Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing BALLISTOL Universal Oil

I was looking for the best oil for my rifles, and after watching several YouTube videos I bought BALLISTOL.

Does anyone else use it, and if you do what are your results, if you care to share your thoughts?

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

It was once the best. It certainly stinks.

What is the best now?

Been using it for 40 plus year, all I use

That's an unanswerable question. There's some synthetic R&O oils that are better at lubrication. From a cleaning and general good choice ballistol is a great choice....and it makes a great cologne.

I saw a recent test of CLRs and Ballistol was the worst of the lot.

Hornady One Shot cleaner & lube came out on top of many oil and lube tested….I saw that test. I use it now on all my firearms and it best at preventing rust. Place a fish hook outside treated with One Shot and it will not rust. There are 2 kinds…. one is a case lube and one is a cleaner/ lube…. Midway USA has it. Best I have ever used….it is a dry lube leaves no oily film when applied….great for triggers, bolt on your guns.

It's non-toxic, so that's good. Apparently anti-microbial as well. I know they used to sell it in German pharmacies, and maybe still do. I like it but the more modern lubes/cleaners/preservatives do everything better.

I use it. Have done for a lot of years. No issues. Skin doesn’t react to it which is a good sign.

Been using it for a long time. One big plus is it doesn’t harm wood or any wood finish I’ve encountered thus far. Same applies to Clenzoil, which I’ve been using a lot of, especially on my O/U, which has an oil-finished stock.

Ballistol is wonderful stuff for those who shoot real BP an 777 too. Mixed with water 1-4 it’s a great cleaner and patch lube and still protects.

It’s what I use. But I’m open try something different!

I just use Kroil, Gisele ALG Go Juice and their 0000 very fine oil. I do also use a synthetic grease applied to the lugs of every rifle.

I can tell you with certainty that there is nothing that works better than Kroil in an environment with very fine carbon dust in the air. I use a spray can for air tool oil and it is the only one that has kept these 18000 - 24000rpm tools running with no hiccups. I have tried every single CLP, Gun lubricant, air tool lubricant, synthetic oil, traditional oil and wonder slick em snake oil. Every single one of them either significantly reduced rpms or gum up to the point I have to stop and flush them out and go back to Kroil.

Fine carbon fiber is probably far worse than any environment that a firearm would see. I apply it and blow off the excess.

YMMV

We use r&o 68 in the hydroelectric turbines which are always potentially wet and cost enough to make congress cringe. I use the same for wear areas and general rust protection on my guns.....except the bp guns. There's something about ballistol that makes it exceptionally good on black powder residue.

Interestingly enough, Ballistol has a huge following in the aircraft industry. In my home town, the only dealer is the local FBO. I have no idea what they use it on as i work on GA planes as my day job and nobody I've ever worked with had even used it!

Went around my house and gave every door hinge that made the slightest squeak a small blast of it, worked instantly, and sure enough, I smelled its unique odor.

Peppy LaPew would be floating in my house in an amorous mood lol

Works great, better than WD40 which has its own foul scent!

Hornady One Shot Cleaner & Lube for 10+ years. Dry film does not become gummy over time. Cleans and protects better than most.

This has always been my favorite smelling, seems to protect metal surfaces good also .

Hi steverdd1, have you used it to clean your barrels?

Thanks and wishing you and your family a great Thanksgiving weekend!

X2


For wiping down and light lube.

Mostly now I use a synthetic oil for lube, and I'm big on grease for
stressed sliding surfaces. Just a smidge, wipe, leaving just a film.


Before all the, "But, but, buts" start.
It rarely gets in single digits here anymore, and it's not a dusty environment.

Does anyone here oil the inside of their barrels?

I never have, but a lot of you gentlemen really know a lot, so I am curious.