Best lube for cocking cam

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  • Last Post 07 September 2026
John Alexander posted this 04 September 2026

I have been lubing the cocking cam on my rifles with white "Lubriplate" grease or the GI grease that came in tiny cups in the butt of M-1s which seem good for about everything that needs grease. But the small area of contact and thus high pressure of contact still leaves bolt lift pretty heavy. 

Is there a better lubricant for this use. Maybe one containing teflon or moly?

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4and1 posted this 04 September 2026

Gunsmith Dwight Scott who is the go-to man for bolt work, recommends Mobile1 synthetic grease mixed with moly powder, for use on locking lugs and cocking ramps. Just mix it up and stuff it into a syringe.

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tominct posted this 04 September 2026

 I've used moly based wheel bearing grease for awhile, no complaints. The only thing is it's dark grey in color, can't tell if it's dirty.

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RicinYakima posted this 04 September 2026

In the '90's I was shooting High Power with an '03A3 Springfield. One of the helps was to use Moly grease on the cocking cam and bolt lugs for use in rapid fire. The trick was that the metal surface had to be clean, as down to the dry metal, grease applied then bolt worked a couple of hundred times. Just putting moly grease over the old grease was a waste of time. FWIW

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 04 September 2026

an easy source for moly grease is your local ace hardware ...  look for black chain oil ... spray can.  after spraying this forms a sticky grease ... key word sticky.

i have been using this for about 20 years on my lathe gears and high pressure spots in guns and car doors and..... it is great on chainsaw chains. 

be aware moly greases are VERY dirty and will try to also lube your shirt and fingers etc.  to an ugly black.  keep Dawn and a hand brush handy.

oh, usually the moly gums up the spray nozzle quickly so I just punch a hole in the can near the very top and apply with a brush.  actually more controllable anyway.

ken

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OU812 posted this 05 September 2026

Let us know what lube works best. BTW i have some NECO Moly and some graphite. I remember older graphite being super slick (speedometer cable lube).

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MP1886 posted this 05 September 2026

I'll tell you something cheap and work and that is STP. Currently I'm using a special Acheoid moly grease my scientist friend made for me. If you get it on your fingers it's very hard to clean them off. It penetrates the pores of the metal. 

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TRKakaCatWhisperer posted this 05 September 2026

FWIW: For high pressure applications (like this and resizing brass) I  use a high-tac grease.  Currently using Phil Woods grease designed to stick even in wet applications.

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John Alexander posted this 07 September 2026

Thanks to everybody who suggested lubes for cocking cams and lugs. I think I have some moly grease around hers someplace. Don't know why I didn't try it earlier.

John

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