Florida Shooters Network

From what I've read in books and on the error-net I believe that I'm supposed to grease certain places/parts on my M14 semi-clone rifle. Today when I went to purchase said grease I was told by the proprietor of my local gun store that I didn't need grease. He went on to say that it doesn't lubricate as well, but it does stay in place better. I'm leaning towards going with what Bruce Dow and a few books told me over what the gunstore owner told me. I'm just wondering if anyone uses grease just for lubrication for a range session and not long term storage?
Thank you in advance for your input.

The M14/M1A platform is an upgrade of the M-1 Garand, which uses grease.
There are plenty of lube-posts on M-14 website which all recommend Grease on the appropriate contact points/springs of the M-14 and some light oil on other external parts subject to friction and/or corrosion.

Lubriplate works as does Tetra Gun Grease.

If a Gun dealer recommends oil alone, he may not know the platform well at all. In a pinch, a good oil will be better than nothing. But I believe both the Garand and M14 specs call for Grease.

If you can get online at the site try:
http://m14tfl.com/upload/showthread.php?t=68705

It's a great source of M14 knowledge and includes some of the best M14 armorers in the biz.

Here's some eye candy for 'ya to enjoy:



It gets Grease and runs like a swiss watch.

Tetra Gun Grease has worked just fine for the 6 M14s I previously owned and the one I have now. There's a lot of moving metal on that beast and oil doesn't cut it except for a wipe-down on the external parts.

OK...now for the next entry on the stupid questions of all time....do you re-grease after every range trip? or just some of the major parts?
The reason I'm asking is because I was going to go to the range today and fire off a few rounds and finish the break-in Bruce started. I woke up a little after I wanted to and just didn't make it. I decided I'd go ahead and prep for next weekend and grease and lube today. I wrapped up after about 4 hours with a sore back from sitting on the floor and grease stains on all of my clothing, including my socks. I followed along in both of the books that I have (Duffy & Knutson, I think). But it was a little more in depth than what I got for training on a M16 platform. Bruce told me when I picked up my rifle that it was very tight and he wasn't joking when he said that. I almost didn't get the receiver to fit into the stock and locked in place with the trigger group. I'm not knocking it, Just a little unsure if the whole process takes that long or will it get better with repetitions.
Thank you for your time.

It does not take that long nor is it that messy! Unless you are a complete putz, you will get better at it (I hope).

Zullo: I don't think I'm that much of a putz and I hope I do get better at it. I REALLY like this rifle and the round a lot more than any of the black rifles that I've had/fired/been issued prior. But then again, I might be a bigger putz than I realize.

level3 wrote:I wrapped up after about 4 hours with a sore back from sitting on the floor and grease stains on all of my clothing, including my socks.

What were you doing for 4 hours?

mjmensale wrote:

level3 wrote:I wrapped up after about 4 hours with a sore back from sitting on the floor and grease stains on all of my clothing, including my socks.

What were you doing for 4 hours?

Well.... he had this handfull of grease and.... um.... never mind, but it looked a little like this....

level3 wrote:OK...now for the next entry on the stupid questions of all time....do you re-grease after every range trip? or just some of the major parts?

It depends on how many rounds I shoot. I would do a full breakdown at 500-1,000 rounds and grease/clean everything. In the interim, you can put grease on the bolt, bolt roller and the bolt raceways as well as the oprod receiver channel without having to remove the action from the stock.

LOL...ipscott well....um....i was watching a western....

Moe: Good to know. When I got the rifle back from being built it was bone dry. I had to go through ALL of the parts that require grease to include rear sight assembly and basically do a complete breakdown of the rifle. All of the service rifles I have been exposed to prior only used oil. The crew serves used LSA and there were usually several of us taking parts and cleaning them separately.

Thanks for the info. Now back to the westerns......

level3 wrote:I had to go through ALL of the parts that require grease to include rear sight assembly...

The rear sight doesn't require any lubrication, grease or oil.

And this is why I ask the stupid questions...
Pages 148-149 of "The M14 Complete Assembly Guide" by Walt Kuleck & Clint McKee directs and has pictures showing the greasing of the rear sight assembly.

The M14 rear sight operates by friction. Just like the AR15/M16 rear sight does. Nobody I know of lubricates either of those.

I am in the USN and we still have m14's for line throwing. Our maint cards do NOT specify grease. However many of us still do, as a hold over from the old days. I prefer the grease and my gunners know when they clean our M14's that they will fail to grease my bolt roller paths at their peril.

level3 wrote:....I was told by the proprietor of my local gun store that I didn't need grease....

At least you ID'd a gun store where you should take anything the proprietor says with a grain of salt.

Sure seems to be hard for people to keep their traps shut about stuff they know little or nothing about.....

If Bruce Dow, Scott Duff, or Walk Kulek says something about the M1 or M14 platform, you can take it to the bank and laugh under your breath at know-it-alls who talk out of their .

i have been using a starbrite marine teflon grease on garand, m1a,fal,L1A1,and some bolt guns and the ar 15.pretty happy with it.lubriplate is pre wwII technolgy but still ok the teflon stuff seems to stay put better