What do you use to wipe down your guns?

[Jay Gardner]

Time for a new can of oil to use to wipe down my guns after handling them. Curious what options are out there for general use.

Thanks,

JDG

[Dave Suponski]

Jay, I use Ballistol for both wood and metal.

[Jim DiSpagno]

I prefer balistol, a citrus based product that wont harm wood. I have been using it for 20+ years, never a problem and odor is pleasant. Jim

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

I have been using Preserve, but can.t find it any more any body have any willing to sell me a bottle

[John Dallas]

RIG

[Russ Jackson]

I use Ballistol also ,The advertisement claims once you put this on the Gun it always wears a protective film , I also use it on both Wood and Metal parts ! It does have a strong odor ," at least to me " ,and I usually will take my guns outside to wipe them down with this material ,the odor dissipates once you put it on the Firearm !

[Jay Gardner]

I happen to have a can of Balistol handy. Do you dilute it or use it as is on a rag?

[Dave Suponski]

Jay, I spray or soak a cotton a couple of cleaning patch's and apply.

[Frank Cronin]

I use Eezox. Great stuff.

[Jay Gardner]

Just wiped down an old Sweet Sixteen with Balistol and effect was remarkable and immediate. Using just an old tee-shirt I was able to remove quite a bit of grime that I couldn't detect. Easy to use and it didn't take much, that's for sure.

[Dave Suponski]

We told ya......:)

[Jay Gardner]

I know, Dave. I know.

Maybe I should use it on the 10/32 and 12/30 DH's I have for sale and it will help get them sold. I need to build-up my gun fund.

[Richard Flanders]

Yep, Ballistol for everything. inside and out. Ballistol is mineral oil based. Don't know that it has citrus in it. Mineral oil is an alkane that is the final product left over from crude oil after everything else is refined out.

[John Dunkle]

I also use Ballistol. Spray it on a rag - then wipe the firearm, both metal and wood. A little goes a long way, and after a few times, you begin to appreciate the "Ballistol Scent", which - according to my wife - is like the "Man Scent Fabreeze"..???

John

[Jim DiSpagno]

Balistol basic and original formula developed by the Nazis during WWII due to the scarcity of petroleum and their friendly relationship to Brazil and other S.A. countries. Use of citrus oils are the basic ingredients of the original stuff.

[Eric Eis]

Balistol basic and original formula developed by the Nazis during WWII due to the scarcity of petroleum and their friendly relationship to Brazil and other S.A. countries. Use of citrus oils are the basic ingredients of the original stuff.

I thought this product came out during the First World War

[Mark Ouellette]

1904 according to it's maker:

http://www.ballistol.com/1_Ballistol%202010%20Amazing%20Story%20Flyer%20PRO OF3.pdf

[allen newell]

DelGrego's recommended Rem Oil on everything!

[Daryl Corona]

I also use Ballistol. Spray it on a rag - then wipe the firearm, both metal and wood. A little goes a long way, and after a few times, you begin to appreciate the "Ballistol Scent", which - according to my wife - is like the "Man Scent Fabreeze"..???

John

I've always loved the smell of Hoppe's #9. Would be good made into a cologne for men. I use a lamb's wool wipe with either Hoppes or Rem oil. Been meaning to try Ballistol. My Dad for his whole life cleaned both inside and outside his guns with Hoppe's and they are in pristine shape. I guess the moral to this story is don't neglect them, wipe 'em down with something and they will be read to hand down to the next generation in good shape.

[charlie cleveland]

i use wd 40 most of the time... charlie

[ken larson]

ANYONE TRIED CLENZOIL???

[Jay Gardner]

I have used Clenzoil and in fact I forgot that I have a bottle. Clenzoil is a very good product that can be used on every part, inside and out. It's a relatively lightweight oil, similar to Hoppe's. My canister of Balistol is no-aresol and it's much heavier than Clenzoil and Hoppe's.

As for Hoppe's, I know of no one who does not appreciate the versatility and smell of Hoppe's. I'll probably go out and pick up a can of that next week.

The point is to do something, almost religiously, as part of the care for our firearms.

[Chuck Bishop]

In the past I've used Rem Oil or similar gun oil to wipe the metal. It really doesn't matter as long as you apply any quality oil after shooting. I'm intrigued by the guys that feel they have to turn their muzzles down when storing the gun for fear of getting oil into the head of the stock. If they get oil seeping into the stock head, they are using way too much oil on the receiver.:nono:

I recently bought a can of Balistol, not the spray. I shoot a Beretta 391 in the winter and those semi-auto's sure do build up the carbon. I applied the Balistol fairly thickly on the dirty parts, waited about 1/2 hr and started cleaning. I was amazed at how Balistol just turned that carbon to sludge. Made cleaning the 391 easy!

[Jay Gardner]

I'm not a chemist but is it good to use an oil as a protectant that can de-sludge a gun or is that just the nature of oils?

[Jeff Kuss]

I have used clenzoil for years. I like the fact that it doesn't hurt the wood.
Gary,
I know others that love Preserve oil. Most are on their last bottles and can't find any more.

[Fred Preston]

I put 3'n1 in the gun case bottle for the BHE 'cause Parker recommended it. Otherwise it's Rem Oil, Hoppes #9, or, as Big D mentioned, RIG for the exterior on a peice of paper towel, or, if a little "oxydation", on a piece of 0000 steel wool.

[Russ Jackson]

I sent a gun up to Miller Trigger " Daniel May " to have a repair done a while back ,and the oil he wiped the gun down with when he sent it home took me right back to being 12 years old again ,if Dan is reading this post ,maybe he will chime in on what it is they use ! I would buy a Five Gallon Jug !:)

[Greg Baehman]

I had been using Rem Oil for many years, but about 3 years ago I began hearing about the qualities if Eezox. So I did some research and am now convinced there is not a better product on the market for gun care than Eezox and have been using it exclusively ever since. Eezox cleans, lubricates and prevents rust. When applied properly it is dry in seconds so you don't have to be concerned about the laws of gravity and soaking into the head of the stock if you store your guns upright. It doesn't harm wood or finishes and you don't leave finger prints when touching the metal.

Take a look at these test results, as it's a real eye opener:
http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

[will evans]

The question to ask yourself is, "How long is my gun going to be stored in this condition?" If your answer is anything other than, "I have no clue" then you are living in denial. Any of us are liable to leave this earth later on this afternoon. I try to store my guns so that the next owner will still be able to enjoy them if for some reason the guns sit in my safe for years untouched. No matter how little oil you put on your barrels, some of it is going to be affected by gravity. I'm worried about more than the oil from the last time I cleaned my guns. Years and years of accumulation is the reason people store their gun with the barrels down. It might be just a tiny smidge of oil from each cleaning that took 3 months to make its way down the barrel, but over how many cleanings or even decades of use are you concerned about the longevity of your firearm?. Stocks become oil soaked at a slower rate than wrinkles form on your face. I am also of the believe that you can't soak your bores with too much oil, which will also drain down inside the receiver to the stock. Barrels down for me.

[Greg Baehman]

The question to ask yourself is, "How long is my gun going to be stored in this condition?" If your answer is anything other than, "I have no clue" then you are living in denial. Any of us are liable to leave this earth later on this afternoon. I try to store my guns so that the next owner will still be able to enjoy them if for some reason the guns sit in my safe for years untouched. No matter how little oil you put on your barrels, some of it is going to be affected by gravity. I'm worried about more than the oil from the last time I cleaned my guns. Years and years of accumulation is the reason people store their gun with the barrels down. It might be just a tiny smidge of oil from each cleaning that took 3 months to make its way down the barrel, but over how many cleanings or even decades of use are you concerned about the longevity of your firearm?. Stocks become oil soaked at a slower rate than wrinkles form on your face. I am also of the believe that you can't soak your bores with too much oil, which will also drain down inside the receiver to the stock. Barrels down for me.
If you're not using Eezox you should be storing your guns with the muzzles down.

[Mark Ouellette]

I did some research and am now convinced there is not a better product on the market for gun care than Eezox...

Take a look at these test results, as it's a real eye opener:
http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

Greg,

Those controlled test results are pretty convincing! For those who have not clicked the link above which Greg provided, you should!

Mark

[Daryl Corona]

I had been using Rem Oil for many years, but about 3 years ago I began hearing about the qualities if Eezox. So I did some research and am now convinced there is not a better product on the market for gun care than Eezox and have been using it exclusively ever since. Eezox cleans, lubricates and prevents rust. When applied properly it is dry in seconds so you don't have to be concerned about the laws of gravity and soaking into the head of the stock if you store your guns upright. It doesn't harm wood or finishes and you don't leave finger prints when touching the metal.

Take a look at these test results, as it's a real eye opener:
http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html

Great info on that link Greg. Thanks as it was really an eye opener.

[Bruce Day]

I'll second Greg's post for EEZOX, otherwise known as Puglisi Perfume.

Intermingle the scent of EEZOX with the Asian restaurant next door to Jack's and I'll swear he's going to walk through the door any minute.

[Jeff Christie]

I too am a firm believer in the many good qualities of Ballistol. After all, the entire German Army in both WWI and WWII plus today's Bundeswehr can't ALL be wrong (can they).

I hunted for over 7 years in Germany and Luxembourg and saw a lot of Ballistol in use. It is good for leather, wood, metal just about anything you can wipe. Most of the guys I hunted with had wartime experience with it. It was (is) even meant to be used as an emergency antiseptic in the field. I have sprayed many a dog's barbed wire cuts with it and never had an infection. I have sprayed myself with the same effect (you are on your own here-disclaimer).

Rem Oil, Sheath, Break Free, there is nothing out there that won't do what you want. Use your Parkers often and wipe them down when necessary. Most likely every one of them will last longer than the youngest of us.

That's my $00.02 worth. Just care for them with what you have.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Whale Oil believe it or not, all my guns get it once a year after duck season. I love the way it smells, that's the odor you pick up in old old gun cases in case you ever wondered. I'm getting low and the source I knew of has disappeared, so I'd say my guns are going to be missing it if I live much longer. The rest of the time I use Fiend Oil, but I'm getting low on that too.


DLH

[allen newell]

Assuming the Market Hunter is not pulling our legs, whale oil is near impossible to obtain since whales are a protected species and are for the most part where hunted - not for their oil.

However, you might find an old watchmaker who might be hoarding some. Jojuba oil can be used as a substitute for whale oil and may be obtained from most Health Food Stores.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I'm not pulling your leg actually, I still have part of a bottle left. Ed Muderlak and I used to get it from an old timer in Northern Illinois. He had found a couple barrels full on a trip to Alaska that were taken "pre-ban" and had all the paperwork. He'd gotten them shipped back home and then sold it by the bottle with a copy of the permit.


Destry

[Craig Parker]

Hoppe's No. 9 Air Freshener

http://www.theconsumerlink.com/product_detail.asp?BID=HOPPES&T1=TCL+H9AF&navStart=166&.

For when you just want it to last without wearing it yourself

[allen newell]

Craig, that's a hoot! What'll they think of next?

[John Dallas]

Has the Hoppe's formula changed over the years? Seems to me that today's stuff doesn't smell as good as the old-time stuff. Maybe my sniffer is getting worn out

[allen newell]

It's not your sniffer Big D, they changed the formula a number of years ago.

[wayne goerres]

Iam not knocking the products tested but the vledity of the testing. If your going to test products than you should apply the product per manufactures instruction. Now I don't no about all the aformention products, but the break free wasn't applyed properly.This may not effect the test but if applyed as per instruction there test would be more valad. I will say the eszos looks good.

[Jack Selman]

Renaissance