Purchased it based upon Hickock45's recommendation and my uncle's recommendation....figured the Germans are pretty good with stuff, so why not?

First of all, it's GREAT on folding knifes....open up smooth as butter now...even better on the 2nd day after application.

Second of all, it's actually a really good cleaner. Surprising.

I'm running a testing of sorts...comparing my P239 w/Mobil 28 grease on the internals vs. my P229 with Ballisol. So far, the triggers are nearly equally smooth, whereas before when I lubed them both with BreakFree CLP, the P239 was smoother.

I'll give it a couple days and a few hundred trigger pulls and see where it lands, but is there a reason not to like Ballistol for it's lubrication properties? And yes, I've spent (wasted?) time Googling the answer...I trust you guys more.

Performance as a lubricant is one thing, however, its performance as a cleaner is a whole other story. I am using it right now to clean the titanium cylinder on my new S&W 986 revolver and I find it disappointing. I also don't find CLPs very effective either. Hoppe's #9 is my preferred cleaner except that I am afraid to use it on coated titanium.

I like Ballistol but it smells worse than an old pair of sweaty gym socks. My wife banned indoor use of it.

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
Performance as a lubricant is one thing, however, its performance as a cleaner is a whole other story. I am using it right now to clean the titanium cylinder on my new S&W 986 revolver and I find it disappointing. I also don't find CLPs very effective either. Hoppe's #9 is my preferred cleaner except that I am afraid to use it on coated titanium.

I have a 929–those titanium cylinders are a bitch to clean, and I love cleaning guns. You will need those lead cleaning cloths, or try lightly coating the cylinder prior to shooting with Frog Lube or Seal 1.

I use Ballistol for cleaning, and I do love it for cleaning.

I use Super Lube grease and oil, as well as Lubriplate SFL-0, unless the firearm requires very light lubrication(Remington 870).

SASS & keeping the vintage steel happy overall much of the last 30 years has given appreciation for all the magnificent qualities of ballistol. Including the wonderful aroma.l

I have only used the Ballistol in the aerosol can, and I admit it stinks to high heaven. I have heard though that the standard pump bottle has a different odor? Anyone experience this?

I use it on my revolvers becasue it cleans pretty good and I can get it on the wood, blued steel, stainless steel, whatever. Easy peasy.

I have used ballistol on and off for five years or so. I keep going back to it as a clp. I actually like the smell... I did not at first.

My partner at work uses it exclusively. We always can yell when the other cleaned their gun just by smell. Haha.

I always thought it had sort of a licorice smell. It makes me cough like crazy though if I get a lung full.

I like it, and use it on blackpowder revolvers primarily.

quote:

Originally posted by sigspecops:
I like Ballistol but it smells worse than an old pair of sweaty gym socks. My wife banned indoor use of it.

I got to where I quite liked the smell of it.

quote:

Originally posted by RC Fan:

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
Performance as a lubricant is one thing, however, its performance as a cleaner is a whole other story. I am using it right now to clean the titanium cylinder on my new S&W 986 revolver and I find it disappointing. I also don't find CLPs very effective either. Hoppe's #9 is my preferred cleaner except that I am afraid to use it on coated titanium.

I have a 929–those titanium cylinders are a bitch to clean, and I love cleaning guns. You will need those lead cleaning cloths, or try lightly coating the cylinder prior to shooting with Frog Lube or Seal 1.

I use Ballistol for cleaning, and I do love it for cleaning.

I use Super Lube grease and oil, as well as Lubriplate SFL-0, unless the firearm requires very light lubrication(Remington 870).

I recall that the owner's manual warned that use of abrasive cleaning methods would void the warranty on the titanium cylinder of my 646. Might be worth checking your manual.

I only use it, diluted with water in a spray bottle, on an AK. after corrosive 7n6, just spray it down and it good to go.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:

quote:

Originally posted by RC Fan:

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
Performance as a lubricant is one thing, however, its performance as a cleaner is a whole other story. I am using it right now to clean the titanium cylinder on my new S&W 986 revolver and I find it disappointing. I also don't find CLPs very effective either. Hoppe's #9 is my preferred cleaner except that I am afraid to use it on coated titanium.

I have a 929–those titanium cylinders are a bitch to clean, and I love cleaning guns. You will need those lead cleaning cloths, or try lightly coating the cylinder prior to shooting with Frog Lube or Seal 1.

I recall that the owner's manual warned that use of abrasive cleaning methods would void the warranty on the titanium cylinder of my 646. Might be worth checking your manual.

You are referring to the lead removal cloth? I wouldn’t call it abrasive.

After a quick internet search, it appears I am wrong about the lead removal cloth. My apologies!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RC Fan,

I liked using it but didn't really find it any better than other products at cleaning or lubrication when shooting standard non-corrosive ammo. Also, I was also banned, albeit in a very polite manner, from using it in the house due to the smell (which really doesn't bother me at all). My wife doesn't mind Hoppes #9 that much or other products that have a lot stronger smell than Ballistol but she really, really can't stand the smell of Ballistol. I think it's funny but don't buy it anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by RC Fan:

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:

quote:

Originally posted by RC Fan:

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
Performance as a lubricant is one thing, however, its performance as a cleaner is a whole other story. I am using it right now to clean the titanium cylinder on my new S&W 986 revolver and I find it disappointing. I also don't find CLPs very effective either. Hoppe's #9 is my preferred cleaner except that I am afraid to use it on coated titanium.

I have a 929–those titanium cylinders are a bitch to clean, and I love cleaning guns. You will need those lead cleaning cloths, or try lightly coating the cylinder prior to shooting with Frog Lube or Seal 1.

I recall that the owner's manual warned that use of abrasive cleaning methods would void the warranty on the titanium cylinder of my 646. Might be worth checking your manual.

You are referring to the lead removal cloth? I wouldn’t call it abrasive.

Pardon any thread drift, but I was going to ask the same question about lead removal cloths. I avoid them (and therefore nonjacketed loads) in titanium cylinders, which just never really get clean. It would be great if Ballistrol was effective for titanium cleaning.

It's my preferred cleaner/lube.

It's a gun lube and a dessert topping.

quote:

Originally posted by PorterN:

quote:

Originally posted by sigspecops:
I like Ballistol but it smells worse than an old pair of sweaty gym socks. My wife banned indoor use of it.

I got to where I quite liked the smell of it.

A pleasin' odor's half the point.

I think I still have a can of it lurking around somewhere. Or I might've given it away to a neighbor. Thanks for the thread; it'll bug me endlessly and NOW I probably tear my garage apart trying to find it.

I didn't care for the aroma as well, so I never really gave it a fair shake on the cleaning side of the ledger.

I use it. I like it.