Ballistol Gunex
- Thread starter bish789
- Start date
8x57
Distinguished Member
I've only used the original Ballistol and really like it, but sourcing it locally is impossible. I've been in contact with Ballistol via email recently after failing to get responses from the U.K. distributor and have since been contacted by the new distributor for their firearms products in the U.K. Mr Trevor Spinks Ballistol – The brand for people. Animals. Technology. who informs me that he was just setting up. Hopefully I will be able to source some from him sometime in the near future.
I use the original stuff, mostly because I love the smell. It does what most mineral oils do I guess but I think it has some additives.
Must admit I had never heard of the gunex variant. Not sure what (if any) the difference is.
The main reason I would use it is to push a sparsely oiled patched down the HMR bore to help remove powder residue but without actually removing major fouling which then results in needing lots of fouling shots to have it back on song again. Followed by two or three dry patches helps to remove that nasty HMR crud without actually stripping copper/carbon from the bore itself.
Sometimes I would use a bit on a rag to very lightly put a thin veneer of oil on exterior metal surfaces like the barrel and the action. It goes a long way like most oils.
I don't see it being any better or any worse than other stuff. It lubricates and smells nice. I am ok with that.
Must admit I had never heard of the gunex variant. Not sure what (if any) the difference is.
The main reason I would use it is to push a sparsely oiled patched down the HMR bore to help remove powder residue but without actually removing major fouling which then results in needing lots of fouling shots to have it back on song again. Followed by two or three dry patches helps to remove that nasty HMR crud without actually stripping copper/carbon from the bore itself.
Sometimes I would use a bit on a rag to very lightly put a thin veneer of oil on exterior metal surfaces like the barrel and the action. It goes a long way like most oils.
I don't see it being any better or any worse than other stuff. It lubricates and smells nice. I am ok with that.
8x57
Distinguished Member
I too love the smell of it.
I certainly can't say the same about 009 solvent, I absolutely detest the smell of that stuff.
EEEe some glue sniffers on this morning!
I have used the original ballistol liked it a lot, got it from Moray Outfitting on here not sure if they still stock it or not, but
bound to be worth a P.M. to find out.
bound to be worth a P.M. to find out.
Jamsie
Well-Known Member
I use the original Ballistol oil and buy it in half litre containers direct from a chap in Germany.
It's good stuff and a little goes a long way.
I would normally use KG1 carbon cleaner or C4 bore tec for barrel cleaning to get rid of the crud then follow it up with a ballistol patch. Seems to work just fine.
Jamsie
It's good stuff and a little goes a long way.
I would normally use KG1 carbon cleaner or C4 bore tec for barrel cleaning to get rid of the crud then follow it up with a ballistol patch. Seems to work just fine.
Jamsie
FISH BOY
Well-Known Member
Standard Ballistol is great stuff - been using it for years.
Heard along time ago it was designed by the Germans during WW2 to maintain everything in the field - metal, wood, leather and even humans as I believe as its natural it has mild medicinal properties.
Not a doctor so dont try it at home but it works well on firearms...
Heard along time ago it was designed by the Germans during WW2 to maintain everything in the field - metal, wood, leather and even humans as I believe as its natural it has mild medicinal properties.
Not a doctor so dont try it at home but it works well on firearms...
I was in Germany last year and chatted to a very competent gunsmith. He pointed out that the formulation of Ballistol Universal dates back over a hundred years. (He said it was made for WW1) He described its formulation as dated and stated that its primary flaw is that left too long, it sets like a hard wax.
In his opinion, the modern Gunex formulation is superior in every department.
Like others on SD, I am a firm believer in Ballistol Universal. Benign on skin, without ammonia, yet removes copper and leaves a protective film. But informed by that gunsmith's opinion, what I now do is a meths patch followed by two dry patches immediately before shooting. A lot more than a light film of oil is removed...
I would agree with you when it comes to the modern day 009. A dreadful facsimile of the proper stuff in terms of smell.
However, the original recipe 009 (which, I would not be surprised to find out, likely contained all sorts of nasty compounds) was pretty much the smell of my childhood. My late stepfather swore by it for both his pistols and rifles and used it liberally! It evokes all sorts of wonderful memories, and to this day I still have the remnants of a small bottle (likely from the late 70's or early 80's I should think) that I discovered in his workshop after he passed.
8x57
Distinguished Member
I think the original Hoppes 009 contained trichloroethylene which is pretty nasty stuff. They used trico in large baths as a degreaser in several local factories, these were removed in the early eighties as being too dangerous. They actually had a problem with trico sniffers in one local motor industry manufacturer. I used to use it to clean fire hose for repair and couldn't stand the smell of the stuff so wasn't too bothered when H&S snatched it away and banned any further use of it.
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
The Humber car company in Coventry made their own engines, they had their own foundry then they were machined in an area which was on the other side of an internal factory road to the body experimental dept where I trained. The morning egg & bacon butty was always bought at a kiosk located just inside this machining area directly opposite the tric bath for degreasing the blocks so the butties had a taste to them. One of the line borers was a big Welsh chap and did opera arias much louder than the machines could compete with.
I am still here in spite of the tric fumes.
I am still here in spite of the tric fumes.
John_Smith
New Member
This is superb stuff! Forget about the smell, the oil is just perfect stuff for gun care. The metallic parts are preserved for a longer period even in extremely harsh weather conditions. I would say an amazing product for all gun enthusiasts out there.
Jamsie
Well-Known Member
It's my go-to oil for all of my gun-related cleaning and maintenance activities. The odour is very subjective but certainly isn't offensive.
Jamsie
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