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Copper Anti Seize Grease & New Firearms

18K views 110 replies 51 participants last post by  DirectDrive 
#1 ·
Should the copper anti seize grease be present in all factory new firearms, and if it was missing would that raise red flags?

Also, the manual says don't clean it so I won't. How long does it take for it to wear on it's own?

Thanks.
 
#36 ·
Copper anti seize is made for applications where you really want to remove a threaded piece in dis-similar metals. Think spark plugs in aluminum heads expected to go 100,000 miles. It's "anti seize" not a terribly good lubricant, it's really just the opposite of thread lock.

Glock uses it to prevent rust if guns sit unfired long term. There are many , many better lubricants for Glocks when used as firearms.

There will be a test on this next week.
 
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#37 ·
i would ask why it doesn't have it. perhaps someone at the store cleaned it off.

to those seeking this stuff for regular gun lube...
if this stuff was good for lube, don't you think Glock or other manufacturers would be selling it? it's mostly for storage. it being slightly abrasive i guess it may helps break things in. i will be removing it before shooting my G31 when i get it. just some Hoppe's light oil for break in. after break-in, it will be One Shot® dry lube.
 
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#41 · (Edited)
it being slightly abrasive i guess it may helps break things in.
Copper anti-seize isn't abrasive when used in conjunction with a Glock pistol, where Glock uses it. As was mentioned, before, it doesn't help the gun break in and if you used it on a regular basis, in the areas Glock puts it (and being a little more liberal than Glock, with it), the slide rail cut guides in the frame are likely to never gall or wear out.
 
#43 ·
All of my 3rd gen Glocks have had it. I have always cleaned them before firing. I have never had a problem after removing it.
 
#46 · (Edited)
Glock recommends not to remove it where they put it in. In every Glock I've purchased, it is right in the slide rail cuts. I know it isn't there for anti corrosion 'cause it'd be on the whole gun. My opinion is it's a perfect lubricant for that application. It doesn't run off...it takes a long time for it to evaporate...copper is softer than steel, so that in itself will provide some kind of lube qualities...and it seems to make the slide 'clank' around, less. I personally use Amsoil syn grease in my slide rail cuts, but I'd use the anti-seize if I didn't have the Amsoil.

Going out on a limb, it's probably used, there, 'cause of the heat and the fact that if you run your Glock dry or use oil, only, where the frame guides run in the slide rails, you're eventually going to get some kind of wear or galling. That's just my deep thoughts opinion. :2gun:
 
#48 ·
Well, I don't mean glob it in there. We have to put it on every car we work on, so it's slinging in the shop, all day. I use Dawn dish detergent to pretreat where it slings on my uniform. Let it sit for about an hour before washing and it comes right out. I don't know if it'll come out of your wife's white, brass to chest blouse, though. :p
I did precision mechanical work before retiring and used gallons of anti seize working on turbines, compressors, pumps, etc. It is a great anti seize but not a quality lubricant for pistols.
Anyone ever consider why other firearms companies do not put anti seize on their pistols?
 
#52 ·
Well, the OP did ask a legit question...one I've agonized over more than once. If anti-seize isn't designed to be a lubricant, why does Glock put it in the slide rail cuts? Also, the OM says not to remove it, but how do you clean your Glock slide rail cuts without removing the stuff?
 
#61 ·
The comment you quoted me on was rhetorical. I don't, however, believe it is a break in lube. There are no 'break in' instructions in the OM and I don't believe there ever has been. Now, considering how long I've shot pistols, I don't burden myself, too much, with what the OM says to do as far as lubing and cleaning, but I feel, strongly, that if a person uses copper anti-seize on the high friction parts of a Glock (bearing in mind the grease in the anti-seize is synthetic), those high friction parts would never wear out.
Some fools will take a new Glock and go shoot it right out of the box.
Others think they are smart to clean it out and replace it with their favorite slickem.
The Glock is a resilient platform and resistant to all manner of malfeasance.
 
#67 · (Edited)
That stuff is pretty persistent. It won't just ooze out on its own. My 19X didn't have a whole lot of it either. A little dab'll do ya.

Not trying to be opposite (again), but who at GLOCK said that was "anti-seize?"
I think it's an internet guess. Could be a product from Permatex, CRC, Loctite.....
Or some Austrian secret sauce made in the Tyrolian Alps.
Here's Glock's mention of it in the Gen 5 manual :

Text Font Line Handwriting Calligraphy
 
#69 ·
The anti-seize is there to ensure immediate function after long-term storage. The guns have liquid lube on them as well when the leave the mothership.

It is not a lube. Period. I split the difference on new guns and lube them with Break Free on all recommended points, while leaving the copper compound in place. 200-300 rounds downrange, and then careful cleaning with BreakFeee CLP. The copper is removed at that time, and is a dirty sludge from firing.

On "used" guns, armorer cleaning and lube with BreakFree CLP. Lube points touched-up immediately prior to range session.

I make a science out of this. I also realize it isn't necessary. Glock handguns work no matter what! For me, though, I lube my prized Gen1 G17 , Gen4 G17, G39, and G43 with BreakFree CLP (or LP, for lube-only; takes longer to evaporate). NO ISSUES. And, I've carried that Gen1 in a duty holster for many years.

I wouldn't take a "NIB" Glock handgun that was missing the lube. That means someone messed with it. In my opinion, that's MY job, and privilege as the owner of a full-price "NIB" Glock. For a lower price, I'm always open to something shelf-worn.......

My two cents, offered freely!!!!
 
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#70 ·
Its Glock's trademark sucker bait - makes Glocks "special", no others on the market have that secret "protective" magic sauce. Glock puts it in the manual to make it official. Might even patent the process.

Gives one a sexual rush rush to see it inside their new virgin gun (even if it WAS test fired at the factory, and pulled on many times in the gun store), and it is just common copper anti-seize.
 
#72 ·
It's been on every single Glock I've ever bought so if it wasn't there on a new gun I would assume it wasn't a "new" gun.

I normally give all my new guns a light cleaning and lube before shooting them for the first time. For Glocks, I generally Qtip the inside of the frame and slide (making sure to leave all factory copper grease in the slide rail grooves) and spray the barrel down with ballistol to season it. Then i'll run clean patches inside the bore until dry/wipe off excess ballistol. Then I'll lube her up as usual with Weapon Shield (basically just running the oil over top of the copper grease in the slide rails) and go shooting.

After the first range trip is done, then I will do a full cleaning/oiling and remove all left over copper grease in the process. The copper anti-sieze has a light abrasive that will smooth down parts like the rails. Generally I shoot 200-300 rounds per range trip, so that's enough to let the grease do what it's intended to do on that first go-round. I don't see a need to keep it on the gun after that.
 
#74 · (Edited)
It's been on every single Glock I've ever bought so if it wasn't there on a new gun I would assume it wasn't a "new" gun.

I normally give all my new guns a light cleaning and lube before shooting them for the first time. For Glocks, I generally Qtip the inside of the frame and slide (making sure to leave all factory copper grease in the slide rail grooves) and spray the barrel down with ballistol to season it. Then i'll run clean patches inside the bore until dry/wipe off excess ballistol. Then I'll lube her up as usual with Weapon Shield (basically just running the oil over top of the copper grease in the slide rails) and go shooting.

After the first range trip is done, then I will do a full cleaning/oiling and remove all left over copper grease in the process. The copper anti-sieze has a light abrasive that will smooth down parts like the rails. Generally I shoot 200-300 rounds per range trip, so that's enough to let the grease do what it's intended to do on that first go-round. I don't see a need to keep it on the gun after that.
Winner ! ^^^

Now back to our regularly scheduled Tupperware party !
 
#76 ·
The anti-seize is there to ensure immediate function after long-term storage. The guns have liquid lube on them as well when the leave the mothership.

It is not a lube. Period...

My two cents, offered freely!!!!
From the Loctite website regarding "Anti-Seize Lubricants";

"Anti-Seize Lubricants
LOCTITE Anti-Seize products provide protection against rust, corrosion, seizing and galling, as well as lubrication. Anti-Seizes are typically the products of choice for high temperature applications because of their unique ability to provide protection in extreme temperature conditions. Each product contains a combination of solid lubricating agents resulting in different high temperature limits and lubricities. These are the two major factors in choosing the right Anti-Seize product for your application."
 
#77 ·
Glock does not consider it a lubricant (as per both the Armorer and Advanced Armored classes) and it is not placed on ALL lubrication points. For example, you won't find it on the barrel tube, but you will find it on the slide rail cutouts and trigger connector/trigger bar juncture. Why would they tell you to clean it off before firing if it were a suitable lubricant? Also, I'm unsure if it is actually the Loc-Tite anti-seize product; they have told us different info over the years. You also won't find it on "Factory Reconditioned" guns.

I just imparted what I was taught over 20 years of attending Glock classes. At my agency, we don't clean it off. In fact, the gun's "inaugural firing" is usually as -shipped without any additional lube added. Zero problems observed over @600 guns between Gen3 and Gen4. I do lube my guns prior to shooting, though, and recommend that others do the same. I don't give a rat's arse about what Loc-Tite says in their literature; they didn't build my gun!
 
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