Summary
Many people wonder what Pellgun oil is and why it is important for their air gun. Pellgun oil is a Crosman solution used on CO2 air guns to properly lubricate the o-rings and seals. It is easy to use and offers many benefits for an airgun to promote both performance and longevity.
What Is Pellgun Oil
Whether you are new to airgunning or a bit more experienced, you have probably heard of Pellgun oil by now and if you haven’t, it’s about time. This solution has been around for decades and you are doing your air gun a disservice if you aren’t using it regularly. So, what is Pellgun oil? Let’s find out what it is and why you definitely need it.
What Is It?
What is Pellgun oil? Pellgun oil is a non-detergent oil that is petroleum based with added o-ring and seal conditioners in its formula. It comes from the trusted name of Crosman which should give you some sense of the quality of the solution. Crosman Pellgun oil is for use with CO2 and pneumatic pump guns to help prevent rust and drying of seals. It is not for use with break barrel guns. This solution is performance and quality tested to ensure the best results for your air gun.
What Does It Do?
This solution is applied at the point where the pressurized CO2 flows in and is then carried through all of the pressurized portions of the air gun using the gas to propel it. This oil keeps the air gun working properly by leaving behind oil on seals and o-rings used in CO2 cartridge air guns. If you have ever installed a new CO2 cartridge and found oil around the breech, that is from the CO2 exhaust carrying that oil through the transfer port and coating all of the seals and o-rings along the way.
Why Do You Need It?
The obvious reason why you need to use Pellgun oil is because it acts as a lubricant and allows for proper movement in CO2 and pneumatic air guns. Without this lubricant, the air gun will become dry which leads to damage over time. The lubricant helps with proper movement, but it also serves another essential function necessary for performance. As the oil moves through these parts propelled by the CO2, the oil also loosens and removes dirt, debris, and other particles from inside the air gun. A clean gun is less likely to suffer damages and issues, especially related to seal damages. The bottom line is that if you want to make the most of your air gun in terms of both performance and longevity, the use of Pellgun oil is a non-negotiable for a CO2 powered air gun.
Is There a Substitute?
There has been some debate about substituting this particular oil for something else. The idea behind it is that this oil is thought of as the same thing as transmission oil in some circles and shooters would rather use a solution that is more readily available at their local automotive section than order something online and wait for it in the mail. Many airgunners claim you can use transmission oil since that is petroleum based and get the same effect, but just because two substances are both petroleum based doesn’t make them equal. Crosman Pellgun oil is made without additives and features an o-ring conditioner in the formula. Why would you want to use something else on your (probably) somewhat expensive air gun if you don’t have to?
How to Use Crosman Pellgun Oil
You should oil each new CO2 cartridge installed in the air gun, unless otherwise noted by the owner’s manual. If you haven’t fired the gun in a few months and the air cartridge doesn’t need to be changed, it is still a good idea to oil the cartridge before shooting it. You should also re-oil older guns before using them for the first time to make sure they are properly lubricated.
Oiling the gun with Pellgun oil is rather straightforward. You simply apply a few drops to the cartridge piercing mechanism and let the CO2 push it through so it coats the seals. If you are oiling a brand new gun or a vintage gun recently acquired, you will want to oil a bit more with up to 4-5 drops of Pellgun oil. If you are oiling a new cartridge in a gun you already oil fairly regularly, you should check the breech. If the breech has adequate oil, add just 1-2 drops to the new cartridge. If the breech isn’t oiled, add closer to 3-4 drops to the new cartridge to make sure the air gun is properly lubricated and sealed. A lot of airgunners worry about over oiling their air gun, but if you use this method with your CO2-powered airgun, it is virtually impossible to over oil because all excess oil is simply blown through the valve and out of the gun.
In conclusion, now that you know what Pellgun oil is and how to use it, you can make the most of this solution for your air gun. This is a high quality solution trusted by air gun enthusiasts for decades.
