Ballistol

So, not turning this into a cleaning thread, nor a “is one lube better than another”, but was at a local sporting goods supply store here yesterday and seen Ballistol on the shelf for the first time in my life. At least as far as I can remember.
Anyhow, I picked some up and wish to confirm that it’s the same stuff that some on here are raving about. We also happened to shoot our local ranges trail walk yesterday, so I had a perfect opportunity to try my new purchase. All I can say is thus far I’ve no regrets. I guess time will tell.
Walk

The only way to tell for sure how something works is to try it and see!

Lots of opinions for and against Ballistol. I’ve been using it for 30+ years to clean my BP guns and wet my patches when loading and I believe it does a great job. I do not use it as a lubricant as I have found other products that I believe do a better job.

To each his own - use whatever you feel works best for you!

It says Ballistiol, then it is Ballistol. Around my area it sells for about $10 a spray can. But all the cans I have are primarily green but maybe they are upgrading the graphics on the can.

I really like it. Use it all the time.

Walkingeagle said:

So, not turning this into a cleaning thread, nor a “is one lube better than another”, but was at a local sporting goods supply store here yesterday and seen Ballistol on the shelf for the first time in my life. At least as far as I can remember.
Anyhow, I picked some up and wish to confirm that it’s the same stuff that some on here are raving about. We also happened to shoot our local ranges trail walk yesterday, so I had a perfect opportunity to try my new purchase. All I can say is thus far I’ve no regrets. I guess time will tell.
Walk

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I'm in the humid south, I not so very long ago started using ballistol to spray on a rag to wipe my gun exterior down with after the cleanings. I like to use it to spray my ROA down with after the cleaning as well. So far I'm happy with it. Thats the first non green can of it that I've ever seen though.

I used it in the 70's and loved it, but I haven't seen any of it in the stores where I shop for 30 years. If it's less than the 10 bucks a can like ppg1949 says, then I'd say buy a few more cans. It's NOT just for guns and shooting. I used it everywhere I needed a good lube on something made of steel, plus it never goes bad, so there's not really a shelf life? Keep the cans from rusting (on the outside) and you'll have it forever!
God bless:
Two Feathers

I love Ballistol. I’ve only seen it in the green and red can though. Good find!

I wipe the whole rifle with it, wood and all. If you got any small cuts on your hand it'll take care of them too.

I scored a 1 gallon can of Ballistol at a tag sale for $5.00. It will probably last me till I kick the bucket. I use it in a spray bottle and mix it with water either 1:4 or 1:10 depending on the use.

Wallyworld also has it available both in aerosol and liquid. If your local store doesn’t have it you can order online for local pickup.

I prefer the liquid Ballistol to the aerosol Ballistol. The aerosol has additional chemicals to make a more efficient spray. Nice to spray in the barrel for cleaning, but I still like the sense that the distribution of the Ballistol is better when I wet the patch. If you spray Ballistol down the barrel for a final cleaning bore protection, store the gun muzzle down to let the Ballistol (or any spray oil) rain from the breech to prevent a buildup of thick oils from fouling the breech.

While the smell sometimes gets to me. I've used Ballistol for 6 or 7 years now and love it. A few years ago I switched over to it on my modern weapons as well. I don't use any petroleum based oil or grease on my BP guns.

TDM said:

While the smell sometimes gets to me. I've used Ballistol for 6 or 7 years now and love it. A few years ago I switched over to it on my modern weapons as well. I don't use any petroleum based oil or grease on my BP guns.

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Ballistol is petroleum based. The primary component is mineral oil. Here's a link to the MSDS:

https://www.ballistol.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MSDS_TECH_BIO.pdf

Dave Markowitz said:

Ballistol is petroleum based. The primary component is mineral oil. Here's a link to the MSDS:

https://www.ballistol.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MSDS_TECH_BIO.pdf

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I'm no chemist, but I do know that there is a major difference in how a water soluble mineral oil, such as Ballistol and oils such as Remoil or motor oil based lubricants react with BP fouling. I'll stick with Ballistol.

I use & like it!

I was sold on Ballistol about 15 years ago. My son, a friend/Air Force Pilot and his stunningly beautiful wife were sitting in a duck blind, VA eastern shore; she pulled a small can from her pocket and used it as bug spray! After the hunting, he wiped down his guns with another can, and then gave me one from his shelf. My wife hates the smell...my son and I still enjoy it.... ;-)

Lots of gun stuff has different aromas and some find one or the other distasteful.
I like the smell of Ballistol, will tolerate Hoppes and like Butch's Bore Shine but do not care for the smell.

Some of the ammonia-based stuff really assaults my nose.

That’s funny!

Every time I go shoot my ML rifles when I return home my wife refuses to drive anywhere in my car for a few days because she says it “smells like old man”! I do a quick clean at the range and more thorough cleaning when I get lt home. I don’t understand her because to me my car smells like a pair of old wet socks when I’m done shooting for the day!

I don’t mind though - been married 46 years and we know each other’s likes and dislikes by now and she’s a wonderful person other than her aversion to the smell of Ballistol and black powder residue!

I use it too. Fantastic product specially mixed as Moose Milk for cleaning BP.