Trigger cleaning...

[Tod osier]

I've read up extensively on cleaning triggers and seen all the perspectives. Dry, lightly oiled, lighter fluid for some mysterious residue it has, but perhaps it doesn't actually have it anymore (if it ever had it).

I have always used a dry solvent like brake cleaner to blow them out and lightly lubricated the moving parts in rifle triggers with breakfree, but feel like I get too much oil where I put it and I never know where exactly to put it. I have never had a function problem with a rifle trigger, I keep them clean. I have no problem with dry as far as function and in concept, but it seems like many triggers have a number of nonstainless parts that I'd like to protect from rust.

I'm wondering about making a very light solution of breakfree and hexane (maybe 5% oil) to drop the trigger in once clean to protect the parts - that would coat everything very lightly, but not add drops of oil. My fanciest trigger is a timney, but I have mostly factory triggers. I'm probably extra paranoid about rust inside since I duck hunt on the saltwater a lot and I have to work hard to keep shotgun components functioning under those conditions.

I'm tearing down any rifle I have every couple to few years to clean, so I'm not worried so much about long term gumming of the breakfree, since I've had great experience in the past. I've not seen a lot of dust or junk accumulate.

Thoughts, comments, dope slaps, link to an authoritative discussion I missed....

 

[LaHunter]

Timney recommends the Ronsinol lighter fluid. This is what I have always used, just squirt it into the mechanism and flush it well and just let it dry on its own. My triggers have always worked properly with this periodic cleaning.
I'm not sure why the lighter fluid works and keeps it lubed, even when dry, but it seems to work well.
Oils will have a tendency to capture fine dust particles and lead to the mechanism not working properly.

 

[rayporter]

ok, triggers will get gum in them for sure. i once bought a 700 in 300 win for 200 bucks that i had to soak the trigger in for a week in solvent and even after that i had to take it apart to wipe each piece down.

many triggers with fine tuned insides [ like a Jewell] can get a speck of dirt in them and all the blowing and lighter fluid wont get it. the only option is to take it apart and wipe each piece.[there are only 4 in a Jewell]
each year i take all the jewells apart and clean-i love em but they require maintenance.

typically you should just be generous with the lighter fluid and air. if you oil you can expect trouble -it may be years and take zero temps, but you will.

 

[16Bore]

Hornady One Shot cleaner.

NOT THE CASE LUBE!

 

[Wrench]

If the mfr suggestions are for a product that they don't make, and they don't get a kick back....I'd listen.

I personally use R&O turbine oil and cut it with acetone.....or kroil. I always blow them off/out. I'd do the ronsonol if I didn't have a lifetime supply of my current stash.

 

[wapitispokes]

Old thread, but I thought my 2 cents might help because it includes corroborating information from a reliable source.

When my Rem Model 7 was blue-printed and rebarreled by a nationally recognized gunsmith, who is now well known for his gunsmithing classes, I asked him how to maintain my trigger. This was between 15-20 years ago. The gunsmith told me to use the lighter fluid named above - the same advice that the earlier poster (LaHunter) attributed to Timney triggers (I think Timney probably knows what they are talking about).

Like others, I said to my gunsmith: "Really? It seems like lighter fluid would act as a solvent and clean out any lubricant and leave it unprotected and unlubricated". Gunsmith answer: Nope, the lighter fluid leaves a small trace of lubricant behind that functions well and does not attract dirt and debris. Using THAT lighter fluid is not the same as cleaning a trigger with a pure solvent (presumably something like Acetone or Brake Cleaner). Again, this was almost 20 years ago and I've had a small container of that lighter fluid on my gun maintenance shelf ever since.

I can't say if the formulation is the same today as it was then. I'm not naming the lighter fluid, because I'd have to go to my basement and double check the proper spelling...but it was spelled the same or close to the way it is spelled by the earlier poster, "LaHunter". Yellow container with logo or name printed in blue. I'll try to edit / confirm details later after I go look at the container.

More recently, Hornady has told me on the phone and stated in videos that they use Hornady One Shot gun cleaner and lubricant because the solvent evaporates leaving an extremely thin and dry layer of lubricant / protectant. I used the Hornady product during my last cleaning - "fingers crossed".