Ballistol fumes?

Seems like someone posted on the forum a few years ago that if you would leave the top off a bottle of Ballistol the smell would go away. Don’t know if this would effect how well it works or not. Whatever causes the odor probably plays a part.

A bottle would last you years.It doesn,t take very much.I can,t remember the cost,but I bought mine at our local gun show that runs 4 times a year.The vendor is always there and he makes good deals.He gave me a big can,a aerosol can and some small wipe size pouches for I know had to be a good deal cause I would,t have spent very much on somethin I never tried.Sayin that,the smell will grow on you after awhile and it appears to work fine.

Going to a somewhat larger city this afternoon.I will see if anyone there carries it. Though it is not on the list of 100 venders in Texas.

Eutycus, several folks have mentioned ordering it from Walmart. I did this a couple of months ago and it was as easy as ordering anything online. It was shipped to the local store free and I picked it up a couple of days after I ordered it. I bought the can and not the aerosol and if I remember right it was about $12. It was supposed to be there overnight, but ended up taking a couple of days. I received emails notifying me of the delay and followup when it was at the store.

Okay thanks.I did ask earlier about what product is considered second best if Ballistol isnt available. Maybe there is no " second best"as I never got a reply.

I think the second best issue depends on what you are specifically looking for. If you are looking for a water soluble oil to use for dry lubeing patch's per Dutch's method it is a good product. I have shot muzzleloaders off and on for 40 years and purchased my first bottle of it a few months ago. If you are looking for a gun lube or lubricant, then there are many other alternatives. Even as a patch lube there are many different lubes as seen on a number of threads here. I have used Hoppes #9 black powder solvent/ lube for a number of years with good results. I have used it for a number of years for a quick clean at the range if I knew I might not be able to do a full cleaning of the firearm for a day or two. I have also used it on the cylinder pin of Remington 1858s to keep them free when shooting a number of cylinders. For protecting cleaned guns I used 3 & 1 oil for a number of years and now use Barricade. I hope this helps.

THE LAST I LOOKED, THERE WERE A LOT OF BALLISTOL SUPPLIERS ON THE INTERNET, EAGER TO SHIP YOU A BOTTLE OF BALLISTOL. THE SHIPPING FEE WOULD BE A LOT LESS THAN THE GAS YOU INTEND TO BURN.

DUTCH

Eutycus said:

Going to a somewhat larger city this afternoon.I will see if anyone there carries it. Though it is not on the list of 100 venders in Texas.

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I've been using Ballistol for almost 20 years; I love it! My wife hates the odor. But I was duck hunting in the VA barrier islands years ago and a woman in the blind pulled out a small can, sprayed it around her head and claimed it also repels the mosquitos, she passed it down the line, I did the same...probably why my wife hates it! Absolute Gold for BP cleanups. I have never tried it on BH209.

Good story on the mosquito repellant, did it work? And lets hope you or anyone else didnt get any in your eyes.

Eutycus said:

Maybe there is no " second best"as I never got a reply.

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You're assuming Ballistiol is the first best. It's not even in my top 5.

Kansas Jake said:

I think the second best issue depends on what you are specifically looking for. If you are looking for a water soluble oil to use for dry lubeing patch's per Dutch's method it is a good product. I have shot muzzleloaders off and on for 40 years and purchased my first bottle of it a few months ago. If you are looking for a gun lube or lubricant, then there are many other alternatives. Even as a patch lube there are many different lubes as seen on a number of threads here. I have used Hoppes #9 black powder solvent/ lube for a number of years with good results. I have used it for a number of years for a quick clean at the range if I knew I might not be able to do a full cleaning of the firearm for a day or two. I have also used it on the cylinder pin of Remington 1858s to keep them free when shooting a number of cylinders. For protecting cleaned guns I used 3 & 1 oil for a number of years and now use Barricade. I hope this helps.

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Good post.
I feel that Castor Oil also works well for a Dutch S. type of patch lube if you're not able to find Ballistol easily. Not a water soluble application but a denatured alcohol soluble application. I'm sure someone has tried, I personally haven't, but I don't know why olive oil couldn't be used as well? I'll be trying this too, as olive oil is much easier and cheaper to find around here than castor oil.
For a rust preventative, I've never used it but haven't ever read a bad word about Barricade. I believe Zonie has stated that it won't cause tar like fouling if it isn't removed before shooting?
I'm currently using Ballistol as a rust preventative, but simply because I read that it can be used as a patch lube and I like the thought of using something that won't create tar if I don't get all of it out of the barrel before shooting as well as it is actually supposed to help prevent rust (I had been just using Hoppes gun oil). I found the bottle I have at our local North40 when I was there a few months ago, but I haven't seen it there since. I live in a low humidity climate and as long as I get the barrel good and dry after a cleaning pretty much anything will work fine, so I don't stress that Ballistol may not be "the best". Since I only use it for storage the small bottle I have is going to last a long time before it runs out.
Unless you need some other stuff from somewhere online that sells Ballistol, Walmart is probably the best way to go as far as shipping costs. I don't believe they charge any for orders that are store pick up.

Ballistiol, I have seen it,read the label. Meems to be good for several things. Do, you guys use it to clean your bore, or put it on as a rust preventer?

One Eyed Blacksmith said:

Ballistiol, I have seen it,read the label. Meems to be good for several things. Do, you guys use it to clean your bore, or put it on as a rust preventer?

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I use it for a lubricant and a rust prevention. I’ve read it’s not superior as a long term rust preventer, but it seems to do quite well in my guns. If not used I check them about once a year.

Ballistol was invented or developed the by the Germans in the late 1800's for rifle maintenance, both metal and wood., It has survived over a century so must be performing reasonably well.I have long ago heard it is good for bug bites and just today heard it might keep safe from mosquitos and the occasional wife.

Dutch

One Eyed Blacksmith said:

Ballistiol, I have seen it,read the label. Meems to be good for several things. Do, you guys use it to clean your bore, or put it on as a rust preventer?

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Is it the mineral oil in the Ballistol that actually does the work or is it the whole mix? Got to give it to those Germans! If it is mainly the mineral oil than one could have the benefits of Ballistol without the smell.

I love the smell of Ballistol in the morning.

It smells like victory.

I recall it did work to repel the bugs; spray it your hands, then wipe; saves eyes. I have not read much about Ballistol as a "long term" solution, but I certainly use it that way...If I apply a light coat with the aerosol can there is a definitively detectable film. And it's sticky...it does not seem to "run" with gravity. Of course - what is "long term"? Since I began using it, I have stopped seeing rust grow in the bolster, below the nipple on a couple traditional ml's which do not see yearly use.... three or four years, max. Somewhere on the interweb, there's a photo of a steel plate, a decent spot burned with bp, then sprayed with Ballistol - no rust after several years....I wonder if I can still find that.... "..smells like victory." Nice!

Carbon 6 said:

You're assuming Ballistiol is the first best. It's not even in my top 5.

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What is in your top five?

The best use for Ballistol is to keep it tightly capped and use it as a space filler at the back of hard to reach shelf. What a stink, it’s right up there with Hoppe’s #9 on the back of the shelf. I suspect both products are heartily endorsed by the WWW Foundation for application to your hunting firearm before going a field.

I don't mind the smell of either. My guess is we all have different senses of smell and what offends one doesn't bother another. My dad used say "that smells like money" when we drove past a cattle feed lot. He was a farmer and raised a lot of cattle.