Gun Butter, True Blue, and Extreme Force: Is Synthetic Gun Oil Better?

Is synthetic gun oil better for firearms? Some say yes, some no, others are in the middle, and some say it doesn’t matter. I’ve never been a brand buff when it comes to gun oils, but I have always used synthetic oils. On many of my guns, I’ve even used synthetic motor oil. While motor oils have additives specifically for cars, you can still see the benefit from synthetic oil on your gun compared to lower grade oils. However, there are synthetic oils without those additives that are designed just for guns. We’ll get to that shortly.

There is debate on how often a gun should be cleaned and people are all over the board on that one. While I won’t get into that specific debate today, I will separate part of it. Cleaning a gun and lubricating a gun are two separate things. When cleaning a gun, you break it down and scrub off any carbon and old oils with a cleaner. When it’s spick and span, you lubricate the parts and put it back together. I clean my guns from time to time, but not nearly as often as I lubricate them.

A good synthetic oil will help reduce carbon build-up to begin with. So, after shooting, I field strip my gun, wipe off the old oil, and apply new oil. This isn’t a replacement for using a cleaner. However, when done regularly, it keeps the gun fairly clean and well-lubricated.

Why do guns need lubrication?

A machine needs lubrication because it has moving parts that rub against each other. When metal rubs against metal, friction causes heat and stresses the metal. Oil reduces friction and helps moving parts move more freely. A firearm can fail if too much friction is created from a lack of lubrication. Even guns known to never fail, like the infamous AK-47, will wear out faster without some type of lubrication. Expensive firearms with low tolerances are even more prone to failure without proper lubrication.

I won’t get too much into other types of cleaners today, but I’ll briefly give my thoughts on multi-purpose products like CLP. If you need to clean up a gun quickly and provide some temporary lubrication, then use it. I keep a small can in my range and tactical bags just for that purpose. But, I won’t use it to lubricate my guns on a regular basis. A product made to clean and lubricate at the same time won’t have the same benefits as synthetic oil. A cleaner is made to remove carbon and break down old oils on the gun.

The problem with cleaner/lubrication combos is they work against each other. If a product cleans well, it will break down the oil on the gun. Trying to lubricate and clean it at the same time doesn’t work for the long haul. Any time I have used combo products, the lubrication became sticky or dry in a short time. When good synthetic lubrication is used, it won’t break down and continues to help those metal parts move freely.

Synthetic Gun Oil: Ones to Check Out

It would be hard to list and compare every synthetic lubricant out there. Everyone has their preferences just like with firearms. And just like with firearms, I like to test out new products and see how they work. Here are three brands I’ve used recently. Down the road, I’ll do some full reviews on each one, but here are their highlights.

True Blue Gun Lubricants

I first noticed True Blue Gun Lubricants at TriggrCon in Wichita, KS. After speaking with the company’s owner, I was more than impressed at the knowledge and passion he had for their products. I also liked the packaging of their cleaners, oils, and grease. True Blue also believes gun cleaners and lubricants shouldn’t be mixed. They offer a 100-percent water-soluble, biodegradable, odorless, non-toxic cleaner. The handy spray bottle makes it easy to clean your gun so it’s ready to oil.

Several sizes of their 100% synthetic gun oil are available, but my favorite is the half-ounce bottle. It has a needle applicator, making it the perfect size for oiling guns after each cleaning. For those needing synthetic grease, they have you covered on that too. True Blue Gun Grease comes in one and four ounce tubs. According to the company, it will “never degrade to a sticky, gooey substance caused by heat and age.” It does not contain any PTFE, Teflon, Ceramic, or Lithium.

Gun Butter

According to the company, Gun Butter was created by an aerospace design team just for guns. At first sight, the most notable difference is the product’s thickness. It’s like a mix between oil and grease all packed into a small tube with a needle applicator. When I first applied the thick red lubricant, it reminded me somewhat of Black Rifle Balm. Gun Butter says their product was inspired by competition shooters who wanted consistent performance.

I like the pen-style tube it comes in, but maybe not as much as the shorter bottle offered by True Blue. I keep most of my gun oils on a shelf where I work on my guns. This tube would be perfect for carrying in a bag but does not stand up so well on a shelf. I’ve only used Gun Butter a handful of times. The verdict is still out, but so far so good. I haven’t used it on any AR-15s yet; so I’m curious to see how the oil’s thickness affects them.

Extreme Force

This oil is marketed for full-auto guns or those who like to shoot their semi-autos like they’re full-auto. It’s a thicker synthetic oil (not as thick as Gun Butter) that is supposed to stay where you put it. The company says it will operate in extreme weather conditions from -30 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s just a hair thicker than True Blue’s oil, but a lot darker. I’m not sure if this is from additives or to help you see it, but it has a slightly orange color to it.

I selected the Henry Homesteader and an older PPS 9mm sub-gun to use with this oil. I’ve had a couple of shooting sessions with it so far and the guns are cycling great. Once I get some more ammo through them and resting time in the safe, I’ll be able to see how well it holds up. The bottle comes with a separate lid with needle applicator attached. Produced by Advanced Weapons Technologies, this synthetic gun oil comes in a half-ounce bottle.

Final Thoughts on Synthetic Gun Oil

I’m not a chemical engineer or an expert in oils, but I’ve handled guns for a long time. From a kid plinking pop cans to a career in law enforcement, guns have always been a part of my life. Based on my own experience, guns perform better with synthetic oils whether on the range or sitting in the safe for long periods of time. Not everyone will agree because no one agrees on everything…ever. So, if you’re not sure what type of oil you should use, do some testing of your own.

I’ve found synthetic oils work best, but that’s from my own observations. The three companies I’ve listed here are great places to start if you want to find quality synthetic gun oil. I’ll do some further reviews down the road, but I’m liking True Blue because of the variety of products offered and the applicator bottles they use. Also, they explain the science behind their product more than most companies do. Cleaning guns can be fun, but quality synthetic oil keeps those pricy investments in good shape.