In the last week I have noticed allegations made by the maker of a gun oil that FireClean is a) nothing more than Crisco vegetable oil, and b) will cause the action of a weapon to “gum up” if left on the weapon for more than six to twelve months.
While I am investigating both claims, I happened to have a Spike’s Tactical AR15 in 5.45×39 which had last been fired and lubricated with FireClean in September of 2013 and, to be clear, not been cleaned, fired, or lubricated in any manner since. I took this rifle to the range this morning and fired a magazine of surplus 5.45 in order to determine if the action had been “gummed up.” This weapon has only seen surplus ammunition in its life, has been shot a lot, and has rarely if ever been cleaned. I can hardly think of a better candidate for such an experiment and I am, I guess, fortunate that my dad didn’t shoot it much (rather, at all) after I loaned it to him.
Interesting. I’ve heard good things about FireClean and these complaints seem to be unwarranted. However, the action can still be “gummed up” and not result in malfunctions. I’m assuming that your personal assessment before firing was that there would be no issues?
My friend Brett asked me the same thing, here is what I messaged him in reply. “It didn’t feel gummy but it didn’t feel great. That said that rifle is filthy and has never felt great even when clean. It has a lot of carbon fouling as is.”
Thanks. Hope you’re getting back into blogging/youtube. I really enjoy your content.
Followup question: Does FireClean do anything (insert any commonly used AR-15 gun oil here) doesn’t do that justifies the price and hype?
Here is what I had to say about FireClean and other oils a few years back.
It sounds like you’re imyong fireclean is expensive. I find it about average price-wise, as there are MANY lubricants that cost more.
At the best price I could find, it comes in at $816/gallon. I can get Break-Free CLP for $85/gallon.
Most of the new wonder oils are expensive, FireClean really takes the cake, though. You can get twice as much FrogLube, Slip 2000 EWL, or Mil-Comm MC2500 for roughly the same money.
It’s expensive even among expensive oils.
It seems people are willing to pay a premium for something they perceive as being ‘better’, or even the ‘best’, in some amorphous, poorly-defined way.
And even if FireClean was the best, giving a slight edge over all other gun lubes, the cost/benefit ratio would still suck.
“There’s sucker born every minute. You just happened to be comin’ along at the right time.” – Tom Waits
i have had this happen to my guns lubed with fireclean. its a great product, and i may be over-applying it before storage, but the actions of various semi-auto guns seem sluggish after sitting for awhile
Isn’t this basically the same thing that people were complaining about with FrogLube?
FWIW, I put some FrogLube in several of my guns back when it was being hyped. After sitting for a few months (not many good places to shoot where I lived), the 10/22 and CMMG 22lr AR were badly gummed up. True, I lubed them a bit heavily, but the bolt on the 22LR AR would not fully close under it’s own spring power.