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I checked out a few tests and found that Break Free CLP seemed to hold up well in them all. The tests exposed bare steel to the elements, and some with straight salt water. The Break Free did amazingly well. I’ve never used it myself so I have no personal experience with it.

Below is an example of one that tested Rem Oil, Hoppes 9, Ballistol, Break Free CLP, Mobil 1, and a machine lube.

E2B65A5E-8D1C-416C-97F0-9B22D0662079.jpeg
 
I use G96 or Barricade. I have found that Barricade leaves a film on things. When I fire the first shot from my flinters, the film actually comes off the pan in one piece. It looks like a piece of onion skin. While Barricade works well, I prefer to use G96 to avoid the film. I bought a case of it many years ago and am finally down to my last can. If I get a little light red color on the first patch when I get a rifle out of my safe after it has been there a while, I don't worry about it. It might be surface rust or it might be dried G96.
 
"I usually, when put away use just a lightly damp patch with a light gun oil down the muzzle. Stored in their soft cases barrel facing down"

Storage in a gun sock is good. You get some cushioning. Keeps dust off. And you should not get rust because a gun sock is porous and will not trap moisture. But a non porous case, eg: leather or pleather, is fine for short term temporary use. As in transit. But since it traps moisture it is a very poor choice for longer term storage.
 
A couple of posts ago it seemed the user was cleaning with Ballistol, I think that is a mistake.

Best product ever for cleaning BP fouling is WATER, maybe with a drop of Dawn detergent.

Ballistol is mineral oil based and no oil of any kind should be used for cleaning IMHO. If you are using water to clean and Ballistol to protect and your getting rust you are doing it wrong.
 
A couple of posts ago it seemed the user was cleaning with Ballistol, I think that is a mistake.

Best product ever for cleaning BP fouling is WATER, maybe with a drop of Dawn detergent.

Ballistol is mineral oil based and no oil of any kind should be used for cleaning IMHO. If you are using water to clean and Ballistol to protect and your getting rust you are doing it wrong.
You were refering to me...I think. I clean with dawn and water, then alcohol down the bore to displace water, then lubricated with Ballistol. Enlighten me...
 
I appreciate the replies but just to clear up any confusion, I'm not new to muzzleloaders and I am happy that how I clean them works. I just want recommendations on an alternative storage product to barricade because its cost prohibitive for me.
 
For long term storage the best I have ever found is R.I.G.

It will keep your guns from rusting in heat and high humidity for years.

For short term almost any oil will do and I like Ballistol, probably because I have several cans of it left from my BPCRS days and I have never had a problem with it.
 
WD40. I have firearms that have been in storage as long as 30+ years…..Most of the time spent in the Northeast, some down South. ZERO signs of rust.
I recently acquired some WD40/Specialist……I will be interested to see how it does.
 
For long term storage you cant beat RIG. When I farmed we would grease the plow lays up after fall use. Theyd stay rust free until the next fall while being stored outside in the weather. RIG is grease.
For cleaning and short term storage theres dozens of things that work fine.
 
I clean with Balistol, then cover all the metal surfaces I can with a light film of gun oil. I then place each gun in a silicone infused gun sock, then into the safe where a heat rod is always on. The gun socks are nice cause they’re suppose to repel any kind of moisture, and it also allows you to get guns in and out, or place them right against one another to fit more guns in the safe, without worry about scratches/dings. This has worked well for me for years, but if someone knows of a better way or something I should do different, I’m open to ideas or suggestions.
 
I clean with Balistol, then cover all the metal surfaces I can with a light film of gun oil. I then place each gun in a silicone infused gun sock, then into the safe where a heat rod is always on. The gun socks are nice cause they’re suppose to repel any kind of moisture, and it also allows you to get guns in and out, or place them right against one another to fit more guns in the safe, without worry about scratches/dings. This has worked well for me for years, but if someone knows of a better way or something I should do different, I’m open to ideas or suggestions.
Sounds like a pretty solid system to me.
 

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