Ballistol Warning

[Bob McBride]

Some washer fluid is just water and blue dye.

Now I've got to start looking at the ingredients on my washer fluid....Thanks a lot.....

 

[Carbon 6]

Now I've got to start looking at the ingredients on my washer fluid....Thanks a lot.....

I do after getting burned. Now I'm very picky.

 

[Bent Sight]

Is there anything in washer fluid that will harm the finish or the bore on a muzzleloader?

 

[Frontier's]

Why bother with washer fluid in the first place! Stop reinventing the wheel. Water cleans your muzzleloader, not washer fluid, not ballistol, not hoppes.

Counter the moisture and remove it with 91% or denatured alcohol, then oil it.

Every better cleaner that comes along has one big thing in common... its 75-90% WATER.

 

[Bob McBride]

It’s interesting about alcohol. It evaporates faster than water, but doesn’t take water with it when it goes....

 

[Frontier's]

You flush it, it takes it out. If that have that much water left in the bore, you SOL regardless.

 

[Bob McBride]

I completely agree on water is the best medicine. I clean all my BP guns with it. I don’t think a water soluble oil in it can hurt anything. I think alcohol is fine too so long as you get all the water out. I admit to never having tried it but I imagine a teaspoon down the bore before a last drying patch before oiling sounds like solid logic.

 

[Frontier's]

Its more like 1oz. I flood the breech, plug the drum threads and swish it around, let it flow out, then i follow up with 2 soaked patches for the bore.

I have the ability to check my bores clearly.

Cva drum threads screwing into the breech. Orangish color spot is factory preservative i hadn't cleaned out yet.

 

[firestick]

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.

Exactly what I do and never had an issue. Dry the barrel and use a bore mop with Ballistol.

 

[Carbon 6]

Why bother with washer fluid in the first place! Stop reinventing the wheel. Water cleans your muzzleloader, not washer fluid, not ballistol, not hoppes.

Counter the moisture and remove it with 91% or denatured alcohol, then oil it.

Every better cleaner that comes along has one big thing in common... its 75-90% WATER.

100% correct.

 

[Carbon 6]

I admit to never having tried it but I imagine a teaspoon down the bore before a last drying patch before oiling sounds like solid logic.

I use a squirt bottle, and immediately chase it to the bottom with a dry patch. It all goes shooting out the nipple.

 

[Festus]

The reason I mix washer fluid instead of water with my ballistol is simple. It doesn’t freeze. Some of you probably don’t have to worry about that.

 

[Bent Sight]

Why bother with washer fluid in the first place! Stop reinventing the wheel. Water cleans your muzzleloader, not washer fluid, not ballistol, not hoppes.

Counter the moisture and remove it with 91% or denatured alcohol, then oil it.

Every better cleaner that comes along has one big thing in common... its 75-90% WATER.

In other threads the use of windshield washer fluid has been mentioned and I am always on the lookout for a better mousetrap. I use Windex on unmentionable rifles after shooting corrosive ammunition, which is why I asked about that. I tried Ballistol and did not notice any better results than with what I have been using. To date, all I use is hot soapy water, alcohol and Mobil 1 oil.

Before heading to the range, I slosh an ounce or two of isopropyl alcohol in the patent breech, then push a couple of alcohol soaked patches in behind it. I follow up with a couple of dry patches, then install the nipple.

After a day at the range, I wash out my barrel with hot soapy water, then pour hot water down the muzzle and watch it run out the nipple hole. I blow the water out with an air compressor, push a couple of dry patches through the bore, then oil the bore with Mobil 1.

The only time I have a nipple on one of my muzzleloaders is when I am getting ready to shoot. I store the rifle or pistol with the hammer down on a folded piece of cleaning patch.

I am always on the lookout for a better way to do things.

 

[Grenadier1758]

The winter blend of windshield washer fluid has alcohol mixed in to lower the freezing temperature. If I am going to use windshield washer solution, I make sure its the winter blend. Ultimately, I have found water or a rubbing alcohol blend with water to be the best for use as a quick cleaning solution at the range.

 

[Carbon 6]

The winter blend of windshield washer fluid has alcohol mixed in to lower the freezing temperature.

Or glycol or both.
If it contains ethylene glycol I would avoid it. (toxic)

 

[springfield art]

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.

Whoa! Thanks for the warning!

 

[stink koat]

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

Is "MOOSE MILK" patch lube Ballistol and water mixed together?

 

[Bob McBride]

Is "MOOSE MILK" patch lube Ballistol and water mixed together?

Yep. The water turns the mixture into something that looks like skim milk.

 

[smoothshooter]

I developed a method for my Hawken that I believe is the best ever. Fill a pail with boiling water and a small amount of dish detergent. Get a 2ft piece of clear flexible tubing like is used in small aquariums that is a push fit on the rifle's percussion nipple and put the other end (weighted) in the pail. With the rifle butt on the floor, work a tight cotton patch up and down, drawing and flushing the hot soapy water which cleans barrel, drum and nipple absolutely clean. The barrel will be hot and will dry completely in short order. Maybe everyone already does this, but I'm offering it up in good faith.

Lots of people have been using that method for decades.

 

[IROCZ]

I have used Ballistol for many years and have not had any issues with it. Mixed with water for cleaning and straight for preservative. No problems, ever. I have even used it to soften old leather.