M1 Grease/Lubricants

[hemgarand]

Sorry if this is a duplicate post...just joined the forum.

On the CMP site they talked about using Plastilube or Lubriplate. When I looked for these on the web I found the name, but the lube was being used for tractors, lawn equipment, etc. I called Brownells and they said they used the Lubriplate #130, but that and the #105 is no longer available. They pointed me to Militec grease. Militec has good write ups on their site, also found a M1A forum that had good things to say about it.

What do folks use on your rifles? Pros and Cons would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

[Paperkiller]

Midway has Lubriplate 130A which was originally developed for the Garand. Then came Plastilube, a new and improved grease for the M14. Iv'e used both over the years and my preference is Plastilube. That said, any good grease that is used for high temp. applications, like wheel bearing grease is probably just as good as anything.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/446877/lubriplate-130-a-mil-spec-grease-14-oz-can

This is Plastilube which is the same brown grease that also comes in the little plastic pots with the yellow caps.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Military-Grease-Rifle-Can-NOS-1963-1lb-/132019640796?hash=item1ebcfbd9dc:g:NTsAAOSwal5YIeIu

[lapriester]

I don't like Lubriplate 130 at all. It's a white grease that tends to harden and yellow over time. Looks like crap too, messy. There are eBay sellers that sell 1960's military surplus gun grease that's identical to Plastilube and designed for auto and semi auto rifles. I had a pound that took me about 10 years to use up even after giving some to most of my friends. I recently bought another of the same stuff that should last me until I'm fertilizer.

This: http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-VIETNAM-E...YAAOSwOyJX9qmU

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mili...sAAOSwal5YIeIu

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-mili...wAAOSwVFlUCTJo

Honestly, any good synthetic bearing grease you buy at Walmart will do the job as well as anything. Being newer technology, probably even better in the long run. Garands aren't that picky about any good grease you use in them as long as you use grease.

[TJT]

To an M1 rifle, grease is grease is grease. I use high pressure high temp wheel bearing grease. Get a 1# tub at Wally World for about 5 bucks. That tub of grease will last you about 20 life times. Keep it simple, don't over think it.
Jon

[Smokey]

Garand Gear recommends Mobil 1 synthetic grease. I got a tub and tried it, works well. I've used white lithium grease, automotive chassis lithium grease, plastilube, graphite grease and maybe the old Swiss rifle grease. All worked pretty well. Generally I'm not sparing with it either. What I am careful of is to remove all the old grease before applying anything different. Sometimes the additives (soaps) can defeat each other and the resulting mix won't function properly. There are a lot of places on the Garand that should be greased.

[RDS]

Garand Gear recommends Mobil 1 synthetic grease. I got a tub and tried it, works well. I've used white lithium grease, automotive chassis lithium grease, plastilube, graphite grease and maybe the old Swiss rifle grease. All worked pretty well. Generally I'm not sparing with it either. What I am careful of is to remove all the old grease before applying anything different. Sometimes the additives (soaps) can defeat each other and the resulting mix won't function properly. There are a lot of places on the Garand that should be greased.

All above lube sounds good except Graphite or any grease with Graphite in it. Do an internet search on Graphite and corrosion.

[Smokey]

I've used "Gunslick" graphite grease for almost 50 years both as a lubricant and as a protective coating. That at least never caused a corrosion problem, and has stayed put all this time on a few.
I don't know about other formulations so I won't dispute what you've said.

[Mike13A5P]

I too am using a good quality multi purpose grease NLGI Forum onmy Garand. My question is, with the plethora of different types of oil that are available, does the Grand really need grease and if so why?

[Smokey]

Yes, the Garand ABSOLUTELY must be greased. Here is the best reference I've found on where to do that:

https://www.garandgear.com/m1-garand-grease/

[Mike13A5P]

Thank you for this. Really good information. Thinking about back in the day, when I trained on the M1, all we did after a range sessiion was clean the rifles using a solvent tank but did not use any lubricants at all and the rifles ran fine. Go figure.

[danny]

A lot of people use Mobil One Synthetic if you want a known brand that lots of people use on firearms. I use it but may change, but only because I find the red color obnoxious. Like what everyone said, pretty much any modern grease would work perfectly. I would suggest that you select a grease listed as "NLGI 2". That is the grease thickness/viscosity of what some would call "regular or general purpose" grease. I would also suggest not using something like an Anti-Sieze Grease, or one that is something like an "Extreme Pressure" grease that has Moly in it. Those greases will stain your fingers and other things Black/Grey and it gets in your pores/skin and does not readily clean off. The stains have a way of transferring all around, too.

Danny

[Mike13A5P]

For me, Red "N" Tacky fits all the parameters of a quality grease for the Garand. When I apply I am using a super light film and no color shows It is not synthetic but does the job of keeping the rifle lubricated and protected. Really good stuff.