assumption is that if an engine can function in with their tolerances, a rifle action and trigger should be okay as well. I’ve personally never had an issue.
Thoughts from everyone on this?

Some of the newer gun oils are good at not collecting dust. I don't think motor oil is designed with that in mind. But, if you don't have an issue with it, then who cares.

 

[RockAndSage]

Not trying to hijack but I think it goes with the discussion.

I’ve always used Mobil 1 0w-20 in the past with success.
My assumption is that if an engine can function in with their tolerances, a rifle action and trigger should be okay as well. I’ve personally never had an issue.
Thoughts from everyone on this?

You're fine, although you could have also said valvoline, pennzoil, etc as well. What matters most is your selection of 0w-20, especially for extreme cold. The 0 part is essentially the thickness of the oil when not at a motor's operating temperatures, and it's about as thin as you'll find in motor oils. The thicker it is, the worse its cold-weather performance, and the better its hot-weather performance. A 10w or 20w would be better in a semi-auto in an Arizona summer, but below freezing you'll definitely want to use a 0w.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Some of the newer gun oils are good at not collecting dust. I don't think motor oil is designed with that in mind. But, if you don't have an issue with it, then who cares.

Have you compared or tried olive oil to “gun oils” side by side in field bolt action rifles?

Going back years and years I did, and with the proper amount used, the olive oil in general slows down dust accumulation compared to the gun oils I tried. I’m sure some of the new stuff is probably a lot better than what I used though.

 

[HighUintas]

This was shared somewhere awhile back. I think it is interesting and maybe helpful for choosing a lube based on your criteria, if you're considering one of them he tested.

 

[Harvey_NW]

If you don't want to deal with spraying brake clean 99% Isopropyl Alcohol also works well for swabbing out chamber and throat area, or swabbing a new bore with to remove rust preventative.

 

[intunegp]

Has anyone ever compared olive oil versus avocado, peanut, coconut, flax, chia, hemp, etc for use in firearm applications?

And why stop in the kitchen? Your wife probably has at least one drawer full of various creams, oils, and other goops that are great for softer, smoother skin or hair...maybe they'd also contribute to a soft shooting, smooth running rifle!

 

[Marbles]

Have you compared or tried olive oil to “gun oils” side by side in field bolt action rifles?

Going back years and years I did, and with the proper amount used, the olive oil in general slows down dust accumulation compared to the gun oils I tried. I’m sure some of the new stuff is probably a lot better than what I used though.

No. I haven't commented on olive oil because I don't care enough.

On pocket knives, motor oil has lead to a lot more dust/lent collection. Oils from the kitchen are the same in my none scientific experience. Hoppes #9 and Rem Oil also suck (at least years ago when I used them).



For fun:

Also, I'm afraid of being told not using beef tallow will kill my gear as it needs a carnivore approach to care. Besides , I hear petroleum products are killing the planet, so using them makes me happy.

I'm not hippie enough to have olive oil in my house, but I hear it will keep the rifles heart healthy.

 

[Sundodger]

Brake cleaner works great, I have been using it for years. Couple pro tips on brake clean:

-Make sure it doesn't touch anything but metal. It will ruin plastic, rubber, etc.

-If you are worried about ruining non metal items, there are plastic safe electrical cleaners that work just as well as brake clean but are more expensive.

-I patched out 90ish% of the gunk first, then finish it off the last 10% with brake clean, then patch dry.

 

[Formidilosus]

Is there a reason you choose cooking oil over traditional gun oil or is this a once a year on April 1st kinda thing?

I started using olive oil instead of gun/other oils because they are toxic as can be, and I was tired of that crap on my skin. I am handling/carrying firearms every single day. A pistol is is touching my skin for 8-12 hours a day, and I don’t want that toxic sludge on me.


Natural oils such as olive and avocado oils (and yes, lard in hot weather), work just fine for pistols and bolt actions. It can work in a pinch for AR’s, however burns off too quickly for regular use there.

 

[Deadspace]

I started using olive oil instead of gun/other oils because they are toxic as can be, and I was tired of that crap on my skin. I am handling/carrying firearms every single day. A pistol is is touching my skin for 8-12 hours a day, and I don’t want that toxic sludge on me.


Natural oils such as olive and avocado oils (and yes, lard in hot weather), work just fine for pistols and bolt actions. It can work in a pinch for AR’s, however burns off too quickly for regular use there.

That makes a lot of sense. I never thought about them being toxic. Appreciate the explanation.