Using Ballistol to clean and lube guns..

[greg vess]

I was at the gun shop today picking up some ammo for my 6.5 PRC and some targets and I picked up some Hoppes oil. The man that owned the gun shop was raving about Ballistol. I've heard of it but I never considered it for cleaning and lubing guns. Anybody have the skinny on this stuff? I bought a small can of it just in case it turned out to be something that I needed but I would like to know a little more about it before I use it.

 

[Hayata]

Love it for my old milsurps.

You can treat the leather sling, the wood stock, and the metal parts all with the same thing.

 

[jdie1008semperfi]

Thats pretty much all I use anymore. It absorbs into the metal a certain way, kinda keeps it slick like. I like to spray it on a rag and wipe my guns down with it every so often for a quick clean n shine. It’s good to go on polymer and wood too. I like it

 

[MuleShoe]

Great stuff!

 

[BHPSteel]

I use Ballistol on every surface that doesn't actually need some kind of lube. While it's marketed as a lube, it doesn't hold up well over time. Really harmless to finishes and it's pretty good for cleaning anything gun-related right up to really bad carbon deposits. You might have to go for another product for that.

Only shame is the smell, which a lot of people don't like.

To me it smells of victory (over corrosion). It doesn't last forever though. Being biodegradable, you have to reapply it just like you would with Rem Oil

 

[BIKER13]

Everybody cant be happy all the time

 

[HERMET]

I use Ballistol on every surface that doesn't actually need some kind of lube. While it's marketed as a lube, it doesn't hold up well over time. Really harmless to finishes and it's pretty good for cleaning anything gun-related right up to really bad carbon deposits. You might have to go for another product for that.

Only shame is the smell, which a lot of people don't like.

To me it smells of victory (over corrosion). It doesn't last forever though. Being biodegradable, you have to reapply it just like you would with Rem Oil

What he said ^
I love the smell personally.

 

[greg vess]

I use Ballistol on every surface that doesn't actually need some kind of lube. While it's marketed as a lube, it doesn't hold up well over time. Really harmless to finishes and it's pretty good for cleaning anything gun-related right up to really bad carbon deposits. You might have to go for another product for that.

Only shame is the smell, which a lot of people don't like.

To me it smells of victory (over corrosion). It doesn't last forever though. Being biodegradable, you have to reapply it just like you would with Rem Oil

He did say it smelled horrible. He also mentioned during deer season he wiped it off and used regular gun oil. Now I don't know about all that but he said it smelled bad enough to change over.
This was a new gun shop I must have passed 25 times and never saw it. It's a little mom and pops place that is a lot closer than the one than the one that takes forever to get too so I was overjoyed when I found it. It's probably 20 minutes closer. He wasn't one of these combat wanna be's but is a hunter which was a nice surprise. It was a nice little place and he gave me some sample wipes of it to try before I went all out with the bottle of it I picked up. He was a little high for the 6.5 PRC ammo but I had to get some for range day Saturday and I am glad to spend a little more with someone that is a pleasant person to deal with.
The reason I speak of his outfit is he is a down to earth kinda guy and his wife is really sweet. It's a nice change form the stuck up SWAT dreamers that normally work at gun shops. I hate that and he will be getting a lot more of my business just because of his very nice and helpful attitude. I hate those places where the guys behind the counter feel like they are doing you a favor by showing you a gun you are interested in.
We talked a lot about deer hunting and he knows his business. Very nice place to visit and buy your equipment. There aren't to many places like that anymore. Good old mountain folk.

 

[BHPSteel]

I don't actually mind the smell of Ballistol - the smell disappears pretty quickly anyway.

The MSDS for Ballistol isn't very useful, but the composition is:

... medicinal grade mineral oil, alkaline salts of oleic acid, several alcohols, Benzyl Acetate and an oil from vegetal seeds. The mineral oil is unchlorinated and conforms to the specifications of US Pharmacopeia XX.

The smell comes mainly from the seed oil - it's pretty mild and a bit like camphor.

 

[87KJH]

Ballistol is mostly White Mineral oil which has been used on firearms and fishing reels for decades.
It smells better than Rem Oil or Kroil.