Ballistol Lube

[Sharp Shooter]

I am thinking about trying this too as a patch lube. What one do I get? How much water should I mix it with? I plan to dry the patches so why add water if it evaporates? I do not wan't to add too much water so they do not freeze.

 

[jdixon]

Ballistol does it all. I use a bunch of the stuff. Used a couple ounces last night on the leather of an old baseball glove I have, brought it back to life. As a patch lube, 1:4 Ballistol to water, soak patches and let them dry, that seemed to work. I have gotten away from this and just use Natural Lube 1000 now, just easier. I keep a 1:10 mixture soaking cleaning patches at the shooting bench with me however. Run one of those up and down the barrel every couple of shots really cleans out it out.

 

[renovato]

You add the water so the patches get just the right amount of lube. If you use straight Ballistol, they turn out soggy and wet and don't perform well. After the water evaporates out, the patches feel rather dry, but if you rub them, you feel the oil. Freezing isn't an issue, as you let the water evaporate out before using them anyway.

Each gun is different and prefers different ratios. All of mine prefer it mixed in the 5-1 to 7-1 range. I keep a sprayer of this at the bench for swabbing the bore with also. I use it to clean the gun with when I get home too. A few patches worth to get out the salts, then straight Ballistol to cut any remaining crud and protect the bore from rust.

 

[montanadan]

Sharpshooter-you might want the Ballistol in the sportsman's container.You have to mix this.I use 1 oz of ballistol,5 oz of distilled water,1 oz of 91 % rubbing alcohol.I use distilled water,mainly cause our water is so hard,and contains alot of salts.you can use this for patch lube,cleaning,cuts ,burns,rashes,stings,and probably many other applications.I follow with a clean patch saturated with straight ballistol for rust prevention.Hope this helps..Respectfully montandan

 

[xbowman]

A fellow flintlock shooter I knew bought me a can of Ballistol to try. I have been cutting my patches at home and put them in a plastic bag. I pour in some Ballistol and shake the patches around. I don't over due it though. Been shooting them and my accuracy has increased for me with my 50cal Flintlock.
A sad note though, my newly acquired Flintlock shooter friend that gave me the Ballistol went in for a hip replacement 3 weeks ago and passed away the next morning at 62 years of age. Blood clot I guess.

 

[Bob Riegl]

:grin: Heck, Ballistol is also a cure for Warts, Crossed Eyes, Beri-Beri, Rickettsia, The Whistling Staggers, the Galloping Ephus and the Glowing Trots. If you can stand the smell it works as an after shave, hair shampoo, and body wash.

 

[gcebulka]

A sad note though, my newly acquired Flintlock shooter friend that gave me the Ballistol went in for a hip replacement 3 weeks ago and passed away the next morning at 62 years of age. Blood clot I guess.

Sad news indeed. My condolances..

 

[renovato]

J.R. I used it on a pair of boots that didn't break in well last season. One treatment turned them as soft as glove leather. Amazing stuff.

 

[Tim Clark]

Love the stuff... I also use it on leather. Even the leather I make. I bark-tanned 1/2 moose hide and am making a field bag out of it (I know, but some people hate "possibles" or "shooting" or "hunting" bag, so I call mine -- "field bags"), but it's over 1/2" thick in places to I have to shave it down. Normal softening and oiling is fine, but when I'm doing the actual work on it and need more flxibility I use a 1:5 or 1:10 Ballistol:Water mixture and rub it on the grain side. It becomes much more flexible, and more so with each subsequent use.

I use it on my guns - all of them. I think the list would be shorter if I listed the things that I DON'T use it for.

I remember that my uncle used to use it, and did so from long before I was born. I'm very glad that it's still around.

Yep -- Love the stuff. And the odor DOES dissipate, and never never once have any critters seemed to mind even if it did linger.

 

[renovato]

I think the list of things I don't use it for would be shorter too. I keep finding new uses for it and replacing more household and specialty firearms chemicals with it. Heck, mixed with water, it's even better than Armorall for tires and dash. Thanks for the tip on working leather with it.