Well, to each his own. I have use Ballistol on all of my guns for 7-8 years & it is undoubtedly one of the best gun oil & best bore preservative I have ever used.
However, I use the Non-Aerosol in the bores..... It is much thicker & works well.
I buy the aerosol by the case & use it in the workshop on everything from air compressor internals on rebuilds to cylinder heads & etc. Spray them well, wipe off the residue, seal them up, pull them out 5 years later & they look like new inside.......
On the flintlocks I completely saturate the locks with the aerosol, wipe off the excess & put them away. No rust on Any of them in 8 years. Works for me.
One thing I notice allot of guys have problems with on lots of rust inhibitors, it is not the inhibitor, IMHO it is they Hot Water they are cleaning with. As soon as the hot water evaporates the metal flash rusts....... Think not ? Take a piece of clean metal & clean it real good with hot soapy water, then rinse it in hot water, take it out & let it dry & put it under a microscope. It starts rusting immediately.
:hmm:
I did my own test on metal outside with about 7 dif lubes. The overall best one I tried was Rig.
I just don't like using a grease all the time & plus it is very expensive.
I know. I know. I know..... You have been using hot water for 30 years with good success. That is fine. You do it your way & have success, and nothing wrong with that.
Some guys plug the vent with a toothpick & slosh water in the bore, dump it out, swab with a oiled patch & call that cleaned. That is OK, it is their rifle.