Ballistol

[Sharp Shooter]

How many of you use Ballistol as a patch lube? How do you like it? What ratio do you use to mix it with water? How many shots can you get before swabing?

 

[cowpoke1955]

I use Ballistol. 4 to 1 for patch lube. I can shoot all day, without swabbing my barrel once. My patches are a little damp, so it's like swabbing your barrel everytime you load. I only use Goex. Haven't tried it with Pyrodex. I use it in my .45 Blue Risge and my two .54 GPRs. Works great :thumbsup: !

 

[trent/OH]

I use it straight, but I should try it cut some also. I haven't lubed patches with anything else in the 5 years since I "discovered" Ballistol.

 

[spud]

I use 50/50 mix for slug gun over powder wads patches or cleaning cant beat it---SPUD :v

 

[d.thomson]

I use Ballisol and find I get the most acuracy out of it. I mix with water 3 parts water 1 part ballistol let patches sit in it over night, then I lay the patches out on a piece of plastic for about 4-8 hours put in a sealed contaner still a bit damp. I'v gotten into swabing between shots always so I don't know how many shots I could go without swabing. F.K.

 

[Juice Jaws]

I have just begun using it. I mix 5 to 1 for patch lube and straight for barrel lube after cleaning. So far I like it. Also use it to wipe down the stock.

 

[2172]

boy, I believe I'm doing something wrong...I've used it, 4:1 as a patch lube, and find I have to swab after less than 10 shots...with wonderlube I could go a whole 30 round match. I've used it in cleaning, but I had a routine in which I had confidence, and I don't really see where I need to insert this stuff in the routine...I will say that, as a patch lube, it was easier to handle than the wonder lubed patches...Hank

 

[MikeChapin]

I don't use Ballistol for a patch lube. I just use spit. I DO use a Ballistol/Water mix during my cleaning routine and straight Ballistol for barrel protection. I have found that it keeps the barrel a lot cleaner over a shooting session than anything else.

Going by results of using it for a barrel protector, if I did use some kind of lube for shooting I am sure I would at least try the a Balistol/Water mix.

 

[longfowler]

I use it to keep my patches wet while in a loading block. I've had the lube squeeze out overnight. so now when I load up the blocks the night before shooting, I turn them over and put a drop of ballistol on the bottom of each ball. I can shoot all day with out swabbing, and never get blown patches.

 

[renovato]

The ratio really depends on your particular gun. Try mixes from 4-5 to as much as 10 parts water to 1 part Ballistol. My guns seem to prefer somewhat leaner mixes in the 5 to 7/1 range. I let the water evaporate out of the patches before using them. This leaves behind just the right amount of Ballistol. It does a good job of keeping fouling down, even at those lean ratios. It's the most accurate lube I've found so far. If I swab, I use the same Ballistol/water mix that I use for patches. I also clean with the same mix. I use it straight as a lube on the lock and trigger guts.

 

[windwalker_au]

i have not tried it as a patch lube, but use it after cleanup to protect my guns.best thing since sliced bread.
bernie :thumbsup:

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

The ratio really depends on your particular gun. Try mixes from 4-5 to as much as 10 parts water to 1 part Ballistol.

That advice is also at the heart of the Dwight Shultz method, i.e., find the right amount of lube YOUR particular barrel and loading prefers.

I'm also having phenomenal success :thumbsup: with Hoppe's Black Powder solvent & Patch lube, that Roundball recommended. I've yet to compare Ballistol to it yet in my smoothie, but as is, she's shootin' 1-minute-of-deer and that's fine with me.

 

[mike alexandre]

In patch ball, 8 to 1 - never need to clean between loads of 15 shots. In .451, clean barrel with 2 wipes of neat ballistol before loading pp bullet - can shoot all day with this.

 

[BryceHutton]

I know a lot of guys that use Ballistol as patch lube in different ratios with water and have great succes. It's also handy to give your irons a going over before storage.

I personaly have found that a much cheaper alternative is the water soluble machining oil used as coolant for lathes and milling machines which costs about $10/litre or about the same as a big can of Ballistol. I like to mix it up in small batches when needed in a 125ml plastic bottle with about 30ml oil and the rest water. One bottle of oil should last years!