Ballistol

[Captndan]

Ballistol 10:1 with water for cleaning? Yea or nay? How about Murphy's?

 

[leadhoarder]

I use somewhere between 7-8:1 but if I remember right 10:1 is what is on the bottle. It is the water that does the cleaning not the oil.

 

[cositrike]

Ballistol 10:1 with water for cleaning? Yea or nay? How about Murphy's?

I use Murphys as my shooting lube. Then I only need water to clean with

 

[user 36911]

Right on the can it says 50/50 for cleaning black powder.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Certainly, a 50/50 mix of Ballistol to water is a good cleaner. However the makers of Ballistol want you to use more than you need. And water with a dash of dish washing soap is also an effective cleaner.

 

[hanshi]

So far I've found plain room temperature water with a drop of Dawn to be the best BP cleaner I ever used.

 

[Eutycus]

Is there such a thing as homemade Ballistol? Like mineral oil mixed with something maybe?

 

[Phil Coffins]

I find it interesting how some like to make this sport as complicated as possible. To each his own.

 

[user 36911]

Certainly, a 50/50 mix of Ballistol to water is a good cleaner. However the makers of Ballistol want you to use more than you need. And water with a dash of dish washing soap is also an effective cleaner.

I just answered his question. I like to use cool water with a little Dawn.

 

[William Lincoln]

I think warm water or even hot water will open up
pores to release fouling better. Dish soap+ water or Ballistol
mix will also work. The big thing is to have the energy
to apply the elbow grease. I dry off my pieces with a
hairdryer to speed up finishing and to be sure it is
dry. Thin application of oil/wd 40/ ballistol or similar
to coat steel and retard rust.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Ballistol has petroleum in it.

It is not water nor natural based.

Petroleum + burnt black powder = sludge

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I use what the can says which is something like 4 or 5 to 1 if I remember.

Works excellent. The appearance is a pleasant milky substance and I enjoy the smell.

 

[garypl]

Been using @20% Ballistol mixed with 80% water to clean my BP guns since late 1970’s and I believe it is the easiest and most effective cleaner for me. I like the fact that it emulsifies with water and when water evaporates it leaves a film that helps prevent rust. Did a simple test once and sprayed some plain nails with water and then sprayed one with Ballistol mix and let them all sit for a week. Nail sprayed with Ballistol mixture didn’t rust like the untreated nails. This and the fact that my guns still look and shoot good after 40+ years is proof enough for me. But as a previous poster mentioned, use what works for you - there are multiple ways to skin a cat!

 

[user 36911]

Ballistol has petroleum in it.

It is not water nor natural based.

Petroleum + burnt black powder = sludge

Ballistol uses pharmaceutical mineral oil. That's not petroleum anymore.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

Ballistol has petroleum in it.

It is not water nor natural based.

Petroleum + burnt black powder = sludge

Your statement couldn't be further from the truth. If you will read the Material Safety & Data Sheet (MSDS) for Ballistol, which obviously you haven't, you will find no petroleum based products. The mineral oil in Ballistol is paraffin based & medical grade. The oleates are natural components of fats, the alcohols are from the natural fermentation of proteins, starches & sugars, & the benzyl acetate is from the Jasmine plant. Ballistol DOES NOT make sludge when in contact with black powder fouling. If you are going to criticize something, at least get your facts straight so as to not spread misinformation.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Ballistol works good for me.

 

[Juice Jaws]

I find it interesting how some like to make this sport as complicated as possible. To each his own.

I agree, it always amazes me how we can take something so simply and make it so hard.

 

[Silent Walker]

Ballistol has petroleum in it.

It is not water nor natural based.

Petroleum + burnt black powder = sludge

It has mineral oil printed on the back under ingredients. The MSDS sheet also said mineral oil it has NO Petrolum product in it.

 

[29thWisCoG]

Is there such a thing as homemade Ballistol? Like mineral oil mixed with something maybe?

Yes, I believe that Stumpy has a formulation called Moose Juice, and as far as I can tell it is a Ballistol/water diluted equivalent, here is the recipe:

S t u m p k i l l e r’ s MOOSE JUICE
All Weather Enriched Blackpowder Solvent & Body Wash
A general purpose blackpowder solvent and liquid patch lube. Shake well before using. Can be allowed to dry on dipped patching for a dry lube dry flat on waxed paper & dip twice for best saturation). Add ingredients in the following order and shake well after each is added.

Isopropyl Alcohol (91%) 8 oz.
Castor Oil 3 oz.
Murphys Oil Soap 1 oz.
Witch Hazel 4 oz.
Water (non-chlorinated) 16 oz.

I just use a 1 liter soda bottle, mix it in order above, add water last to the top off the bottle, shake and you are done.

I really like Stumpy's recipes because he explains what each of the ingredients purpose is. He also has Moose Spit which is a cleaning solution alternative to soap and water, Moose Snot which is a patch lube, and Moose Marrow which is a minie ball lube.

 

[SOLANCO]

I find it interesting how some like to make this sport as complicated as possible. To each his own.

I agree, but........
There is something in the human being that wants some ritual.