So the other day I was cleaning my rifle after a long range trip and ran out of my usual gun oil. Had that rusty gunk building up in the action – you know how it gets. Figured it was time to actually test different Rem Oil brands instead of just grabbing whatever’s cheapest at Walmart. Here’s how that went down.
The Experiment Setup
First I dug through my cleaning kit and found three neglected guns that needed serious work: my old 22 plinker that hadn’t been cleaned since last summer, an AR with over 500 rounds through it, and my grandpa’s double barrel shotgun looking crustier than week-old bread. Made sure they were all bone dry before starting.
Went to my local outdoor store and bought four small bottles: Hoppe’s, Lucas CLP, Break-Free, and some generic no-name stuff from the bargain bin. Spent about twenty minutes staring at the shelves like an idiot comparing prices.
Testing Like a Mad Scientist
Started with the 22. Took patches soaked in each oil and scrubbed the barrel. Hoppe’s cut through the carbon deposits crazy fast – just two passes and the patch came out clean. The bargain stuff? Man, I had to scrub like I was sanding furniture. Noticed Break-Free left this weird sticky film that attracted every dust bunny in the room.
For the AR’s bolt carrier group, I dunked the parts in each oil and let them sit overnight. Next morning, Lucas CLP wiped off clean while Hoppe’s had partially evaporated already. The generic oil? Turned into this milky gunk that made me question my life choices. Had to use brake cleaner to dissolve it.
The shotgun test was brutal. Poured each oil directly into the action and worked the pump fifty times. Lucas CLP actually squeaked halfway through – my shoulder was dead before hitting 30 cycles with that one. Break-Free felt slicker than motor oil but smelled like rotten chemicals.
Shocking Results
After all that elbow grease, here’s what mattered most:
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Price vs performance: Hoppe’s worked best but costs double the generic
Durability: Lucas CLP kept working after wiping while others dried out fast
Dirt resistance: Only Break-Free collected tons of lint and debris
Final Thoughts
Stayed up late comparing all three guns under bright lights. For regular range toys? Hoppe’s wins hands down. But if I’m storing guns long-term like grandpa’s shotgun, Lucas CLP’s staying power can’t be beat. Won’t touch that cheap stuff again even if they pay me – spent more time cleaning off that gunk than the actual firearm.
Funny how I always thought Rem Oil was Rem Oil. Turns out the small details make all the difference when your firearm’s literally blowing up in your face.