the perfect after cleaning bore oil?

[deerstalkert]

Switch to olive oil or 3-1 or, Their funny that way but if they really loved you. lol

hard to shoot with broken fingers from stealing her precious imported olive oil! you know i haven't seen 3-1 oil for years. kinda like the MMO i guess i just haven't been looking for it.
the plethora of new miracle wonder lubes has over shadowed many great old brands.

 

[appalichian hunter]

3in one oil, also the old singer sewing machine oil is good if you can find it, or pharmacy grade sweet oil.

 

[Jim]

. . . .you know i haven't seen 3-1 oil for years. . . . . .

I get “3 in 1“ at Home Depot.

 

[Fly Navy]

For those who don't like the smell of Ballistol I have a solution. Take a patch and cover it with Hoppes 9 and put it on the work bench. It will mask the smell of the Ballistol.

 

[David Veale]

Ballistol is pharmaceutical grade mineral oil with anise (where the smell comes from), and a few other ingredients. The German army used it to clean their guns, and I understand to also treat minor wounds.
On a note: I've never had Ballistol gum up anything. I use it on my spinning rods full strength. It is not harmful to aquatic life.

Uses - Ballistol

Why not just purchase pharmaceutical grade mineral oil? Something like $3 a quart at the pharmacy if my memory serves, which I'm guessing is cheaper than Ballistol. It's what I've been using on my modern firearms, and whetstones as well. No problems so far.

Just confirmed my suspicions -- a quick googling shows Wal-Mart selling Ballistol for $25/16oz non aerosol. 16oz of mineral oil from Rite Aid is $2.19.

 

[rmagnus]

My final pass down the bore I also use Balistol and do not dilute it.

 

[FishDFly]

Guy did a test on 46 corrosion products outside for 22 days or 528 hours. The steel bars were subjected to the elements, rain and temperature. The top three (3) were WD 40 Specialist, Frog Lube and Hornady One Shot for protection. Above is the chart for products tested and their odors.

From the test:


I recorded the samples with mild rusting and major rusting after 24 hours. The samples exhibiting mild rusting were

Rand CLP
Ballistol
Breakfree CLP
Hoppe’s MDL
Rusteprufe
Boeshield T-9
Rem Oil w/ moisture guard
ATF

The samples exhibiting significant rusting were

Kroil
PB-50
Rem Oil (regular)
Gunzilla
Super Lube
Militec-1
Hoppe’s Elite
Ace Silicone Grease
Atsko Silicone Spray
Pennzoil
3 in One oil
RIG #2
Gibbs
Paste wax
Both Controls

 

[Ranch 13]

Montana Extreme's Accuracy Oil has become a great favorite for after clean up bore oil in my shooting shack and range bags.

 

[Daniel Getz]

I have used wonderlube forever, I have found it will "season" a barrel like hog fat seasons a cast iron skillet. over time using it for lube as well as a wipedown/swab will result in shiny clean bores that resist corrosion. I dont normally use anything petroleum on my BP shooters

 

[david w]

Why not just purchase pharmaceutical grade mineral oil? Something like $3 a quart at the pharmacy if my memory serves, which I'm guessing is cheaper than Ballistol. It's what I've been using on my modern firearms, and whetstones as well. No problems so far.

Just confirmed my suspicions -- a quick googling shows Wal-Mart selling Ballistol for $25/16oz non aerosol. 16oz of mineral oil from Rite Aid is $2.19.

I didn't know the main ingredient was mineral oil until I did a Google search. There are a couple other ingredients added. I believe there is a recipe on line, but I'll have to look it up.

 

[Togo]

Not after the bore is clean. Other methods have left brown patches a few days later. When I use Ballistol, I can check the bore a few days later, and the patches come out clean. How much are you diluting the Ballistol?

I do not dilute Ballistol at all.

 

[Greenjoytj]

Do you find it comes out with a dark brown colour on a clean patch ? I've only just started using it and I do

That’s the oil continuing to lift rust and crud. It’s evidence that your first round of cleaning was inadequate and left fouling behind, plus your cleaning method maybe flawed by leaving a rust accelerant (water?) still in the bore.
It’s wise to do that day or two second patch out that you did to find that fouling making your patch brown.

Detergent (Dawn) and cold water brushing to remove the carbon fouling potassium salts and patch or bullet lube.

Work fast to limit the time the naked steel is exposed to the fouled and clean water.

High proof 99% alcohol or methyl-hydrate (gas line antifreeze) to absorb/pick up the water during patch out.

Lube/rust prevent with a high quality synthetic gun oil or CLP (I favour G96 CLP).

Repeat the barrel patch out a day or two later with the CLP just to be sure you got all the fouling out.
Plus another overall inspection in case something was missed on the first cleaning session.

 

[Doc]

I know everyone has their favorite finishing oil some work better than others. After about 25/30 years I took the Patriots out of my safe to sell. Checked them for rust by running a patch down them. Still had zero rust. Myself and many others use “Lube 1” and have for about 40 years. It definitely seems to work.
Doc,

 

[MrMackc]

Why not just purchase pharmaceutical grade mineral oil? Something like $3 a quart at the pharmacy if my memory serves, which I'm guessing is cheaper than Ballistol. It's what I've been using on my modern firearms, and whetstones as well. No problems so far.

Just confirmed my suspicions -- a quick googling shows Wal-Mart selling Ballistol for $25/16oz non aerosol. 16oz of mineral oil from Rite Aid is $2.19.

Don't be too fast going to a Wal-mart pharmacy, haven't you noticed all of the wierd people that go to Wal-Mart, and that is a good place to catch the COVID or maybe get jabbed with a needle containing "You-don't-know-what" better quality folks go to ACE hardware or Tractor Supply, for some 3-in-1 Oil and it won't be long before Tractor Supply has those cute little baby chicks!

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Yes, everyone has their favorite gun oil, and they will all tell you it is the best and has worked well for 50 years. That's fine. My choice is Fluid Film because it is specifically made to protect metal from rust, and it stays soft, doesn't dry out. Yes, it has worked well for me for years too. It used to be hard to find but is pretty much available now. the spray can is convenient for me. I squirt some in the muzzle with the straw and swab it in well. Spray some on a cloth and wipe all the exterior metal too. I give a quick swab to the bore with some alcohol before loading. I dont think it's really necessary but I just do it anyway. Not much smell and seems to work well.

 

[J.Campbell63]

Think you have a lot of good answers now sir. And a lot of valid personal experiences. I think you may have to pick and see which works for you in your situation.

 

[Mad L]

needed some air Nailer/tool oil so asked the bride to pick some up at the local hardware when she went to town. have used Marvel mystery air tool oil for years. showed her the little black and red bottle. took a picture of it with her phone. wrote it down.
when she got home and handed me a quart bottle that looked like red mountain vin rose' i just sighed and said thanks
anyway it was sitting there when i cleaned two flintlocks.
after using the steam cleaner i swabbed out the bore with a dry patch and it showed the usually brown from flash rust.
swabbed with a patch saturated in the Marvels Mystery oil that i now have a quart of.
that was day before yesterday. ran a swab on both today and it came out vin rose'! no rust. going to test some more. hate the rust stain on dry patches after cleaning.
just an observation .

Sounds like you made out okay. I recently asked my wife to pick up a new rifle I had on lay-away at Wild Bill's on her way to town. I gave her my receipt and last $50 payment.
When she got home she had a new pair of diamond earrings and handed me a Refund receipt from Wild Bill's!?!

I guess I will still be using Ballistol for my end cleaning and a coat of Barricade when done, I still use Hopps #9 on the inside of the locks.....one day I might get that new rifle

 

[FishDFly]

Don't be too fast going to a Wal-mart pharmacy, haven't you noticed all of the wierd people that go to Wal-Mart, and that is a good place to catch the COVID or maybe get jabbed with a needle containing "You-don't-know-what" better quality folks go to ACE hardware or Tractor Supply, for some 3-in-1 Oil and it won't be long before Tractor Supply has those cute little baby chicks!

Ducks are cuter!

 

[Bunk]

My first purchase of Ballistol years ago was a combination package. A large can of straight oil and a smaller aerosol one. The straight oil is much thicker than the aerosol. I still have the big can but have gone through perhaps 10 aerosol ones. I use the straight stiff to make moose milk or just apply to cloths as wipe downs.
Perhaps #Rifleman 1776 used the straight stuff.
Which brings me around to, I thought petroleum based oils was a no no with black powder as it reacted with black powder fouling.

I do not understand the organic chemistry, that is way over my head, but mineral oil which is one of the ingredients of Ballistol is completely compatible with Gunpowder residue. Paraffin wax has a similar chemistry and it works well in home made bullet lube.
Respectfully submitted
Bunk

 

[Bunk]

For those who don't like the smell of Ballistol I have a solution. Take a patch and cover it with Hoppes 9 and put it on the work bench. It will mask the smell of the Ballistol.

By the way that fragrance is add to the Ballistol. I have no idea why
Bunk