Ballistol as a Lubricant

[Many Klatch]

I have used Ballistol on a casual basis for the last 40 years. Never had any big problems with it. On Saturday I was given an old Siler lock to make work. The owner has been using Ballistol as the only lubricant. The lock was on full **** and could not be made to fire. It was totally gummed up with a solid black mass coating all the parts. It looked as if it had been dipped in tar.

I soaked it over night in a bucket of Mineral Spirits and by morning I was able to lower the hammer. It took me 4 hours to disassemble and clean the lock. Had to use a breaker bar to remove some of the screws. I used a brass wire brush chucked into my drill press to get the worst of the corrosion off each piece, including the screw threads, and then sanded everything down with 320 and then 400 grit sandpaper. The lock was stamped W.C.Cain who apparently was active in the 1970 1980 era. There was a lot of red rust and some pitting. Not sure whether that was due to the Ballistol or if it was problem with the lock before the current owner bought it.

When the cleaning was complete I oiled everything with my favorite lubricant which is a mix of 50% 2 Stroke motor oil and 50% kerosene. The lock now works fine and sparks drop halfway to the floor.

Anyway just posting this for your information. In 40 years of shooting muzzleloaders I have never seen a lock this gummed up.

 

[Carbon 6]

Ballistol contains mineral oil.
Mineral oil oxidizes. The rate of oxidation is accelerated by high temperatures, water, acids and catalysts such as copper. ... Oxidation will lead to an increase in the oil's viscosity and deposits of varnish and sludge..

The msds says it oxidizes with 24 months.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Ballistol as the only lubricant. The lock was on full **** and could not be made to fire. It was totally gummed up with a solid black mass coating all the parts. It looked as if it had been dipped in tar.

I have had the same problem with evil Ballistol and reported my displeasure here. I received a (sorta) polite scolding from the company after a member forwarded my comments. It is praised by some, detested by me . Never again will it touch anything mechanical I own.

 

[rafterob]

I think the key with ballistol as a lubricant is that it is cleaned and reapplied, not just applied over and over. I've had it gum up in my barrel when left to sit for a long time.

 

[Frontier's]

ballistol IMO is way over rated. I always read that it "pulls" rust out of your barrel while it sits. I found that to be completely false as my bore was rusting while ballistol was in it. I never found my rifles to be cleaner after using it either. I am a big fan of using alcohol at the end of my cleaning as it actually does remove moisture, then follow up with my favorite anti rust lubricant and its done. If someone tells you to use this and that and then tells you to check it every 1 to 2 weeks for rust, that tells me they've had rust issues in the past and don't fully trust the product they are using.

 

[user 34300]

According to the MSDS Ballistol contains mostly mineral oil, and soaps and alcohols.

"Ballistol contains the following ingredients: Mineral Oil Potassium Oleate Ammonium Oleate Oleic Acid Benzyl Alcohol Amyl Alcohol Isobutyl Alcohol Benzyl Acetate Anethole Isohexane (aerosol only)"

The alcohols are the stinky parts. The soaps and alcohols make it mix with water. Mineral oil is plain old oil.

I will not be a fan boy or detractor. I use other products because of the stink. In the end, it is oil, not magic. Oil is good for you gun, use some. There are better products for rust prevention and lubrication. They are generally not the same product. Ballistol is good enough for either. I use other products because of the stink. My favorite is Fluid Film. It smells nice and doubles as a hand cream.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Sorry but Ballistol is not going to turn to tar by itself. That lock was neglected and probably never cleaned, and the fouling built up.

 

[Carbon 6]

Sorry but Ballistol is not going to turn to tar by itself. That lock was neglected and probably never cleaned, and the fouling built up.

Fouling is carbon and carbon can be a catalysts And I did say " and catalysts".

 

[Kansas Jake]

I use Ballistol as a protectorate inside the bore and on the surface of the barrel. I use it sparingly on a patch and don't goop it on. Actually I don't goop any lubricant on most guns. A little seems to go a long way. I use an oil on locks. Again sparingly and wiping off the excess.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Fouling is carbon and carbon can be a catalysts And I did say " and catalysts".

Stupid is as stupid does, methinks.

Have used ballistol in my locks for close to 10 years. ZERO issues. You have a neglected lock, plain and simple.

 

[Mean Gene]

Sounds like someone never bothered to remove the lock and clean it, it's a wonder you could salvage it at all by the sound of it.

 

[Many Klatch]

I haven't had a chance to see the rest of the gun yet. I was just given the gummed up lock. There may be a gap between the barrel and the pan to explain the hard black mess. My wife and I have invited the couple to go to the range on Saturday to shoot and then come home to clean guns and have dinner. We will show them the right way to clean a gun and I will give a class on how to disassemble and reassemble a flint lock. I'll have a chance to see what shape the rest of their flintlocks are in.

 

[olskool]

I have used ballistol and have never had a problem. I use it as a patch lube, after it dries then I spit patch. I have tried many combos and this is the most accurate thing I have ever used,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[rodwha]

I have used ballistol and have never had a problem. I use it as a patch lube, after it dries then I spit patch. I have tried many combos and this is the most accurate thing I have ever used,,,,,,,,,,,

Straight Ballistol or cut? If cut what ratio? I’ve barely broken my barrel in and have tried 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 grns of powder with a tight patch with poor results. Eventually I’ll try another powder (using 3F Olde E) but first I want to try patch lubes as I’m sure the cheap grape seed oil is sub par, but the wife got very mad and scolded me when she caught me looking at her olive oil so it was all she allowed me to take.

 

[hanshi]

Plain tap water easily cleans out fouling from all my guns; Barricade (or BreakFree CLP sometimes) protects the bores from rust. In the cleaning process I also use WD40 and denatured alcohol to remove any hint of moisture. I even sometimes use an old hair dryer for that purpose. Cheapest way I've found to clean/care for these wonderful instruments.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Straight Ballistol or cut? If cut what ratio? I’ve barely broken my barrel in and have tried 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 grns of powder with a tight patch with poor results. Eventually I’ll try another powder (using 3F Olde E) but first I want to try patch lubes as I’m sure the cheap grape seed oil is sub par, but the wife got very mad and scolded me when she caught me looking at her olive oil so it was all she allowed me to take.

Go to the Dollar Store and buy a bottle of their olive oil. It will do a fine job of acting as a lubricant and you won't have to worry about your wife using that oil in the kitchen.

I have a bottle of 1 part water soluble oil to 7 parts of water. I use it to dampen the patch material.

 

[olskool]

Straight Ballistol or cut? If cut what ratio? I’ve barely broken my barrel in and have tried 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 grns of powder with a tight patch with poor results. Eventually I’ll try another powder (using 3F Olde E) but first I want to try patch lubes as I’m sure the cheap grape seed oil is sub par, but the wife got very mad and scolded me when she caught me looking at her olive oil so it was all she allowed me to take.

I saturate my ticking in straight ballistol, let it dry then spit patch when I shoot. I shoot a lot of one hole groups at 50 steps off the bench with my 40 and 62cal. using this method. I can reuse every patch,,,,,,,,,

 

[rodwha]

I saturate my ticking in straight ballistol, let it dry then spit patch when I shoot. I shoot a lot of one hole groups at 50 steps off the bench with my 40 and 62cal. using this method. I can reuse every patch,,,,,,,,,

Doesn’t it get in your mouth? Figure it likely doesn’t taste all that good.

 

[olskool]

"spit patch" I spit, not lick,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[JoJoLesh]

New here and new to BP. I just ran a serch here for Ballistol because I am nearly out, and the stuff is hard to find. Good to know that there are other, maybe better, alternatives.