Ballistol Warning

[Zonie]

why did no one reads the description of Ballistol ? It was also made to remove Tombak in the bore.
This oil is not neutral it´s alkaline, it´s a good oil but not for many nonferrous metals .

For those like me who wasn't familiar with the word Tombak, it is a copper/zink alloy often used as a jacket for those modern things we don't talk about.

I found this discription of Ballistol on the web and after getting it translated it says:

"The essential ingredient of Ballistol is medical grade white oil. This component serves as a lubricant and corrosion protection. The alcohol components have a disinfecting and preserving effect. So that the two can be mixed, oleic acid is available as a detergent. Together with the alcohols, it also enables a water-displacing and dirt-dissolving effect, but also makes the oil film washable. Ballistol forms a milky emulsion with water and, according to the manufacturer, has a pH value of 8 to 8.5 (alkaline). As a weapon care product, the oil can be washed off the weapon parts by water and then loses its protective effect. The alkaline reaction of the oil has a good cleaning effect: metallic smearings in the gun barrel (tombac, lead) can be removed relatively easily. This also applies to the combustion residues of propellant powder. The reaction with brass, copper and their alloys leads to the deterioration of weapon parts and ammunition made from these materials. Applied as a metal care product to brass and copper, it has a slightly oxidizing effect, which is why it is suitable for cleaning, but not for preserving these metals. "

 

[Blitz]

I recently found out that Ballistol will heavily corrode brass and possibly etch or damage chrome and nickel plating on firearms. I had used a wiping stick to swab my gun barrel with 7:1 water and ballistol. Took the patch off and tossed it in the trash, slid the stick into its protective tube for storage and left it. When I took it out again this past weekend, the brass end was covered with heavy green corrosion. I was able to clean it off with Brasso, but was quite surprised. When I checked the ramrod I had also used with the solvent, it was also corroded with green. Again, Brasso cleaned it with some rubbing. It appears Ballistol is good for steel but not on brass. Some other forums also warn of using it on chrome and nickel finishes. Just be careful.

You mention Brasso I used that in the US Army ,seemed to be a tradition back then ,very filthy stuff to use and your brass tarnishes again quickly .
Do not ever use on cartridge brass as it weakens it.
Sixty years or more ago my brother in law suggested I use Simichrome metal polish and it is hands down better than Brasso. It seems to leave a protective coating that ******* future tarnishing and verdegris . Much less clean up after us also.
Wenol works quite well also, and I am sure there others. I threw away my Brasso many years ago.
Buzz

 

[Carbon 6]

For those like me who wasn't familiar with the word Tombak, it is a copper/zink alloy often used as a jacket for those modern things we don't talk about.

I found this discription of Ballistol on the web and after getting it translated it says:

"The essential ingredient of Ballistol is medical grade white oil. This component serves as a lubricant and corrosion protection. The alcohol components have a disinfecting and preserving effect. So that the two can be mixed, oleic acid is available as a detergent. Together with the alcohols, it also enables a water-displacing and dirt-dissolving effect, but also makes the oil film washable. Ballistol forms a milky emulsion with water and, according to the manufacturer, has a pH value of 8 to 8.5 (alkaline). As a weapon care product, the oil can be washed off the weapon parts by water and then loses its protective effect. The alkaline reaction of the oil has a good cleaning effect: metallic smearings in the gun barrel (tombac, lead) can be removed relatively easily. This also applies to the combustion residues of propellant powder. The reaction with brass, copper and their alloys leads to the deterioration of weapon parts and ammunition made from these materials. Applied as a metal care product to brass and copper, it has a slightly oxidizing effect, which is why it is suitable for cleaning, but not for preserving these metals. "

Zinc (a main ingredient in brass and Tombac) is highly susceptible to high PH. I knew someone who destroyed a civil war fountain statue that was made of zinc, because they were to lazy to drain and clean the fountain, so instead they poured several gallons of bleach in the fountain every month. The bleach slowly ate away at the zinc.

 

[Bent Sight]

A lot of interesting information about Ballistol. I did not know the science behind it.

Are there any ingredients in windshield washer fluid or Windex we should be concerned about?

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

The brass on my rifles and pistol triggerguards, ramrod tips, brass accesories, have and are coated with ballistol and they have NEVER caused ANY sort of darkening or corrosion.

 

[Bob McBride]

I have no issue with it as a short term rust inhibitor and mixed with water as a bore/BP cleaner and have had great luck with it as both. If you’re going to leave it for the season and not reapply regularly the bore needs a bit more protection in my humidity. Great stuff for in between twice per month shoots. Love it.

 

[Sam squanch]

I read ballistiol was also developed to fight the corrosive residue from military primers of the time. I have swabbed out a few dirty muzzleloaders in a hurry with straight ballistiol , seems to prevent rust. But I always clean better when I get time.

 

[Carbon 6]

Are there any ingredients in windshield washer fluid or Windex we should be concerned about?

Yes, all of them, but first you need to know what the ingredients are. There are dozens of different formulations.

 

[Steve-in-Kentucky]

I have used Ballistol on my Remington 40XHB .22 target rifle with no problems, but there is no brass involved. I have seen several references on this site that mention diluting Ballistol with water for use in muzzleloaders. I found it really strange. Can someone fill me in on why you would do that? Does Ballistol not contain oil with would then emulsify?

The Ballistol cleans the gun and leaves a protective coating on it. It does not dissolve the salts from black powder residue. Water does. That is why a mixture of mostly water with some Ballistol is recommended. You have to swab the gun dry. Then put on pure Ballistol and let it sit a while. Then wipe it dry. Check out Duelist54's videos on YouTube.

 

[rusticbob]

I have used Ballistol in all my guns after cleaning, no rust ever.

 

[oldwood]

Been shooting black powder guns since 1970. Will stick w/hot water and oil. Never had any rust yet. Also , in conjunction w/ hot water/oil as an augment , use the check method , check @ 2 weeks , check @6 months , check @ 1 yr.. ......oldwood

 

[stink koat]

Forgot to add I do use water, but it is EXTREMELY Hot mixed with liquid dish soap on a wet patch, then dry patch to remove any moisture. Then I let the heat in the steel from the hot soapy water patch sit to dry up a few minutes, NOW I use the wonder lube patch loaded with the lube. This is done on the guns that I don't shoot anymore, I run a damp "BLACK SOLVE" patch down the bore once a year to check for any rust. Then run dry patch and repeat "Wonder Lube" Patch. Some of my first rifles are approaching 50 yrs of age show no rust.

 

[Frontier's]

Just the

A lot of interesting information about Ballistol. I did not know the science behind it.

Are there any ingredients in windshield washer fluid or Windex we should be concerned about?

Just methanol in windshield washer fluid.

 

[B P Arn]

Ballistol likely wasn't the problem, the water was. I cannot think of anything I would mix 1:7 with water and leave my guns wet with be they steel, brass, chrome, nickle or otherwise. I use dish soap and hot water to clean my guns, then dry thoroughly and oil appropriately. Undiluted Ballistol is a good cleaner and lubricant and a decent rust preventative for short term storage of less than a year. The addition of all that water is what did you in.

Study with photos: Corrosion Prevention - Second Round

Exactly!!!

 

[B P Arn]

I recently found out that Ballistol will heavily corrode brass and possibly etch or damage chrome and nickel plating on firearms. I had used a wiping stick to swab my gun barrel with 7:1 water and ballistol. Took the patch off and tossed it in the trash, slid the stick into its protective tube for storage and left it. When I took it out again this past weekend, the brass end was covered with heavy green corrosion. I was able to clean it off with Brasso, but was quite surprised. When I checked the ramrod I had also used with the solvent, it was also corroded with green. Again, Brasso cleaned it with some rubbing. It appears Ballistol is good for steel but not on brass. Some other forums also warn of using it on chrome and nickel finishes. Just be careful.

No, Ballistol will NOT corrode brass or steel. Don't mix it with water. There is your problem.

 

[B P Arn]

I have used Ballistol on my Remington 40XHB .22 target rifle with no problems, but there is no brass involved. I have seen several references on this site that mention diluting Ballistol with water for use in muzzleloaders. I found it really strange. Can someone fill me in on why you would do that? Does Ballistol not contain oil with would then emulsify?

I am baffled as to why anyone would add water to Ballistol.

 

[Musketeer]

It depends on the application. The manufacturer does give a recommendation of 25% Ballistol/75% water for cleaning bp residue; however, I'd always recommend running a few dry patches once the bore is clean, then a final patch with pure Ballistol if one uses this method. I don't like the idea of leaving a mixture that's 75% water in my bore.

 

[Sam squanch]

It makes GREAT aftershave!

 

[Bob McBride]

I am baffled as to why anyone would add water to Ballistol.

I can't speak definitely to the wisdom of it, but here's the why...

Works great for me but you need to treat it like what it is. Water. You're not done until you dry it and oil her up good...

 

[Carbon 6]

Just the

Just methanol in windshield washer fluid.

Some washer fluid is just water and blue dye.