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replacement rifle barrel lube?
mcdangdang
Member Posts: 107 ✭✭
hello-is there any type of anti-seize that should be used when replacing a threaded rifle barrel?
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We use Saf-T-Eze Nickel:
http://www.saftlok.com/safteze/nickel.htm
Clean up excess with acetone on a patch or q-tip.
Best.
hello-is there any type of anti-seize that should be used when replacing a threaded rifle barrel?
I don't know that there is one (and only) one type that that's acceptable for use here, but yes, you should use one (rather than none at all) and you should probably pick one that is an anti-seize lube specifically designed for high temp application. IE, you don't want to just use some generic petroleum based lube or other grease that might break down or leak out under high temps.
As to which exact brand, some people like Permatex anti-seize for this application. Never-seez is another brand some people use for this. The one Nononsense recommended above is another.
Ultimately all of these contain more or less the same ingredients (soft metallic particles in a viscous lubricant) and I'm skeptical that you'll really see any real-world performance difference between the different brands in the same category.
The nickel based versions of the above are a bit more heat resistant and probably a bit better suited for gun barrels than the regular (copper based) versions.
If you're using stainless steel, which is subject to galling, you might consider stepping up to the stainless versions of the above. Those will cost more, but supposedly offer a bit more resistance to galling. Will you see any real performance advantage to justify the increased cost? I don't know, but I doubt this will hurt anything but your wallet!
There are literally dozens of types of Anti-Seize products on the market. Some are extremely specific in their use while most will work on any generic thread.
Making proper threads for fitting rifle barrels is essential to getting the accuracy we all desire for our shooting exploits. No amount of lubricant or anti-seize will fix threads which are too tight, too loose or tapered. Barrel threads are NOT made to be a net fit let alone an interference fit.
For general lubrication, white lithium grease will serve the purpose for assembling the average barrel into the receiver. For combinations of metals, especially some stainless steels, a top quality anti-seize product can add a little insurance against 'sticking' a barrel in an action.
Best.
JMHO
Ray
That could be from ordinary rust, galvanic type corrosion that occurs when dissimilar metals contact each other, or galling. Anti-seize also helps (at least in theory) to reduce vibration at the barrel-receiver joint which could loosen barrels over time, and contribute to reduced accuracy.
Since you can buy a 1-ounce tube of purpose designed metallic anti-seize lube like Permatex at any auto store for $5, and since said tube will be enough for (at least) multiple rifles, if you're already going to the expense and effort of rebarreling a gun, in my opinion you might as well use one, even if you can get away with less.
Obviously, if you have a pal whose an auto-mechanic who can give you a teaspoon of this stuff for free, that could work too.
Now, in reality, for just a regular bolt action hunting rifle that's probably not going to be used under "extreme" circumstances, shot with a high round count, nor ever rebarreled again, I doubt you're ever really going to see any difference no matter what product is used. In reality, lots of people do use "nothing" and get away with it, if if that isn't optimal.
As a sort of counter-example, if the gun in question were a machine gun that's going to be exposed to extremes of temperature, vibration, perhaps humidity and/or salt water, and may require more than one rebarreling in its operating lifetime, then you probably really do want to step up to a higher performance product for this application.