Ballistol Effectiveness on Handgun Finish Long-Term

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Jeb Stuart said:
The reason I took this picture was really for myself after it came out of a sonic cleaner with Ballistol milk. It was one of the first times I used the sonic cleaner. I have some expensive stuff I had also bought, but wanted to try Ballistol first after a friend suggested it. The gun was dirty and caked residue. I was impressed. And again, I have a whole lot of magazines that I use weekly, So nice to just put them in the Sonic Cleaner and just blow dry out. The bottom line for me is the fact that it was proven itself to work well. Below is Ballistol Milk, put a gun into it or a few magazine and the cleaned broken down residue comes to the top. The bottom stays clear.
I recently finished putting 10,000 rds through one of my guns. I broke it down, took out the chassis and in between the chassis and the grip was filthy. The trigger group and springs pretty dirty. The sonic cleaner and the ballistol had them looking brand new with all the springs and parts coated with a very fine layer of lubricant.
If you prefer something else, that is fine. But I will continue to use what works great for me. And again, all my guns great. And in the end that is what it is all about for me. (not to mention NO rust) and even my hunting shotguns look great and they are always in a harsh humid climate.

View attachment 870407 View attachment 870408
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Great info. What dilution ratio do you use in the ultrasonic?
 
Walkalong said:
@Jeb Stuart, your gonna wear your guns out cleaning them. :D
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5 Rules of life
1) Never eat at any place called "Moms"
2) Never play cards with anyone Called "Doc"
3)Never date a woman that has more problems than you do
4) Keep you GUN clean

Great movie. Dirtbag with the gut wound had the advantage, but had a dirty gun.

HARRY BROWN - "You failed to maintain your weapon, son"


 
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Don't know why I hadn't thought of it before but this thread caused me to grab my bottle of "moose milk" and spray it into the internals of a sticky 1959 Gillette Adjustable 195 double edge razor. Within minutes it was functioning smooth as silk. I originally grabbed Ballistol to deal with black powder revolvers when I didn't feel like going with the hot water cleaning ritual but it's good for a lot more than that :)
 
LaneP said:
Don't know why I hadn't thought of it before but this thread caused me to grab my bottle of "moose milk" and spray it into the internals of a sticky 1959 Gillette Adjustable 195 double edge razor. Within minutes it was functioning smooth as silk. I originally grabbed Ballistol to deal with black powder revolvers when I didn't feel like going with the hot water cleaning ritual but it's good for a lot more than that :)
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I have always kept a small jar of it in the bathroom and just drop my razor in it after use. I also have a small plastic spray bottle of the milk and every night I come home spray a little onmy carry gun and Poly frame. Keep a small sprayer in my car for Bird sap and to occasionally wipe down a carry gun on hot humid days. Have small sprayers in my range bags, in the kitchen, garage etc.
 
Jeb Stuart said:
5 Rules of life
1) Never eat at any place called "Moms"
2) Never play cards with anyone Called "Doc"
3)Never date a woman that has more problems than you do
4) Keep you GUN clean

Great movie. Dirtbag with the gut wound had the advantage, but had a dirty gun.

HARRY BROWN - "You failed to maintain your weapon, son"
Click to expand...

"5 Rules of Life"

And the last one is....?
 
I use Ballistol, but It seems a bit thin for a lubricant. Either Mpro7 oil or Hoppes Elite (same thing?) seems to stay in place better. I like a silicone cloth wipe down for rust protection on external surfaces.
Has Remoil fallen out of favor these days?
 
I absolutely love Ballistol. Based on my limited amount of years on earth, it works better for me than any other gun lubricant I have used. I also regularly use it to treat my gun leather, boots, etc.
 
I'm sure glad I live where it's dry when I read these threads! I discovered Ballistol first when training at Sig Academy, as that's about all they used there at the time. I just loved the smell of it so much I bought a can. I've had that can now for about 11 years, and the plastic cap has been cracked nearly in half for most of that time. I lube my guns with it, with Vaseline, silicone spray, Slick Stuff (or whatever it's called) and a variety of other spray lubes if that's what I can find in the shed. I've never been concerned with corrosion or with gun finish issues, so almost anything works as well as anything else. But, Ballistol is my favorite simply because it smells nice, reminds me of those great days in training at Sig Academy, seems to do just about everything well and is cheap. I always found it to be a more-than-sufficient lubricant for handguns. Oh, and I think it really smells great.
 
I use Ballistol exclusively with all my BP firearms. Even with as little as 10% Ballistol and 90% H2O, once the water evaporates(I dry patch it as much as possible) it leaves Ballistol behind. I haven't had any rust problems with my BP guns.
 
Yeah, the stuff is amazing (Ballistol). Hell, I know a couple of guys that pan-fry their fish in it and put it on their pancakes. I once tried using it instead of hair gel, but my wife said I smelled like a can of Norwegian sardines.
 
Over the many years of using Ballistol, I have to say I kind of like the smell. I have heard internet post that say all kinds of things like a fishy smell. Yet I live near the ocean, fish often in the ocean, Bays, and even fresh water lakes etc. and have yet to come across any species that smell like Ballistol. But the aroma always had a distinct or unique smell that I recognized but could not put my finger on it. From my old Bar Tending days in College I remember certain liqueurs that has a similar scent, but could not remember. Over the years and spending time in the woods, I have come across certain plants that had a similar odor but could not tell you what they were.
From everthing I have seen it comes from this.
Ballistol has anethole oil in it... which comes from the anise plant. If you like the smell of liqueurs like Chartreuse, Jagermeister, and anisette, or black jelly beans or biscochito cookies... you'll like Ballistol.

Another thing is people that complain about the odor. I wonder how much they really used because the odor goes away. It dissipates from the air. I have had folks come into my office or shop, mention the smell and then later like a half hour not even notice it.
But sure does not smell like fish. And least none of the fish I ever have caught.
 
That's interesting...when I first smelled it a decade ago, fish is what came to mind--not sure why--and why I made the sardine reference. I agree, it doesn't actually smell like fish, really. In any case, my experiences that I associate with that distinctive bouquet are so overwhelmingly positive, it's a very pleasing smell to me. Always liked the smell of Hoppe's too, and good old 60s vintage (or earlier) GI bore cleaner (heavy on the ammonia). Who can explain?
 
The Ballistol smell took some getting used to but it was worth no longer worrying about wood stocks anymore and I never understood the saltwater spray test. I waterfowl in fresh and salt water and have yet to lay my firearms in the surf zone for 24-48 hours ;) Seems like such a small extreme sample.
 
Used ballistol for years. Never a problem. Used on guns, stocks, leather etc.

That said it does smell like dirty hobo feet after a sweaty weekend jumping trains in Alabama in August.

Never used it “medicinally” but all I can think when I read those posts is “rub a little ‘tussin’ On it”. :)
 
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