How to Use Silicone Oil on Airsoft Rifles

Airsoft guns are complicated beasts and ensuring that they are operating smoothly and efficiently is admittedly paramount to their continued operation and longevity.

Nevertheless, lubricants tin be tricky. There are multiple different materials and lubricant types. Non to mention a whole list of when you should and shouldn't apply them. Use this guide as your consummate resource in how to lubricate, with what production, and when to lubricate your airsoft guns.

Utilize the table of contents beneath to skip to the section relevant to your airsoft gun.

THE Basics OF AIRSOFT LUBRICATION

ELECTRIC AIRSOFT GUNS
AEG Rifles
AEP Pistols
Electric Shotguns

GAS AIRSOFT GUNS

GBBR (Gas Accident Back Rifles)
GBBP (Gas Blog Dorsum Pistols / NBBP (Non-Blow Back Pistols)
Gas Sniper Rifles
Gas Shotguns

Spring AIRSOFT GUNS

Spring Sniper Rifles
Jump Pistols
Spring Shotguns

The Basics of Airsoft Lubrication

Before nosotros become into the nitty gritty of which airsoft guns demand which intendance etc, we've got to cover the basics of airsoft gun lubrication.

Do non lubricate hop-ups or Barrels

Airsoft Hop-Ups and Barrels work on friction. Lubricants were invented to stop friction. If you put lubrication in your hop-up, it volition stop working.

A hop-up needs friction to put back-spin on the BB, this is how it generates elevator through the air and gives you improve range using a physics phenomenon known every bit the "Magnus Effect".

If lubrication gets on your hop-upwards, your airsoft gun's range volition naturally subtract. Avert this, at all costs.

Avoid petroleum based lubricants

Petroleum based lubricants have a addiction of eating into certain materials, especial rubber. Hydrocarbons (like petroleum) love to swallow through rubber, and so ensure that your airsoft lubricant is a different kind. Silicone based lubricants are a popular choice among airsofters.

Do not over-lubricate

When it comes to lubrication, less is always more than. There's a temptation to lather it on nice and thick, but it's wasteful and actually harming the operation of the airsoft gun.

A completely dry gun has no lubrication and will struggle to move without lots of force. A little bit of lubrication will free upwardly those moving parts and allow information technology to move. Lots of lubrication actually begins to arrive the way of other moving parts, you take to fight against information technology and information technology becomes a magnet for dirt and debris, creating an abrasive paste which volition quickly wear down the weapon.

Different parts require different lubricants

It's a fairly common and easy error to make to presume that a lubricant, is a lubricant, is a lubricant. However, different lubricants are created for dissimilar purposed and there'south no "1-in-ten" lubricant that does everything perfectly.

Metallic on Metal contact requires a thick, molybdenum based grease like our Gun Grease LT2. It'due south designed to reduce metal on metallic friction in firearms and is more than than heavy duty enough to stand upward to the high speed rotations of gears within gearboxes.

Plastic on Metal and Plastic on Plastic requires something much finer and less viscous, like our Silicone Oil 35. Its sparse viscosity provides an even film beyond the friction surface without hindering movement. Alternatively, for fast moving plastic parts (such as pistons), you may wish to go for a thicker silicon grease, and get longer lasting lubrication.

Lubrication is non always nearly friction

Up until now nosotros've mainly spoken almost how using oils and greases tin can reduce friction, increase efficiency and reduce ware. Nevertheless, silicone oils and greases are also used to refresh and protect o-rings.

An airsoft gearbox is filled with o-rings which assistance ensure that the amount of air which propels the BB is consistent. If the o-rings dry out, they become brittle and lose their ability to seal against air pressure (or gas pressure) causing an inconsistent FPS.

Silicone oil helps to stop o-rings from drying out and keeps them lasting longer.

Electric Airsoft Guns

Electric airsoft guns work on batteries, motors and gears and then information technology'south important to ensure that the internals are well lubricated. If you don't, parts can easily get worn out and break.

AEG Rifles

The most common airsoft gun type on the market (and therefore the offset 1 we'll comprehend) is the electric rifle, commonly referred to as an AEG.

Hither's everything you need to know near lubricating an airsoft electric rifle:

You're going to demand 2 or 3 unlike lubricant types. There are a huge range of different materials in an airsoft gearbox, you can't tackle them all with i production. We suggest Gun Grease LT2 for metal on metal and Silicone Oil 35 for the plastic parts, at a minimum.

Guns are (more often than not) lubricated poorly from the manufacturing plant. It might not exist the first affair you want to do when you lot go a brand new toy to play with, merely yous volition definitely exist wanting to ensure that it lasts for as long as possible. A lot of airsoft guns are sold into the market with sub-par lubrication globbed onto the internals with fiddling consideration for what information technology's going to do to the operation. It may sound odd, but even a make new gearbox can benefit from new grease and oil.

If you feel comfortable doing so, take your gearbox apart, use a degreasing spray to remove the old lubricant and supervene upon with the following lubricants…

Gears are a metal on metallic contact, with high rotational speed. For this application you should exist using a high viscosity molybdenum based grease similar our Gun Grease LT2. (Designed for real firearms).

Piston rails guide the piston back and forth. This can be lubricated with either Silicone Oil or Silicone Grease. Nosotros recommend Silicone Grease, due to its viscosity and ability to cling onto the fast moving piston. Yet, if the piston is metal, usa Gun Grease LT2.

Cutting Off Lever. Not a common one that people call back almost lubricating, but without lubrication, it might non actuate fast enough and cause overspin-esque symptoms (where the gun continues to fire briefly after you stop pulling the trigger). Lubricate this lightly with LT2 grease (if metal) and ensure it moves freely.

Piston Head, Cylinder Head, and Air Nozzle o-rings. These demand to be kept fresh to ensure that your FPS remains consequent. A few drops of Silicone Oil 35 on each o-ring volition ensure they stay fresh.

No lubricant is needed in the Hop-upwards or butt areas. This will completely ruin range and accuracy and is very difficult to make clean out.

If your rifle uses a realistic bolt or any other realistic moving features, you may wish to lubricated these like a existent firearm using gun oil. You may too wish to glaze the surface in a thin layer of gun oil to ensure that it doesn't begin to corrode.

AEP (Electric Pistols)

Electric pistols are just tiny versions of AEGs. They use the same technology (spinning gears, air compressing pistons, motors and batteries); they just practise it in a much smaller package. Due to this, the parts are smaller, under more than stress and require much more care to ensure they last longer.

Here's everything you need to know about lubricating your airsoft electrical pistol:

Many AEPs have plastic internal gearboxes. This means that the internals of an AEP can be relatively fragile and it'southward of import to wait after them. This involves carefully ensuring that they are well tuned and perfectly lubricated. Due to the potential plastic internals, this is all-time washed with Silicone Gun Grease.

Not all AEP gearboxes are plastic though, some higher end AEP gearboxes are completely metal. If you happen to be lucky plenty to ain one of these, the gears need to be lightly coated (after cleaning) in Gun Grease LT2.

Gears should be lubricated with Gun Grease LT2 if metal or Silicone Grease if plastic.

Piston slides should exist lightly lubricated with Silicone Oil 35 or Silicone Grease to ensure they are move hands and freely during firing. However, if the piston is metallic, us Gun Grease LT2.

O-rings – There should merely be three o-rings to remember to lubricate in an AEP, the piston head o-rings, the cylinder caput o-rings and the air nozzle o-rings. Ensure that these are all well lubricate to prevent inconsistent and poor fps.

Additionally, yous may wish to put a very light amount of lubricant into the magazine well, to help in the removal of magazines. Nevertheless, only do this lightly, no-where nearly where Bulletin board system sit and just if necessary.

Electric Shotguns

Electric shotguns, at the time of writing, are relatively rare. The simply real offerings on the market are Tokyo Marui based systems, such every bit the AA12 and the SGR12. However, no doubt these systems volition become more and more popular.

The internal workings of the TM design is very similar to an electric rifle, the only difference is that the piston is fastened to 3 different piston heads, each in their own cylinder, with individual air nozzles and cylinder heads.

The internal lubrication required is therefore very similar to an AEG rifle outlined above.

Gears need to be lubricated with Gun Grease LT2, with a light covering on all metal surfaces that come in contact to reduce friction.

Piston. The piston may be metallic or plastic in construction. If metal, you should lubricate the slides where they slide against the gearbox housing with Gun Grease LT2 (Our specific metallic grease). If the piston is plastic, you lot should apply a silicone based lubricant, such as our Silicone Grease. It's sticky plenty to keep the piston lubricated, fifty-fifty with loftier a high rate of burn.

Piston Head, Cylinder head and Air Nozzle o-rings should be lubricated with a silicone based lubricant to ensure that they provide a good seal. This can be done with Silicone Oil 35, or Silicone Grease, depending on your preference. Notation that there are multiple piston heads, cylinder heads and air-nozzles which will need lubrication in a tri-shot gun.

Remember, these are new systems, upgrades and spare parts may not ways be available (or inexpensive). So take intendance.

Gas Airsoft Guns

Gas airsoft guns are designed to function very similarly (mechanically) to a existent firearm. With that in heed, the intendance and maintenance of 18-carat firearms carries over to replica burn down arms. However, inside gas guns there are additional extras that need to exist taken care of such every bit o-rings and seals.

GBBR (Gas Blow Back Burglarize)

Gas accident back rifles are filled with moving parts that actuate on the trigger pull to operate the weapon realistically like a firearm. But like a existent firearm, the internals need to be spotless and well lubricated for shine operation.

Trigger Assembly. The trigger assembly is total of sears and springs which should exist individually lubricated with Gun Grease LT2. Information technology should operate smoothly and freely without any grinding. Information technology's always handy to accept pictures (or video) of the disassembly process, to ensure that everything goes dorsum together correctly.

Mag O-rings. Gas magazines store gas to be shot past the rifle, every bit such they need to be gas tight and the valves need to move freely. Otherwise, they simply won't work. There is a fill valve on the bottom of the magazine which contains o-rings. If these o-rings dry out (by leaving the magazine empty of gas whilst in storage) they volition no longer seal the gas inside. A drop or two of Silicone Oil 35 onto the valve should help keep it fresh.

In that location is also a large valve on the "rear" of the magazine, this button valve is struck by the "hammer" within the gun. This releases gas and shoots the gun. Naturally, if this valve gets stuck, the gun won't fire. Additionally, if this valve doesn't seal properly, the gas will escape. Again, a drop or two of Silicone Oil 35 onto the push button face also equally down the valve port (the pocket-size pigsty on the top of the magazine) will help continue it fresh. Do not get this gap confused with where the BBs go. You don't want slippery balls.

Gas Routers. On the top of the mag, yous'll see a rubbery surface with a hole in the middle. The hole in the middle is where the gas from the magazine is routed into the gun (hence the name – gas router). This gas router is rubber, because it seals against the within of the gun and losses the lease possible gas in the process. Since this is a sealing surface and ane that gets used regularly, in rough atmospheric condition, you lot want to lubricate this surface with Silicone Grease – the thicker consistency means it won't be wiped off as easily when skirmishing.

Piston. At that place is indeed a piston and o-ring fix-up within most gas blow dorsum rifles. Within the blowback housing and feed nozzle, yous'll detect a piston with an o-ring (or condom face) on it. Ensure that this is lubricated with Silicone Oil 35 or Silicone Grease. Do non exist tempted to simply spray the oil through the gas port in the feed nozzle onto the piston head. This is too much lubricant and will become onto the hop-upward rubber and ruin your accuracy. Have the time to detach the burglarize and lightly lubricate the piston head correctly.

Bolt. The bolt is a large weighty slice of metal that travels dorsum and along within the gun. It's moved by the pressure of the gas and returned by a heavy duty leap. The less energy this takes, the less gas information technology takes to fire the weapon, the more efficient it is and the faster the rate of fire/trigger response. A well cleaned and lubricated bolt is a footstep towards this.

The bolt should just contact the receiver in specific areas, so ensure that they are clean and lubricated properly with Gun Grease LT2. You shouldn't need to cover the entire commodities in grease. It might seem that that would aid the bolt travel, simply you're only calculation weight to the bolt and accumulating dirt. Just put grease in areas of friction.

GBBP (Gas blow dorsum pistol) / NBBP (Non-Blow Back Pistol)

Gas pistols are one of the most common gas weapons in airsoft. Electrical versions are non the near reliable, and many players love the realistic action and feel of a gas pistol. So, how do you lubricate a gas pistol?

Gas pistols can vary in materials greatly, so when it comes to lubrication, remember the golden rules of: Plastic on Plastic contact or O-rings need Silicon Oil 35 or Silicone Grease. Plastic on Metal or Metal on Metallic needs Gun Grease LT2.

Slide – The meridian slide on gas pistols (providing information technology'due south blowback) are decumbent to getting muddy and dry through skirmishing. About pistols, even if plastic, volition take metal slides for durability. Polish and lubricate the length of these slides with Gun Grease LT2. If however, certain parts of plastic rub on plastic, use Silicone Gun Grease here.

If your pistol is NBB (non-accident back), there's no need to lubricate the slide equally information technology does not move.

Mag – Like all gas magazines, the valves need to exist constantly lubricated with Silicone Oil 35 to ensure they stay gas tight. Turning the magazine upside down will reveal the fill up valve (where you fill the mag with gas). A few drops of oil on this will keep the o-rings fresh.

The feed valve at the superlative rear of the magazine should be oiled similarly. The hammer within the pistol strikes this valve (the button on the back of the magazine) and releases gas into the pistol. If this valve isn't lubricated, your pistol may struggle to cycle properly. Put a drop or two onto this button and a drop or two into the hole in the gas router (the rubbery foursquare at the elevation). Activate the valve back and forth a few times to piece of work the lubricant in.

Gas Routers – The gas router, as mentioned to a higher place, is the rubbery part on top of the mag which routes gas from the valve into the pistol. It'southward made from rubber-like fabric so that information technology can create a tight seal with the loading nozzle. If this rubber gets dry out, it won't brand a good seal and information technology will let inconsistent amounts of gas into the weapon (this creates an uneven fps). We recommend that y'all put silicone grease on the surface, so that it stays fresh for longer.

Outer Barrel – Information technology may not seem it, but the outer barrel (the fake barrel that surrounds the inner butt) moves inside the slide. It shifts ever so slightly to let the slide to move freely. Naturally if this isn't clean or lubricated properly, it can demark and cause the pistol to malfunction. It should exist fairly articulate on the outer butt where it rubs against the slide, utilise this as a guide to lubricate. Employ the materials guide above to piece of work out which kind of lubricant you demand to use.

Trigger Grouping – Whilst this is all "subconscious" inside the pistol, it can get surprisingly grimy if left neglected. The entire trigger group is relatively easy to remove from all gas pistols. Providing you pay attention to the assembly order and positions (accept photographs or video), it's perfectly safety to fully disassemble, clean and lubricate. Since these parts are almost always metal, apply Gun Grease LT2 hither.

Piston – The piston is hidden within the feed nozzle, within the slide. This requires silicone oil 35 or silicone grease. Do not spray into the air nozzle, as this will hands find its manner onto the hop-upward rubber and ruin your pistol'due south accuracy. Instead, completely disassemble the parts and put a light flick on the sealing parts. This should prevent it from contaminating the hop-up.

Feed Nozzle – The feed nozzle springs back and along inside the pistol slide and loads a BB from the magazine into the hop-up chamber. This is commonly a plastic component, so use a silicone based lubricant sparingly on the outside surfaces that contact a plastic slide. If you happen to take a metal slide (and/or a metallic loading nozzle) employ Gun Grease LT2.

These parts can go dirty and gritty relatively quickly, and so ensure that they are clean and lubricated regularly.

Gas Sniper Rifles

Gas Sniper Rifles, particularly the bolt activeness kind, are finely tuned tools; quality, right lubrication is essential to their continued accuracy and consistency. Without proper care, gas sniper rifles can become inaccurate through poor seals and hard to operate.

Despite the difference in looks, a gas sniper rifle works shut to how a GBB rifle or GBB pistol works. The merely difference is that there's no "blow-dorsum" function, which makes them substantially simpler, resulting in higher accurateness.

Here'south where you lot need to pay attention to when lubricating:

Trigger Unit of measurement – The trigger unit of measurement is a modest tolerance serial of bars, sears and levers which activate the sprung hammer on the pull of the trigger. The entirety of this section volition exist made of metallic. It'southward important to ensure that this whole unit of measurement is kept clean from dust and dirt every bit otherwise it will bind and you will struggle to pull the trigger when it matters.

This surface area requires a thin layer of Gun Grease LT2. A thin layer will go along it moving freely without attracting and holding onto as well much clay.

Magazine valves – The gas magazine is similar to pistol and burglarize gas magazines. It will have a make full valve on the bottom and a flow valve on the rear. These valves contain seals which, if not properly lubricated, plough into leaks. A few drops of Silicone Oil 35 on the surface will ensure that they remain sealed.

Gas Router – The gas router on the top of the magazine routes gas into the Gas Sniper Rifle's cylinder. If you lot allow this to dry out out, you won't get a consistent seal against the burglarize's magazine and your accuracy will suffer over time. Ensure that this seal remains lubricated and in skilful condition, with Silicone Grease. The grease has a thicker consistency which will terminal on the gas router for longer.

Cylinder – The cylinder has two important parts to consider when lubricating. The outer surface and the gas port seal / router. The outer surface of the cylinder often rubs against the interior of the receiver. If this isn't perfectly clean and lubricated, it can scratch and grind and equally yous move the bolt, making information technology much harder. These two surfaces are normally metallic on metal contact, so we recommend Gun Grease LT2.

The gas port (on the bottom of the commodities) takes the gas from the magazine and puts information technology into the hop-up chamber to force the BB downwards the butt. This surface rubs and seals against the mag'south gas router due to the moving of the commodities. To ensure that this rubbing doesn't ruin either seal, a thin glaze of Silicone Gun Grease should exist practical. The rubbing moving of the bolt means that Silicone Oil 35 may wearable out faster than grease, so in this instance, nosotros suggest Silicone Grease.

Cylinder Head – The tip of the cylinder caput / feed nozzle may have an o-ring on the end of it for a meliorate seal. With this o-ring, you must be very careful to not over-utilise lubrication, since it directly interfaces with the hop-up and BBs. A very tiny amount of Silicone Oil 35 is appropriate here. If over-applied, remove with our degreasing spray and start again.

Gas Shotguns

Gas shotguns, like electrical ones, aren't as well mutual on the airsoft field, but systems such as the Tokyo Marui M870 are available. These systems are finding their way into the second hand market and volition definitely demand some maintenance. Whilst inherently, each system is different, here'southward what y'all need to expect out for when cleaning, lubricating and maintaining your gas shotgun.

Stock – The stock seems like an odd place to offset when talking most lubrication. Even so, guns like the fixed stock TM870 which happen to accept a removable gas reservoir in the rear have a number of subconscious o-rings. As you're aware, o-rings need to be maintained; otherwise your shot gun will leak everywhere.

When you remove the stock, there may be an o-band between the stock and the receiver (ordinarily on the receiver side). This stops gas from leaking out from the joint between the two, whilst ensuring the gun tin can all the same come apart. This o-ring requires a drop or two of Silicone Oil 35 to continue it fresh.

Within the stock volition too be a valve to have the gas from the gas reservoir (which is often removable) into the weapon. This may need to exist removed and the o-rings lubricated with Silicone Oil 35.

Gas Reservoir – The Gas Reservoir (if your shotgun has one) tin be treated similar a gas magazine on any other gas weapon. The only deviation here is that in that location are no BBs to worry about. The reservoir will take a fill up valve. Just like whatsoever gas magazine, you'll need to give this a drib or two of Silicone Oil 35 to keep information technology in top condition. These reservoirs will also have a solid button valve to release the gas into the gun. This valve will need like lubrication to prevent leaks.

Trigger Group – The trigger group is a solid metal organisation of sears and leavers and information technology's probable to become total of gunk and grunge after a few game days. Brand sure that you occasionally remove it, clean out all the grit and dirt and re-lubricate it with Gun Grease LT2.

Receiver Mechanism – Within the receiver are a number of small moving parts and movements. We're not going to go through each of the individual picayune parts and tell you how to lubricate them. However, if you follow the rule of pollex of: metal on metal contact needs Gun Grease LT2 and any contact that has plastic or o-ring contact needs a silicone based lubricant, y'all will be fine.

Pump Activity – The pump activity mechanism, despite the handle existence plastic ordinarily, is a metal on metal slider, which requires Gun Grease LT2 for a smoothen slide. Try non to get whatever on the outer grip, every bit you'll struggle to operate the action.

Spring Airsoft Guns

Leap guns vary profoundly in airsoft. You can have the everyman end of the spectrum with a cheap bound pistol used equally a last resort or yous have one of the most expensive spring sniper rifles always to grace this planet.

Jump Sniper Rifles

A spring sniper rifle is so authentic because of its repeatability and consistent gas delivery between shots. However, if your rifle falls into disrepair, it will brainstorm to suffer in accuracy. Hither'south how to ensure that it stays accurate and easy to operate.

Cylinder – Due to how jump guns piece of work, this can exist tricky to get right. When the bolt is pulled dorsum, it's against spring tension and when pushing the bolt forward, the piston inside can cause it to demark and button against the receiver. A thin layer of Gun Grease LT2 should help to free up the motility and make information technology easier to reload.

Cylinder head – The cylinder head screws into the cylinder and at the base of the threads is an o-ring. If you discover that you are having problem with gas efficiency, remove the cylinder caput and add together a dab or two of Silicone Gun grease.

Why Silicone Gun grease? When information technology comes to sniper rifles, consistency is key. Silicone Oil 35 has a thin consistency which is great for almost applications. However, there's potential that information technology gets picked upwards by gas flow when shooting and find its way into the barrel or onto the hop-upwardly rubber. The thicker consistency grease won't let that happen.

The cylinder caput may too have an o-ring on the feed nozzle. Exist very careful when lubricating this o-band equally it comes in contact with Bbs and the hop-up, use the accented minimum lubrication possible.

Piston Caput – The piston inside the cylinder is what fires forward on the trigger pull, compresses air and shoots the BB through the Butt. The cylinder head is one-piece (usually) with the piston. On the head of this piston are o-rings to give a good seal against the cylinder wall and compress the exact aforementioned corporeality of gas each time the trigger is pulled. Lubricate this o-ring with Silicone Gun Grease to keep information technology sealing well.

Trigger Group – The trigger group locks the piston in identify when re-loading and transfers the trigger pull into releasing the piston. If this isn't a smooth operation, it can exist hard to permit off accurate and precise shots. Thoroughly clean and degrease the trigger group and re-lube with Gun Grease LT2.

Spring Pistols

Jump pistols are not often on the "high end" of the airsoft market place. Regardless, if y'all're reading this, it means something to you and you desire to go on it going for as long every bit possible.

The bulk of leap pistols are fabricated from plastic, equally such, there's simply a demand for Silicone Oil 35 or Silicone Grease. A careful take down of the pistol should illuminate the areas that need to exist lubricated, but pay careful attending to:

Slide – The slide that you pull back in order to "prime" the gun for firing. This should accept a small amount of lubricant on the slide rail.

Piston – The internal piston needs to slide freely and the piston head'due south o-ring should exist fresh and lubricated for a proficient seal.

Trigger Mechanism – The trigger mechanism is probable made of lightweight plastic which may break if used in anger. Keep this lubricated with silicone gun grease.

Overall, you lot want to ensure that these parts of clean and lubricated sparingly to ensure their long life.

Spring Shotguns

Spring shotguns are quite common on the airsoft field. They're relatively inexpensive RIFs to purchase, simply offer practiced effectiveness against shut range targets. It'southward a brave soul that decides to have one of these apart, but here's what you need to know about lubricating 1.

Pistons – The shotgun will take iii different cylinders and 3 different pistons for the 3 barrels. Each i volition accept individual o-rings inside that need lubricating with Silicone Oil 35 or Silicone Gun Grease.

Slide – Near of the slide assembly is a mixture of plastic on plastic-or-metal-on-plastic connections. Here, utilise Silicone Grease to ensure smoothen operation. Even so, for metal-on-metal connections employ Gun Grease LT2.

Trigger – The trigger machinery will virtually likely also exist plastic-on-plastic contact, which will crave Silicone Gun Grease.

The key to the longevity of these weapons is careful cleaning and lubrication. When you're maintaining these weapons, go on an center open for areas of wear and tear, peculiarly plastic parts. This is where you can programme to supplant parts before they fail and investigate why they may exist failing in the start place.

Our lubricants are sold across the world for airsoft, firearm and air burglarize applications.

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