Basic Airgun Cleaning

[Puppadore]

Hello,

I have a bottle of 100% silicone lubricant. Could I use this to clean out the bore and other parts of the gun? Would it damage any parts?

I have M-Pro 7 gun cleaner, Kano creep oil, and other gun cleaning oil, but I think they may ruin the airgun if it touches non-metal parts.

 

[Nico5999]

Hi there!

Silicon won't really "clean" the bore. You'll need some sort of oil. Ballistol, CLP (there's tons of this stuff on the market) are generally the go-to products. I use Liberty Lubricant's HLP oil for all my bore cleaning and wipe-downs.

The Kano should be fine for bore cleaning and wipe downs. If its a springer just be VERY cognizant about keeping it out of your transfer port. Run some dry patches thru the bore when finished just to ensure it won't diesel.

For any other type of airgun, you should also be fine with the kano. As far as I know, it doesn't attack o rings or seals so no worries there. Just make sure your patches aren't sopping wet.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[elh0102]

Used sparingly, silicone is a good O ring lube, and probably for some other non-metal materials. It is a poor metal lube. It should also be kept away from metal bearing surfaces that are subject to high heat or pressure, as it can cause galling and seizing.

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

Just get yourself some Ballistol,...good for metal, O-rings and wood,

not the absolute best but really good and super versitale

 

[Osprey]

+1 on Ballistol! Keep the threads on the adapters/probes cleaned and lubed. Otherwise, leave the damn thing alone!

 

[Puppadore]

Would Simple Green for bore cleaning, and lubrication with Silicone on o-ring parts work? I don't want to buy another thing.

 

[Gerry52]

Ballistol!!!

 

[john8]

Ballistol is the answer

 

[JimD]

I've used WD-40 and if I didn't want to buy anything I think I'd use it. I wouldn't use something water based like Simple Green. You don't want your bore to rust. But a can of Ballistol is pretty cheap and will last a long time. It is what I use now. You can also use PB cleaners if you keep them out of the action but why worry about that when the solution is so cheap and easy? I've also used Kroil and I think it is OK but I still think Ballistol is the most likely to do the cleaning your want without any negative impacts if it gets on another part of your gun.

 

[Moog]

Would Simple Green for bore cleaning, and lubrication with Silicone on o-ring parts work? I don't want to buy another thing.

Thats exactly how I do it. Once the bore is clean I run at least two dry patches through it to make sure no Simple Green is left in the bore. I then lubricate the breech seal with a tiny amount of silicone oil. This is on spring piston guns.

 

[rbeckey]

In my experience Ballistol is volatile. It will eventually evaporate and leave metal dry.

 

[Puppadore]

I just got Ballistol.. and oddly, it is just mineral oil... with propane in it as aerosol propellant. Do I use this for most part of the gun cleaning, but use silicone oil to lubricate just the rubber parts?

 

[maxtrouble]

Use Ballistol for the bore and wooden stock. I use a oil rag to remove finger prints before I put them away.

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

I keep a couple scope microfiber cloths in a zip lock soaked with Ballistol always ready to go and saves since you do not have to spray as much.