Ballistol Lube
- Thread starter mildot
- Start date
Learned from Hickock45 as well...I love it, works great - cleans and lubes very well I've found.. Even though I do like Frog Lube as well, Ballistol doesn't go 'tacky' like frog lube will over time. ..I don't find it smells bad at all and can use it in the house no problem. ...It's all natural so safe for the skin and to breathe. ..I would highly recommend buying from Ammosupply (site sponsor) - Kate is great and awesome to deal with! They get most of my ammo and Ballistol purchases.
I order Ballistol from Toronto in 16 oz cans. Because it is water soluble, I use it as one component of my Moose Milk patch lube for patched round ball shooting but it also serves for cleaning bores and general rust prevention. Does a nice job of cleaning up a dirty old gunstock without soaking in and darkening the wood like linseed oil tends to do. Great stuff.
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eaglesnester
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Ballastol was developed in either Switzerland, Germany, or Austria over 150 years ago for the military. They were shooting black powder then and ballastol does a fine job in cleaning black powder fouling from a black powder rifle. It has limited lubrication qualities and does not prevent rust as it is water soluble. I use it for patch lube mixed with bees wax for my flintlock and cap and ball loads when using patched round ball. Ballastol also does not remove lead depositions from cap lock slug and bullet shooting bores that are rifled 1-20 to 1-32.
Ballastol does nothing to clean a modern bore of powder fouling nor does it remove copper fouling from a modern firearm. Its only use is in black powder antiques or antique reproductions. If U do not believe me about the rusting part, try a little experiment with a piece of steel and some ballastol and leave it out in an area where there is a normal amount of humidity. No doubt about it ballastol has its place in the black powder shooting crowd.
Ballastol does nothing to clean a modern bore of powder fouling nor does it remove copper fouling from a modern firearm. Its only use is in black powder antiques or antique reproductions. If U do not believe me about the rusting part, try a little experiment with a piece of steel and some ballastol and leave it out in an area where there is a normal amount of humidity. No doubt about it ballastol has its place in the black powder shooting crowd.
abbynormal
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- West Coast
Ballistol is a mineral oil that has had it's Ph increased with the addition of an Oleic acid.
It emulsifies in water making it a splendid product to neutralize the harmful salts left behind by black powder or corrosive ammo.
It also acts as a creeping oil, ergo after using it a few times the metal has a 'satin' type of feel - and fouling has a difficult time adhering to the metal.
Personally I'm a proponent of the 'creeping oil' camp - the regular clean-ups are a breeze ('cause nothing sticks to the treated metal), and if and when you do have any real fouling, use a specific, rather than general cleaner for the problem.
Weaponshield is, in my opinion, the finest creeping oil on the market, but if I couldn't find WS - I would be talking to Kate at AmmoSupply.ca about sending me some Ballistol.
My two cents - Abby
It emulsifies in water making it a splendid product to neutralize the harmful salts left behind by black powder or corrosive ammo.
It also acts as a creeping oil, ergo after using it a few times the metal has a 'satin' type of feel - and fouling has a difficult time adhering to the metal.
Personally I'm a proponent of the 'creeping oil' camp - the regular clean-ups are a breeze ('cause nothing sticks to the treated metal), and if and when you do have any real fouling, use a specific, rather than general cleaner for the problem.
Weaponshield is, in my opinion, the finest creeping oil on the market, but if I couldn't find WS - I would be talking to Kate at AmmoSupply.ca about sending me some Ballistol.
My two cents - Abby
