Testing WD-40 against water patches. Which is cleaner?

Fulfilling another viewer's request this week.
Testing WD-40 on patches verses water.
Which presents a cleaner patch at the end of the day?

No difference. Water is cheap.

Any issues with the wax in the wd?

Another fun video, thanks!

Seemed to me your first 10 shots you were battin' .999! The hits just kept on comin'.

i used to clean with WD 40 it worked good. then i got the idea to use it for a patch lube, it burned my patches up! it doesn't work for that. i lube with 40-60 % dawn dish soap and water. you can shoot all day and never ever swab. accurate too,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Interesting...I guess. But the point of the correspondent's question escaped me. What did he hope to find?

Cruzatte said:

Interesting...I guess. But the point of the correspondent's question escaped me. What did he hope to find?

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Not sure..
I assume he was wondering if lubricants would be cleaner than water on patches.
Other than this video.....Water is all I use to wet patches & clean with.
I don't use any commercial products anymore.

AlexB said:

Any issues with the wax in the wd?

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Not really...the gun cleaned as normal.
In fact......since I swabbed it for the video, it cleaned much quicker when I was done for the day.

B P Maniac Shooter said:

Not sure..
..Water is all I use to wet patches & clean with.
I don't use any commercial products anymore.

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Yeah, same here.

I seem to remember reading here that using any petroleum based products with BP would turn fouling to tar and ruin a gun. Didn't seem to have a negative effect on your bore and it made clean up much easier.

IMO WD40 should never be used near a firearm of any type.

I use WD-40 as a Rust Preventative. Midway did a study a while back. They coated a bunch of metal plates with different substances and stored them in a humid environment. The WD-40 plate came out the cleanest.

Walt

cjgregory said:

No difference. Water is cheap.

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BP Addict said:

I use WD-40 as a Rust Preventative. Midway did a study a while back. They coated a bunch of metal plates with different substances and stored them in a humid environment. The WD-40 plate came out the cleanest.

Walt

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I don’t like how it gums up over time. For my match M1 Garands I use CLP only.

Information on WD-40:
https://www.wd40.com/myths-legends-fun-facts/

I have used it for years on my patches and never had any problems. I also wipe between shots to keep things consistent.
Everybody has they're own way of doing things. If what you are doing works for you, then good. I know what works for me.

kyron4 said:

I seem to remember reading here that using any petroleum based products with BP would turn fouling to tar and ruin a gun. Didn't seem to have a negative effect on your bore and it made clean up much easier.

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Huum does that include Ballistol--

dont know where the old wives tale came about that WD 40 turns into wax. used it 50 years never saw that. seems like talk like that belongs in a laundromat

SPQR70AD said:

dont know where the old wives tale came about that WD 40 turns into wax. used it 50 years never saw that. seems like talk like that belongs in a laundromat

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I’ve never had wd40 harden up on me.

I had a hunting buddy use wd-40 to clean his shotgun. One cold morning goose hunting, a flock came over and he pulled the trigger. Heard a faint "click" and nothing. Firing pin was so gummed up it wouldn't strike the primer hard enough to fire! I stay away from it on firearms.

BP Addict said:

I use WD-40 as a Rust Preventative. Midway did a study a while back. They coated a bunch of metal plates with different substances and stored them in a humid environment. The WD-40 plate came out the cleanest.

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@BP Addict - Walt, as stated that's somewhat misleading, so if you don't mind me adding a clarification.

The conclusion was from a test of 56 or more preservation solvents/solutions and it was not the basic WD-40 that out-performed them all, but it was their special and expen$ive ($15 for a 6.5-ounce can) "WD-40 Specialist Corrosion Inhibitor" that was tested in long-term salt exposure sprays to be THE BEST of the best, along with a special RIG grease-based product, but the spray is easier to use, of course!

I use that WD-40 SCI on SS hardware and mechanisms on boats, as I maintain a fleet of boats used 24/7 in salt waters, and I can attest that it is THE best I've ever used for a spray or liquid product.

If I need a protectant/preservative grease, I'll use the blue-colored synthetic grease made/sold by or as OMC/Bombardier "Triple Guard" marine grease. That still protects even when compromised 30% with saltwater. In fact, I apply it to my MZL'dr barrels before pinning them in the barrel channel; it is quite thick, needs to be rubbed out to apply a thin coat, but it stays in place and it doesn't run. It's only $12 for a HUGE tub that lasts me many, many years, and I'll take care of over a dozen boats and motors in those years, plus 3 of my own. (Note this product wasn't tested in the large field test noted above.)



Note: Like others ... I just clean with good ol' water!

Flint62Smoothie said:

@BP Addict - Walt, as stated that's somewhat misleading, so if you don't mind me adding a clarification.

The conclusion was from a test of 56 or more preservation solvents/solutions and it was not the basic WD-40 that out-performed them all, but it was their special and expen$ive ($15 for a 6.5-ounce can) "WD-40 Specialist Corrosion Inhibitor" that was tested in long-term salt exposure sprays to be THE BEST of the best, along with a special RIG grease-based product, but the spray is easier to use, of course!

I use that WD-40 SCI on SS hardware and mechanisms on boats, as I maintain a fleet of boats used 24/7 in salt waters, and I can attest that it is THE best I've ever used for a spray or liquid product.

If I need a protectant/preservative grease, I'll use the blue-colored synthetic grease made/sold by or as OMC/Bombardier "Triple Guard" marine grease. That still protects even when compromised 30% with saltwater. In fact, I apply it to my MZL'dr barrels before pinning them in the barrel channel; it is quite thick, needs to be rubbed out to apply a thin coat, but it stays in place and it doesn't run. It's only $12 for a HUGE tub that lasts me many, many years, and I'll take care of over a dozen boats and motors in those years, plus 3 of my own. (Note this product wasn't tested in the large field test noted above.)

View attachment 360198

Note: Like others ... I just clean with good ol' water!

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Thanks for the clarification and recommendations!

Walt