Help settling a colloquial gun terminology argument.
Posted by farson135@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 100 comments
This is a stupid argument, but I used the term "wet" to describe a firearm being oiled. This apparently makes me a "dipshit" because; "Fucking no one ever would call an oiled gun wet except for a guy trying to backpedal on the internet."
And for the record, this is the context; “wet stuff attracts dirt.”
Unnecessarily antagonistic commentary aside, who here sometimes uses the term "wet" colloquially to mean "oiled"? Does anyone here think the use of "wet" in that context is so egregious that I should be ashamed of myself?
And I will be inviting the person in question here, so they will probably have a lot of insulting things to say about me, since I apparently don’t believe in cleaning my firearms, among other things.
Austin_magdic@reddit
As the late Pat Rogers used to say " A wet carbine is a happy carbine" Pat was a huge promoter of Slip 2000 lubricants and cleaners and especially our EWL and would always run his rifles "wet" with EWL. If you guys go to Slip 2000 .Com there's a whole article on Pat Rogers using our products. You can also use code Austin at checkout for 20% off!
fordag@reddit
I have frequently heard people say "xxx gun like to run wet", when meaning well lubricated.
Your friend is not as well versed in firearms terminology as he thinks he is.
https://www.1911forum.com/threads/run-it-wet-or.930810/
https://www.reddit.com/r/1911/comments/benwkp/how_wet_is_wet_enough_for_a_1911/
https://thefiringline.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-410629.html
BTW I own a couple dozen 1911s, you should lubricate them, but they do not need to run "wet"
DamnOldMan@reddit
Oil and grease don't attract dirt.
BandRepulsive8908@reddit
I’ve always used it when I’ve accidentally over-oiled my gun
momalle1@reddit
Unnecessarily antagonistic commentary between gun owners? You're kidding?
SouthernYankee421@reddit
If we were in a conversation and you referred to your firearm as "wet" , yes I would assume you were referring to a lubricated firearm. If someone says a firearm is HOT, I would not believe it to mean temperature, but would assume the firearm is loaded and cocked. The other party seems like a douche.
Late-Ad-4624@reddit
If a firearm is referred to as hot i think its stolen or has been used in a crime. But what do i know, im just an old dude that only got into guns about 10 years ago.
HopelessNegativism@reddit
If you say the “weapon is hot” I’d assume loaded, if you say “gun is hot” I’m gonna assume stolen
EsotericAbstractIdea@reddit
this perfectly illustrates the nuance of the english language. this makes the most sense when saying hot imo.
SouthernYankee421@reddit
I guess context is important here. If I were on a range, HOT would mean loaded and cocked. If we were sitting on a back porch without firing the weapon at all, I'd think temperature. I do agree with your post (stolen).
Alconium@reddit
Yeah, I grew up hearing people yell "HOT RANGE!" when you needed to stay on the right side of the line infront of your stall or you'd get fuckin shot. lmfao.
SouthernYankee421@reddit
That seems very foolish. The OP referred to a single weapon. Context is key.
mgmorden@reddit
Maybe its because I hunt a lot so its a scenario I run into more, but to me a "wet" gun means exactly what the word sounds like - a gun that's got water on it (usually from rain). Now given additional context I might assume he means oiled, but that wouldn't be the initial assumption.
Still, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter that much. At worst its just an odd choice of words, not something to chastise someone over.
farson135@reddit (OP)
It might also have something to do with the region. I'm from Central/South Texas, and I hunt a bit in the West. There being enough rain for any of my guns to get wet would be a minor miracle.
Plus, there are quite a few hog hunting groups out here that in some years run their ARs till their barrels are practically smoothbore. A lot of those guys run soaking wet.
RacerXrated@reddit
My AR is wet right now. That dude is an ass.
Hot_Departure9115@reddit
Whoever you were arguing with is probably not worth talking to.
CawlinAlcarz@reddit
Your choice of terminology is perfectly accurate and is widely used. The question comes up around things like firearms in desert environments which will gum up with dust if the lubrication is too "wet". Further, in my experience, the discussion comes up a lot around 22s like the Ruger 10/22, which notoriously run dirty and can have issues if the lubrication around the bolt is too "wet" and therefore collects too much powder residue and assorted muck and grime - which is why people use "dry lube" type products for this and for their firearms when they may use them in dusty environments.
CxsChaos@reddit
What are some good dry lubes?
CawlinAlcarz@reddit
https://otistec.com/dry-lube/
Bravo82bill@reddit
Frog lube https://www.froglube.com/
Clunk500CM@reddit
"What are some good dry lubes?"
Wondering the same. When it comes to dry lube, I think of graphite...but would that work in a firearm?
Bravo82bill@reddit
https://youtu.be/N1Sw8fe9hJI?si=aPuIUfH-5zcmV-jM
Bravo82bill@reddit
Paul Harrell has entered the chat
SniperSRSRecon@reddit
Wet can mean two things from my understanding.
Oiled/highly lubricated. Like those that run their ar 15 wet, ie lubed.
Wet as in water, usually in conjunction with suppressors. My knowledge on suppressors isn’t that great however, I’ve just heard of some being ran wet.
Glocked86@reddit
Those are the only times I use them.
Shooting your suppressor wet just means using any artificial environment in it to make it more quiet. Water is most common, wire pulling gel is another popular one
Camp-Unusual@reddit
Wire pulling gel? Really? That shit is nasty as hell.
Glocked86@reddit
Yep, it lasts a good bit longer than water when shooting. It also won’t run out of/into the gun like water so it makes leaving it wet and ready to shoot that way quite a bit easier.
SniperSRSRecon@reddit
Thanks, didn’t know that!
Sardukar333@reddit
alltheblues@reddit
Even in suppressors, wet doesn’t always mean water, just some kind of ablative medium. Could be water, could be petroleum jelly, etc.
texdroid@reddit
Yes, wet means over lubed and slinging oil. ARs run best this way if you're blasting through many mags rapidly.
werxv@reddit
No, but seeking positive affirmation on reddit over a pointless spat is pretty embarrassing tbh
notoriousbpg@reddit
To "run it wet" means shooting a judiciously lubricated gun. To the point where some excess oil gets flung off while shooting.
Scouts_Revenge@reddit
I prefer “moist”
notoriousbpg@reddit
"moist"
azadventure@reddit
Wet basically means over-oiled to the point where it’s messy (think an ar15 in the desert where you’re basically using oil to wash out dust, carbon , etc in the bolt/ carrier area)
With suppressors it gets a little different- “wet” refers to one charged with an ablative material (something added to a suppressor to make it perform better, but that wears off after a relatively small number of rounds) but that material could basically be anything - there are oils, foams, gels, pastes, and liquids of all sorts including plain old water.
emperor000@reddit
The person you are arguing with is wrong.
"Wet" would mean something has liquid on it. That's is.
You guys can just look the definition up and see that it isn't specific to water, even though it could imply the liquid is water.
EternalMage321@reddit
Tell the person you like your guns like you like his mom.
David_Shagzz@reddit
Regardless of whether this aggravates any clique or cult or whatever, here is my two cents and how it has always been described for as long as I’ve been alive. An Ak is bone dry, an ar15 is wet, and any other firearm is lubricated. MOSTLY because of the ar vs Ak guys. I’ve tried both and own both. 300 blackout and 7.62x39. Ak is more durable, more reliable and I’d trust my life with it. The ar needs maintenance adjusted twice a year, and too many small moving parts in a too small of an area. In my experience nothing runs better under shitty conditions than a dry Ak and 1911. If the Ak never existed then wet would simply mean over lubed. Now that it does, wet means ar15 and any other gun, dry means Ak.
mreed911@reddit
I use "wet," as in "run it wet."
VSM1951AG@reddit
“Colloquial” is perhaps the least self-referential word in the language.
raz-0@reddit
Two contexts that I’m used to.
1) running a gun wet. Typically an ar platform gum, and means to run it on the verge of dripping wet if not more. 2) discussing wet lubes vs dry lubes. In which one may bring up that wet lines attract dirt.
Also as a user of the English language, I understand that wet isn’t a term restricted to water being involved.
Human_Grass_9803@reddit
You're right, we all like em wet!
VanillaIce315@reddit
Well I have an AR9 manual that specifically says to run the gun “wet” (ie highly lubricated) for its first 500 rounds. It’s definitely commonly used terminology within the firearm realm.
FPSXpert@reddit
I'm gonna be honest, we never used the term "wet" to describe a firearm in our gun shop when it was still open. "Oiled" was usually the term that would be used for a firearm that has been lubricated.
I do cringe a bit at it the same way that I would for "moist" describing anything that isn't a cake in front of me, but hey. It's a free country and I'm not your mum, describe it however you like. Your thought process is how it is, the oil in theory reduces friction between metal on metal and also attracts any dirt or more likely carbon buildup / similar residuals from you using the firearm.
Call it what you like, because if you're lubricating it after range visits then you're already doing better than most people. Just don't be the guy leaving a pistol in a bag for 5 years in his humid shed, then bringing it in rusted out to shit, then getting upset when we say that we can't clean this up for fourty bucks like a normal cleaning when it's pitted to shit. Totally not talking from personal experience or anything lmao. Keep training and keep your shit clean, and you're already doing better than those that spend more time running mouths on the internet over running drills :)
farson135@reddit (OP)
I remember after I inherited my Great-Uncle's and my Grandfather's guns, I started the inspection and just sighed (both times). The guns probably weren't all that special when they were bought but they are special to me now. And since the two of them failed to take care of them for so many years the firearms went to hell. I had to send quite a few of them to a gunsmith. Luckily there used to be one near me that did rebluing work.
I don't want to go through that again.
FPSXpert@reddit
Absolutely. Yearly at a minimum and strongly recommend after every range trip as well if it saw use. Do that, throw it in a safe or container with a good humidity remover, humidity is death to firearm parts. Don't even really need anything expensive when amazon sells rechargeable packs that you just recharge monthly by plugging it into the wall then toss it back in. That and a humidity gauge are literally maybe $20 tops combined on Amazon too. Unfortunately it isn't common knowledge despite me trying my hardest behind the counter with first time buyers, but that never stopped me from trying to help.
That's good to hear that you at least found someone to reblue them so you can keep them in good condition and continue to heirloom them. Keep them in good shape, whether they're worth money or only worth a story passing them down in the future you'll appreciate the work in either case :)
mikeg5417@reddit
I don't personally use that term, but the instructor in an NRA course I took this weekend used the term in the manner you used it.
I think specifically, he said many shooters pistols are too wet (too much oil).
B4ND4GN@reddit
Wet is how I would describe over lubricated.
Guns should never be dry, and most have no need to be wet.
A great example is that a Remington 740/742 needs the bolt to we "wet" or it will cause galling. This often leads the semi auto function to fail. This is why you can still buy an old wingmaster for $200 even though it looks brand new.
Another example is that an AR-15 likes to run wet. Example: "If you aren't spitting oil from the ejection port with every shot, it is basically dry.
Proper lubrication varies from firearm to firearm. Some guns like most Glocks prefer a couple drops of oil and grease in specific areas or you can get aerosol oil and just shoot it until it is dripping and I would call the latter wet.
Yes, more lube attracts dirt, but it also makes it easier to clean and attracting dirt is environmentally specific.
Run it barely lubricated in a desert or wet as fuck in a rainforest.
LatverianBrushstroke@reddit
Gun pedants suck
MetalMedley@reddit
Idk how many people actually use "wet" to mean oiled, but I know everyone and their mother uses "dry" to mean not-oiled. Only the dippiest of dipshits would take issue with your meaning.
NPC_no_name_@reddit
odd I have said it many times :"My AR has no issues when fired wet" as I passes lube from my range bag to the guy next bay over
atsinged@reddit
Perfectly acceptable term down here in Texas in and out of the LE community, I've heard it from very serious firearms people that no one would really question. Usually in the context of particular guns running better wet or dry.
Quw10@reddit
Use the phrase all the time. I can't remember where I picked the phrase up but one of my guns I usually say "she likes to run wetter then 2 lesbians on a slip n' slide"
WizardMelcar@reddit
Air Force says proper lubrication is somewhere between bone dry & dripping wet.
Peacemkr45@reddit
That's a lie. the tech manual clearly states between ritz crackers and gazpacho.
EinGuy@reddit
I lube all my guns until they're seeping oil from every orifice. I would describe my guns as 'oiled until wet'.
And 'wet things attract dirt' GWOT-era bullshit myth got people killed. Dust gets everywhere, and I'd rather have mud in my guns than sandpaper.
StayStrong888@reddit
Nope, I always run my AR dripping wet. It's given me nothing but beautifully reliable performance in dusty conditions for a week straight.
We were shooting an intenstive combat class and over 5 days we shot 1,500 rounds through our ARs. The range was dusty and it was the middle of summer in LA so we were hot and sweaty and the wind kicked up lots of dust.
We didn't clean our rifles in between the days. I just went back to the hotel room every night and oiled it up with spray gun oil until it was dripping wet and I kept spraying it throughout the day during the course.
You see the oil coming out between the upper and lower and every other orifice. The gun was not dusty or gritty and the oil did not suck up dust or grime like people think.
No malfunctions, not one. It was nice.
Capital-Reference-76@reddit
Just like a girl...want it wet when heading in for some heavy action.
Agammamon@reddit
Uhm, you literally 'wet' things with oil. 'Wet' isn't and has never been used only for water.
Neither do most of us. At least not at the frequency that people who don't understand how to wet things with lubricant would find acceptable.
still_elation05@reddit
Oh boy, sounds like a shootout over slang! Hope you two can aim for a peaceful resolution!
walt-and-co@reddit
Are you a GPT-style chatbot?
DontBelieveTheirHype@reddit
My Glock armorer buddy used to say "Glocks like to run wet", in which he was referring to lubricating and oiling. So you're not the only person in the world who does that
rockit_jocky@reddit
You fed the troll bro
etnosquidz@reddit
When running my binary 10/22, I always tell people, "keep that bitch wet and she won't jam up" . When I see a friends gun that is over oiled I usually tell them "it's too wet, wipe it off". Have heard many generations use the term, many military service members use it, and quite a few fudd at the range use it. Using wet is just easier to say, is it the technical correct terminology? No, but like calling a wheel on a car a rim, is it the correct term? No. Do we all know what you're talking about, absolutely. Your buddy just has an ego. Don't feed into it.
DumbNTough@reddit
I have read advice from military dudes in articles who advise AR-15 shooters to "run that bitch wet." They will blast the action with lube in the field to reduce frequency of cleaning and improve reliability on high round count days.
I make no endorsement for this one way or the other but for your info it has been said.
National_Activity_78@reddit
Wet is a universal term for well lubricated.
Now painters use wet to describe the look of paint. "A wet coat".
StorkyMcGee@reddit
I've used this as in "AR-15s like to be run wet"
alltheblues@reddit
Wet means it’s not dry, though the implication leans more towards generous lubrication rather than minimal.
SuicideSaintz@reddit
I have never heard someone use the term wet to describe firearm lubrication. If I were to here that I would assume you meant you got water in it/on it.
The only time I have ever referred to my gun as being wet is: duck hunting and I accidently submerged by shotgun partially in the frosted water, or when muzzleloader hunting the the dew on the vegetation got my gun wet (as in water).
In saying the above, I would not chastise someone for using a term differently, if anything I would ask for clarification and context of why they say it that way.
irbos@reddit
Something tells me your buddy doesn't have a lot of luck with the ladies...
You're both silly. Innuendo is the undisputed correct terminology regardless of context.
Stevarooni@reddit
"Wet" as in "well-lubricated" isn't something I often hear about firearms, but it understandable in context. It's an understandable colloquialism, but it sounds like you should avoid it around your friends, because they're offended about it/like antagonizing you.
SpiritAnimalLeroy@reddit
Completely acceptable and - at least in my experience - common use of the term.
constantwa-onder@reddit
You covered it at the start.
It's a stupid argument.
You two are going back and forth about idiosyncracies because one gives their carry gun a wipe down after work, and the other does a field strip and clean once a month or so.
Maintain your gear and don't worry about what others do.
farson135@reddit (OP)
Yup. That's the gist of it. Agreeing to disagree would have been the smart thing.
BruhCaden@reddit
My gun lube name is based around that term, they are highly restarted
AntiNumbers@reddit
I don't think I've ever personally referred to an oiled firearm as wet but I have definitely heard it being used by several people. It seems very common, especially when talking about oiling an AR.
SpiritMolecul33@reddit
Deep breathing should help
bammann45@reddit
Most folks who seriously argue these small points can’t actually shoot :)
No-Philosopher-4793@reddit
My firearms instructors (retired SWAT) use wet. As do the clerks at my LGS.
Dude, it’s Reddit. No matter what you say or where you say it, odds are someone is going to be a dick about it. 🤣
Doomsquatch@reddit
Yes, wet is acceptable, your friend has a simple brain.
dagolicious@reddit
I thought "wet" was used to describe a firearm that was overly lubricated, to the point of being drippy, distinguishing it from one that was just lightly/regularly lubricated. That's the only way I've heard it used anyway.
farson135@reddit (OP)
It's kind of a context thing.
"Running wet" usually refers to a firearm that is dripping wet but I've seen a lot of people use it to mean just "oiled". Obviously clarification is necessary for precision, hence why it's a colloquialism.
dagolicious@reddit
I've never used it to describe a regularly oiled gun, mostly because "wet" and "running wet" would mean the same thing to me. Using "wet" to describe a regularly oiled gun isn't more or less correct than using "running wet" to describe an overly lubed gun though. Like you said, it's a colloquialism, and not meant literally. Sounds like the person you were talking to is being weirdly pedantic.
Kromulent@reddit
Google will back you up.
farson135@reddit (OP)
I actually posted a few threads to them before I made this one. Apparently we're all idiots.
PirateRob007@reddit
Well, people always say not to run it "dry"...
ricochet845@reddit
I never used or heard of a properly oiled & lubed firearm being called wet, at least not in that context. I have heard and used in that context a dry firearm. Especially by a few gwot military guys in the desert cause the oil and stuff attracts more sand and grit and makes the firearm malfunction. The only time they would oil/lube or “wet it down” was when the rifle started having a lot of malfunctions, but they would clean it all up when they got back to base and return it to a more “dry” aspect
Traveller7142@reddit
If I say my gun is wet, I typically mean water, but I’ve heard both before
thee_Grixxly@reddit
I call a gun wet when the oil is getting in my hands or dripping/seeping from the frame/receiver.
atx620@reddit
The other party seems like a moron. Your terms check out.
JustSomeGuyMedia@reddit
Usually I’ve seen “wet” to mean “extra” lubrication. Like when people say “ARs like to run wet” they mean they like a good bit of lube.
sdujour77@reddit
I think it sounds dumb. If you mean oiled, just say oiled.
rw_gear@reddit
I don't use the terminology, but I can use context clues to understand what you mean. I have heard people talk about running their particular gun "dry," i.e. a lack of lube/oil.
War-Damn-America@reddit
Don't think you should be ashamed of yourself, but wet is a bit of an odd term for gun oil/lubricant. But I guess I can see where it comes from, maybe.
Also, you should oil the moving parts of a firearm. It helps extend the life, less metal fatigue from metal rubbing on each other, and will help with avoiding malfunctions. Lubed up parts are less likely to jam/gum up. That being said you don't need to douse it in oil/lube, because that can attract dirt and grim. Find a good and happy medium, but that can be easier said than done, I am certainly guilty of over oiling my AR at times.
farson135@reddit (OP)
For the record, I wasn't giving advice on the quantity of lubrication or anything. I was just making a general comment about over cleaning, because the person was talking about "cleaning" their guns after every "use" (including after daily carry), which they later clarified to mean "wiping down" rather than something more significant.
Gwsb1@reddit
Never heard this.
mgmorden@reddit
While I'd generally get your meaning and don't think the admonition was justified, I can't say that I've ever used the term "wet" to refer to being oily or oiled, nor have I generally heard the term used that way.
Smokey_tha_bear9000@reddit
We used to shoot an Colt AR at work shooting pigs from a helicopter. That piece of shit wouldn’t run unless Super Slick Slick Stuff was dripping from the gun, and it would spray out the ejection port every shot.
We definitely said it had to be “wet” to run right.
Travis_Maximus@reddit
I like it moist. Gotta couple guns that run better that way too