Ballistol

[Aaron Beck]

I use a lot of ballistol. It has been my go to cleaner/lubricant since i was frequently hunting in salt environments. I Always felt it neutralized the salt and protected the metal as it said, It never made the stock finish tacky or any other drawnback i could see. so maybe this is a dumb question but if it dissolves light rust, does it also dissolve blueing? Ive never used it on anything which wasnt pretty worn already and stood to gain more than loose.

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

I've used it to clean up a pair of twist barrels and did not notice any change other than removing light surface rust.

[Richard Flanders]

All of my guns have all the metal wiped down with it externally and I've never had any issues. Using it internally in the action and in the bores is another thing - it varnishes up and gets tacky and can gum up the chambers which causes shells to stick a bit when trying to remove them. It protects the chambers though. I've had a pump shotgun seize up on me from a shell sticking in the chamber too hard after the gun had been put away with the bore and chamber wiped down with Ballistol. You have to brush the chambers clean before you start shooting. In the bores it's not an issue as it just shoots out. In the internal workings the varnishing is generally not an issue at all; it actually protects the metal better because it does not run off the metal. You take the gun apart 5yrs after spraying it down with Ballistol and it will look just like it did when you last had it apart. I've never seen anything last and protect the innards better. I've never had it happen, but I can see it gumming up a Parker sear notch if the gun sat for too long, which could potentially cause a "hair trigger" or a sticky sear release.

[Dean Romig]

I use it on all of my guns and rifles and have been for more than 15 years with no ill effects at all.... except that my wife found the smell offensive.





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[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I use it on all of my guns and rifles and have been for more than 15 years with no ill effects at all.... except that my wife found the smell offensive.

Kathy would have divorced you if you used the old formula. By old, I mean the stuff sold back in the 60s and 70s. It was downright disgusting, and they used it a mosquito repellent in Africa.

[Dean Romig]

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[Andy]

I was given a can of Napier recently and that's pretty decent stuff too. Thinner than Balliston and I spray the action lightly and use a cheap lowes 1" paint brush cut back to about 1 inch to brush/scrub then wipe dry with a microfiber and q tips. Doesn't leave much of anything but lubricant and cleans well. I too love Ballistol but did also find it can get gummy if not removed from crevices.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I use it on all of my guns and rifles and have been for more than 15 years with no ill effects at all.... except that my wife found the smell offensive.





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Dean, are you sure Kathy wasn't catching some of the scent wafting off of a 3 week old dead woodcock that you forgot in your game pouch? Just asking.

[BRDHNTR]

Mike, don't you age your woodcock? We hang them outside for 3 weeks in order for the breast meat to self tenderize, no cooking by then is required. Seve with hot mustard and enjoy

[Dollar]

It's a great cover scent not a repellent.
I had a guy who worked for me years ago who used to use WD-40 as like ben gay.He'd spray some on his elbow or knee and rub hard.Which is why he always smelled you guessed it like WD-40.