Can I Use Vaseline on My Gun?

Vaseline is somewhat of a common household item used for anything related to getting sick. It’s applied to the skin and provides a soothing effect. However, some people have tried using it on guns which begs the question, can you use vaseline on your guns?

Can I Use Vaseline on My Gun?

Yes, you can use vaseline on your gun as a preservative only. It’s not recommended to use vaseline as a lubricant. There are better alternatives you can use as a lubricant. Vaseline is only suitable for long-term storage as it provides a long-lasting anti-corrosion coating that doesn’t cost much.

However, vaseline coating is harder to remove, especially on stainless steel. To be on the safe side, just use gun oil for your AR 15s and don’t risk it. Vaseline can be a great alternative if you don’t plan on using your guns soon. For regular gun cleaning, it’s not a good idea to use vaseline.

If you’re planning to use vaseline, use it for long-term storage only. It has a lower melting point, so it’s not great if you use your gun regularly. Besides, there’s no other problem with using vaseline on your gun.

What Is Vaseline?

Vaseline is a brand known for making petroleum jelly. Most gun enthusiasts refer to petroleum jelly as vaseline. Vaseline is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons initially made as a topical ointment with healing properties.

Some vaseline also refers to a universal natural product used for gun care. An example is vaseline from Ballistol, which is marketed for gun care. This vaseline is free of resin and acid and is quite different from petroleum jelly.

What Is Vaseline Made Of?

Vaseline or petroleum jelly is a mixture of mineral oils and waxes. This creates a jelly-like substance which is what I now call petroleum jelly.

The main ingredient for petroleum jelly is, of course, petroleum. It has properties that help seal and protects your skin. This allows your skin to heal and regain moisture.

This is why people tried using vaseline because of its protective coating. It also feels like oil, so people would try applying it to their guns. Some have good results, while others get worse.

Pros of Using Vaseline on Your Gun

Here are a few reasons to use vaseline on your firearms:

• Generally cheaper than your regular gun oil
• Universal (for specific products) and can be used in other applications
• Great for long-term storage as the protection can last very long

Cons of Using Vaseline on Your Gun

Here are a couple of reasons to avoid putting vaseline on your firearms:

• The coating is hard to take off the gun to lubricate
• It can’t be used as a lubricant and only as a preservative for long-term storage

Conclusion

Vaseline can be used on your guns only as a preservative only. While some vaseline is marketed for guns, it only does a decent job with guns. There are far better alternatives like motor oil that you can consider.