Silicone spray

[sbb]

I witnessed a clays shooter using silicone spray on his shotgun after completing his round. Do any of you use this product on your pistols or revolvers? What are the pros and cons? Is this the same silicone that is contained in the silicone cloths sold for cleaning?

[WildBill]

I don't know if the spray and cloths contain the same silicone compound, but I they are very close in composition. The different types of silicone oils are very similar in chemical structure. One of the main differences in products is the length of the chemical chain - the longer the chain, the more viscous (thick) the oil. With a spray you can dilute the oils with a solvent to so that you can dispense different viscosity oils. With the cloths you want to impregnate it with something that is thick enough to stay on the cloth [and gun] and not run off.

Silicone oils can cover surfaces with a very thin layer [about 2 microinches]. In my experience it is easier to clean the powder residue after a shooting session if the metal already has a layer of the silicone oil on it.

I know. Too much information.