Using WD40 on air rifles.

[madcarlos]

Its absolutely fine for cleaning and dispersing moisture from locks, (unless they contain plastic parts or seals which may be adversely affected).

However, after cleaning and drying, they need to be lubricated with a suitable lubricant.

Yes that's what I've been doing lately, The bike ignition locks and petrol cap can be quite vulnerable also the padlocks on the garage, The worst obesity can be the disc locks as they can be a bit tricky to remove if stuck,

[GoodWILLHunting]

WD is a penetrating oil, can be used to thin/degrease heavier lubes etc. Also, to dispel water.

I don't use it much but did a heavily squirt to the barrels of the shotgun last week as it was soaked (as I was) when I got back to the car. A heavy external squirt and immediate wipe down with a dry cotton rag, broke the gun down and left it out on the back seat as we drove back to where we were staying with the heater running. Once there a wipe down with a spot or two of 3:1 reassembly and back in it's case.

I've done the same with air rifles when I've had a gun soaked.

Thing to remember with WD and similar is not to get any in the internals and don't rely on it for a pre storage wipe down, it's ubber thin and evaporates almost completely, certainly enough to prevent a protective film remaining, after just a few hours.

For storing a gun I find it best to put a few drops of 3:1 or similar on to a cotton rag and wipe the blued steal well and avoid touching the steal with fingers after. If guns haven't been used for a while I take them out and give a repeat wipe down, every three months or so, but then it's damp generally where I live as it rains a lot, although it's snowing to day

[WILBA]

Used WD40 for 40yrs to rub down and protect bluing from rust. Never had a problem and still use it now. But never use it for lubing as far to thin for that application.

[Airsporter1st]

Used WD40 for 40yrs to rub down and protect bluing from rust. Never had a problem and still use it now. But never use it for lubing as far to thin for that application.

Obviously a lot of people swear by it, so it must be OK under certain circumstances. I wonder if it is the frequency of use which makes the difference? The bad experience I had was with bare steel which rusted after I had liberally coated it with WD40, but then left it untouched for several months. No problem had I done that with Ballistol, but perhaps the WD40's effectiveness just doesn't last as long?