Depends.
-Type of Firearm , Revolver or Semi.
-Firearm's preference. Is this a "tight" finicky design, or a Gov't Model 45 that is "loose" and runs no matter what exposed to.
-Environment. I am in the heat and humidity of the South.
-Availabilty. Do I use what is handy locally, whatever came in the last shooter's kit, do I have to order if via the 'Net, what if I am out of town and have a need , is whatever avail compatable with what I normally use?
I lean toward toward "Inspect, & Maintain" versus Holy Grails.
I have used ATF (automatic transmission fluid ) RIG /RIG+P forever. I get caught in the middle of nowhere, I can pull a dipstick and lube. I can find ATF in a parts store, Shoot and Get convience store, even a Filling station. Lithium Grease is another good one.
My Keltec P-11 is lubed with regular old ATF only ( no grease) The external ( slide) a coating of Carnuba Car wax. It will run 500 rds before I need to lube it. ATF keeps rust away,stays put. Never had a rust problem using the wax on external.
1911 is lubed with Havoline Full synthetic 10w-30 oil. I split a $3.50 quart with another person. Again no grease on this gun.
I use the RIG+P if I am going to do a LOT of shooting, like 1Krds in day. I use it on Steel / Al differences of slide and frames on some firearms.
Revolvers - no grease.
One Model 10 I kept hidden in a business lubed for 10 years...Still fine after I figured after 8 years I probably needed to check it.
It was up under the vanity in the shop's bathroom, how often do YOU look up in your business bathroom vanity? :biggrin: Had to move the durn thing when I had a faucet handle go beserk and a pipe broke. Oh I took itout with that old ammo, all 6 rds went bang. :tongue:
Yeah Yeah I gave it good going over, new ammo, new Carnuba waxed it, and stuck it back up there...2 years later I left that place and took it and the other 5 model 10 I had scattered about the place in various hiding places.
That old silk plant/ tree ( whatever it was) where one was kept hidden I didn't keep tho' . :wink:
Ned Christainsen uses Golden Spectro 50/50 reg/ motorcycle oil that he uses in his bike. Like Ned I tend to figure it don't much to lube most stuff, most stuff is re-packed stuff anyway with more $ tacked on , and the type of dispenser makes a bigger difference. If I want one drop right there - I don't want a blob everywhere.
Disposable pipettes are your friend.