The ugly side of WD40

[bandit1250]

I looked over a friends 700 Remington BDL 25/06 this evening he bought today. I suggested we take the bolt apart and flush it out as I could see the dried oil at the rear of the bolt. I took the bolt apart and flushed it out with brake cleaner and dried it good and then greased the cocking ramp and put it back together. Then I pulled the stock off and what a mess in the trigger assembly. He said the guy used WD40 on it so I kind of expected what would be there but it was even worse than I thought it might be. I then removed the trigger assembly from the action and completely disassembled it except for the sear screw in the rear of the housing was froze up. I have it soaking in Kroil now to try to get it out. It will be O.K. if I can't get it out as it looks to be in the factory adjustment position. I will have to soak all the parts in laquer thinner and then polish everything and after getting everything back in the trigger housing readjust the pull weight and the trigger stop screw. This is years of using WD40. Take notice of all the dried crud on the sear and the bolt release lever. The sear was froze up to the trigger housing so tight the sear return spring wouldn't move it. I had to scratch this stuff off the trigger housing and the attaching pins to fasten the trigger to the action were froze up tight. Not made for guns in my opinion. This may be a example of the so called Remington 700 trigger problems of which I never ever had and owned around a 100 700's since 1968.

[Deadwood Dutch]

Yep, I never spray WD40 into the action of any gun or use it on a patch. But sometimes I have sprayed it on a rag and wiped down the barrel and receiver with it.

[bandit1250]

Yep, I never spray WD40 into the action of any gun or use it on a patch. But sometimes I have sprayed it on a rag and wiped down the barrel and receiver with it.

External on a rag for a wipe down doesn't allow the build up like applying it with the spray can. I think what you are doing Dutch is fine.

[albin25]

WD40 is as perfect example of a product that falls victim to it's success at being effectively mis-used.

Originally developed as a very effective Water Displacement product after 39 other formulas were tested. It was never intended to be a long term fix or maintenance item. It was to be used to clear water from things that got wet and shouldn't have....like a walky-talky dropped in the surf on a beach head or to keep carrier based aircraft electronics and fine mechanicals from corroding. It had to displace moisture and leave a non-conductive, microthin, protective coating until proper scheduled maint. could be performed.
These days, with solid state, silicon chips, fully sealed and embedded electronics WD40 has become somewhat of a dinosaur for its intended purpose.

But as a gun oil? Sure, if effectively mis-used as a stopgap.
ie;...After shooting your rifle for hours on end at bad guys then dropping it in ditch while dodging bullets, a short break in the action allows you to soak it down with some WD and keep on fighting. Then, when you have the time/light/safety/parts, you can dis-assemble/clean/lube properly.

[Sir Henry]

The 'Water Displacement' says it all. Its mostly rubbing alcohol and contain no oil of any sort.

[tx gunrunner]

The 'Water Displacement' says it all. Its mostly rubbing alcohol and contain no oil of any sort.

You are 100% correct .........WD40 works perfect for it was designed for . When I wash my Black Powder guns with hot soapy water I blow dry and then I hose it down with WD40 blow dry it again and then I oil the gun to protect it ..... If a something electrical get wet with like water , spray WD40 in it and it will remove water and it will not make it short out . In the old days when cars had dist and they got wet and stopped running . Just spray WD40 in the dist and it start up and drive away and no need to dry it out since it goes away in about a week or so . .

[Travlin]

I have found that WD-40 works for a wet auto ignition system ,plug wires etc. I have seen it build up on gun parts almost like cosmoline.

[Whaler]

A couple years ago I had an ant problem, tiny little buggers coming in through an electrical box. Sprayed WD-40 in and no more ants.

[Sir Henry]

I have found that WD-40 works for a wet auto ignition system ,plug wires etc. I have seen it build up on gun parts almost like cosmoline.

I just cleaned some vintage radios with an electrical cleaner. It smelled like WD-40.

[tx gunrunner]

I just cleaned some vintage radios with an electrical cleaner. It smelled like WD-40.

That is a cleaner and total different from WD40 and don't do the same jobs .

[Sir Henry]

I just cleaned some vintage radios with an electrical cleaner. It smelled like WD-40.

That is a cleaner and total different from WD40 and don't do the same jobs .

I know but they sure smell the same.

[clovishound]

The 'Water Displacement' says it all. Its mostly rubbing alcohol and contain no oil of any sort.

Not sure where that info came from.

Read all about it here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40

Other sources say mineral oil is the 25%