Do you shoot your HK45/USP wet?

[Sobriquet]

I know our HKs are capable of functioning dry for extended periods of time, but I know it's not recommended.

Does shooting too "wet" just attract unnecessary gunk and powder? What's the proper amount and where do I put it? I ordered Weaponshield instead of this BreakFree CLP, but it's backordered. I've been using a .410 shotgun boresnake to clean the barrel.

[Scooter]

Considering most of you clean after every shooting session, it doesn't really matter using wet or dry lubes.

[BreakerDave]

Does shooting too "wet" just attract unnecessary gunk and powder?

The short answer is yes. However, you have to understand as Scooter mentioned that if you clean your gun after every use, it's not that big of a deal. The gun oil is supposed to do several things...

It is supposed to lubricate the parts so they can slide past each other during normal operation and not grind against each other. Additionally, it is supposed to form a barrier against moisture to prevent rust from forming. Also many gun oils have some cleaning chemicals in them to help remove carbon.

When you put too much oil on the gun, carbon, dust, sand, etc. can get trapped in the oil and the grit will turn the oil from a lubricating substance to a lapping paste. If you are cleaning the firearm after every use, you will not face this problem. That said, you will find that the excess oil will migrate as it looks for the past of least resistance. It also can "spray" onto you a little bit when you shoot the gun at the range.

-Like most things in life, you are looking to operate within the accepted range not at the edge of the range. Too little oil can lead to excessive wear and reliability issues. Too much oil can create the medium to create a lapping paste which again will produce excessive wear.

[Va_Dinger]

http://www.vickerstactical.com/Tips/weaponlubrication.htm

[k_rasmussen]

Does shooting too "wet" just attract unnecessary gunk and powder?
Like This? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/stendak/kydex_holster_girl.jpg

[johnnyjohnny]

Like This? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v79/stendak/kydex_holster_girl.jpg

Something tells me this will get zapped, but before it does I want to say "HOORAY for shooting your guns wet!!" :)

Johnny

[Jason_G]

Hooray, indeed.

Jason

[bordercop]

When I read the subject line, I assumed you were referring to water when you said "wet".

I have a coworker who keeps his gun so saturated in oil that he's had malfunctions from it. I can't remember exactly what the malfunction is, but we'll give him a dry (not really dry, but compared to his) gun and will work fine, until the next time he brings it to the range. I've tried to tell him that it's not his army issued 1911 from the 70's, but to him I'm just some young kid who doesn't know what I'm talking about.

[Sobriquet]

I think I speak for most of us when I say that if I'm going to get shot, that would be an acceptable last view of this world.

[H&K 4 LIFE]

Pages 26 and 27 of the USP manual details how much lubrication should be used and where. I imagine the manual for the HK45 is very similar.