NO lube on bolt/rings as per FN manual?

[Clint]

There's probably no way lube on the bolt could damage the rifle, but it could cause firing pin issues.

Any lube inside the bolt/gas piston either gets blown out or burnt up in fairly short order.

So it might be:
1) harmless if blown out
2) eye hazard if blown out
3) negative if the burnt up lube residue is sticky around the bolt tail
4) beneficial by softening carbon if used after firing as a pre-cleaning treatment

For reference, HK also advises against any lube in the gas piston area on the HK416.


Our practical experience so far has been things run just fine with no lube in that particular area, hence the "not productive" statement.

As long as the rails and cam pin are addressed periodically with something like SLIP 2000 EWL, things keep running.


BTW, for a variety of reasons, a lightweight grease is probably the best product to use on the rails and cam pin area.

We haven't had enough experience with it yet to confirm, but the science behind it is sound.

I lube my rings because it makes me feel better, but I've always wondered how long it lasted while firing. Could you give us more detail, I tend to pay attention to manufacturers. Thanks.

Lube the carrier rails and cam pin area generously.

Lubing any part of the bolt proper is not really productive.

[Dr. Bullseye]

I find my hand drawn to lubricate the rings and "bearing" on the bolt for the reasons you guys describe. But, is that right in view of what FN says? After all, they make these rifles and they do not sell lube so they are not profiting either way.

Does anyone here have a way to contact FN and find out why they say no lube?

[ColtSeavers]

[themonk]

Over 12k and have watched him do it several times. F*%k FN! Just like you can't shoot a SCAR suppressed.

[LMT/556]

My BCG including the bolt and interior bore and receiver bore get a coating of Hornady One Shot, I love the stuff. I use Breakfree LP on the BCG bearing surfaces, one drop on each and let it run down, and in the cam hole, and a drop of CLP in each vent hole directly on the rings. Hornady One Shot with DynaGlide Plus. None of my rifles have complained...

[halfmoonclip]

Clint, appreciate the more detailed comeback.
Enjoyed the 'over oiled' AR; glad it wasn't me shooting it.
At least it appears that really over-oiling only causes a mess.
Moon

[MistWolf]

Taken from the Army Operator's Manual-



It calls for a generous amount of lube to be applied to the gas rings

[OrbitalE]

Lube the firing pin? I don’t know if I’d even consider lightly oiling it.

[Leonardo]

Wow.......FN, what a joke

[mark5pt56]

I'm not an engineer, tier one dude, etc. All I can say is I've lubed my AR's closely like the image above since shooting them and never had an issue whatsoever. I've also been fortunate to be in positions to have shot personally untold tens of thousands of rounds and witnessed thousands shoot for days and not once did the above lube points cause an issue. Now I have seen "run it dry" and it never works for long.