Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683 Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 I had one bad experience years ago with Ballistol (although admittedly, it was with a BP substitute), and have not used it since. Been using Breakfree for quite a while. Because of some pistola fouling problems recently, I'm wanting to try it again. I am shooting real BP nowadays, BTW. I need all of your uses for Ballistol, including any home recipes with the stuff for cleaning, lubricating, etc. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitmaster, SASS #78461 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 The Ballistol website is a good place to start. I picked up a couple of extra cans this past weekend. I think I'm going to even use it on my smokeless pistols and rifles this summer to see how I like it. I read a printout at Cutter's Raiders yesterday and it was originally developed to use with smokeless powders for cleaning and lubricating. According to some information here the Navy SEALS use or used Ballistol for weapon maintenance. As well as the Coast Guard and other agencies. Look under firearms for the reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefro, SASS#69420 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I shoot nothing but real BP, unless I'm shooting WB, but I use Ballistol on smokeless also. I'm with the Murphy's mix crowd for cleaning BP, 1/3 alcohol - 1/3 peroxide - 1/3 Murphy's oil soap. After the guns are clean I spray, wipe, and patch with Ballistol. One thing I do at the range is, after the match I spray a little Ballistol down the pipes of the firearms, wipe off excess and put in gun case. Makes clean up easier, or if I don't want to clean them for a few days it protects them in the safe. Good Luck Jefro Relax-Enjoy ps, Ballistol also goes good on pancakes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackwater 53393 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I had one bad experience years ago with Ballistol (although admittedly, it was with a BP substitute), and have not used it since. Been using Breakfree for quite a while. Because of some pistola fouling problems recently, I'm wanting to try it again. I am shooting real BP nowadays, BTW. I need all of your uses for Ballistol, including any home recipes with the stuff for cleaning, lubricating, etc. Thanks in advance. MMM, what was the "bad experience"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oklahomabound Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I use the following process: 1. wife's kitchen sink-electric pot of boiling hot water and run through the revolver parts, rifle parts, or shotgun parts. 2. while still hot, spray liberally with Murphy's oil mix (1/3 water, 1/3 Murphy's oil soap, and 1/3 alcohol). 3. wipe down all parts, wood and all with Ballistol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Pony Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Matt I use it as an after cleaning lube and usually carry a small spary can for mid match duty should a bp gun get sticky. Also have used it on cowboy boots with no ill effects after brushing off the dust and dirt from the range. Anyone else noticed that the aerosol form is really fine? Seems everytime I spary something I either cough or sneeze a couple of times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683 Posted May 16, 2011 Author Share Posted May 16, 2011 MMM, what was the "bad experience"? When I first started shooting BP, I did not have any reloading stuff, so I bought some BP-sub factory loaded ammo from a well-known and reliable ammo manufacturer. If memory serves, it was one of the older BP subs that is not around anymore (I think it was called Cleanshot). Anyway, after spraying down my almost brand new at the time 73 with Ballistol, the rifle carrier locked up on me bigger than anything. Darn thing looked like it was coated with road tar. Later on, I was told by numerous shooters that sub BP's and Ballistol do not get along. I have not used Ballistol since, although I'm now loading only real BP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Loving Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I use Ballistrol the same way as most. Also use the mixture of murphy soap etc; It's used on everything then ballistrol is use to lub after cleaning is finished. I use the same procedure for real BP and smokeless. I also use Ballistrol on my mountain bike chain, gear, and transfer linkage. I like it for everything which needs a light lubing. keeps things running smooth and doesn't seem to gum up a much as other lubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Rick, SASS #49739L Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 When I first started shooting BP, I did not have any reloading stuff, so I bought some BP-sub factory loaded ammo from a well-known and reliable ammo manufacturer. If memory serves, it was one of the older BP subs that is not around anymore (I think it was called Cleanshot). Anyway, after spraying down my almost brand new at the time 73 with Ballistol, the rifle carrier locked up on me bigger than anything. Darn thing looked like it was coated with road tar. Later on, I was told by numerous shooters that sub BP's and Ballistol do not get along. I have not used Ballistol since, although I'm now loading only real BP. Matt, BP & Ballistol will do that if you do not completely and thoroughly clean the smokeless residue and lubricant from your guns. Same thing happened to me once when I tried to put a few BP rounds through my Marlin. Clean and dry completely, lube with Ballistol or other BP friendly lube. CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Sgt. Jake McCandless #3368 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I use Ballistol but mix it a little different, instead of water I mix it with rubbing alcohol. If I need to spray my carrier while shooting black powder I find the Ballahol mix dries much more quickly than with water. It carry's away fouling and debris to me more quickly that Ballistol and water I also use it for cleaning smokeless just about use it for lubricating everything. Although I do use Ezzox for long term preservation and Rig grease in the bores,other wise everything gets Ballistol. Adios Sgt. Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I'm geeked over the stuff!! - Don;t know if it's true, but I hear that deer love the scent too..... GG ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Besides all that other it is excellent for burns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Howdy I use it as a floor wax and a dessert topping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 OK, seriously now. I am part of the Murphy's Mix crowd. After I clean my Black Powder guns with room temperature Murphy's Mix,one of the great benefits of MM, you don't have to heat it, I follow up with a little bit of Ballistol straight out of the bottle. I generally soak one patch with Ballistol and run it down the bore and into the chambers of a gun, followed by a dry patch to soak up the excess. This leaves a nice rust inhibiting layer on the metal, but does not leave the metal soaking wet. I take the wet patch and wipe down all the surfaces of the gun. Finally, I work a little bit down into the lockwork with a q-tip, to provide a bit of rust prevention down inside. I do not use one of the diluted Ballistol mixtures for my initial BP cleaning because of the cost of Ballistol. I prefer the Murphy's Mix because it is cheaper to buy the ingredients for it than to dilute Ballistol in water. I only use Ballistol full strength, and in sparing amounts. I do not use Ballistol to clean Smokeless firearms. I ran a test a few years ago when I was cleaning my 1911. My tests showed that plain old Hoppes #9 was a superior smokeless solvent than Ballistol. Simply put, it required more elbow grease to clean the gun with Ballistol than with Hoppes. So I use Hoppes for Smokeless and Ballistol for Black Powder. I don't shoot any subs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I don't understand all the fuss with various solvents to clean firearms that shoot real BP. Hot water, wipe, clear with air gun the nooks amd crannies (if available) and spray with Ballistol amd wipe excess away...that's it. No need to make it more difficult than it needs to be. GG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Devon Cattleman, SASS #59003 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I shoot real Black powder and I use windex to clean and break free clp to lube. I don't use Balistol on my guns but if your leather boots get wet and then dry hard, Balistol works good to soften them up again. Just spray it on the leather were it has turned hard, loosens them right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Checotah Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Don't want to hijack thread so I'll start another.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I don't use it for cleaning any more. I tried all the magical recipes and found that Windex does the job just fine, I use a little Ballistol for lube on the innards. I've had a big can for 8 years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou Graham, # 26112 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Nothing like the right tools for the job! I clean with hot Murphy's Mix, preserve with Eezox and I use Ballistol in winter when it's cold for a quickie range fix if one of my guns gets stubborn. I use Bore Butter in summer when it's hot. It smells better. Ballistol works, I just don't like the smell. It also has done a nice job with a little on a rag to clean up my boots before I head into dinner. The rest of me looks like a mess, but the boots look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Rick, SASS #49739L Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 I don't understand all the fuss with various solvents to clean firearms that shoot real BP. Hot water, wipe, clear with air gun the nooks amd crannies (if available) and spray with Ballistol amd wipe excess away...that's it. No need to make it more difficult than it needs to be. GG Gunner, I totally agree. The Murphy's mix works well on the road, but Sunday's guns were cleaned in Iowa with hot water. Always finish with Ballistol CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Damwright Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 I used it when my truck ran out of turn-signal fluid. I swear it works better !!! And I spray a little on my guns between stages when shooting 777. Seems to keep them running for the match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korupt Karl Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 I'm not experienced like some of you, but I shot 10 stages without a glitch..... 1. Before the match I cleaned my guns with solvent and removed any smokeless lubricants and then lubed with Ballistol. 2. During the shoot I used Windex to spray the cylinder and the barrel. The guns worked great.....at the end of the day I used the Windex to spray the guns down and swabbed the barrel and chambers. I did not have the first problem with either gun.....the biggest diff was making sure the smokeless lubes were absent from the guns. KK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cemetery Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Howdy I use it as a floor wax and a dessert topping. I was hoping it would cure baldness. No luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Waddy Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 What Yellowhouse said - Ballistol is great for burns - almost unbelievably good. I also like to apply it to any open wounds - promotes healing faster than any first aid ointment I have ever used. Oh yea, and I use it to clean my BP guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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