Balistol vs. Break Free?

In aerosol form they put in some kind of thinning agent to make it atomize.

IMO all Ballistol is is really stinky mineral oil, Breakfree CLP is just thin synthetic oil.

Rem Oil in the pump sprayer is a lot more economical, that with some Mobil 1 5W-30, you'll be good to go.

I switched from break free to Ballistol many years ago. The odor is not an issue. When cleaning firearms you smell like you've been cleaning firearms. I do have the aerosol, but use it rarely. I have a small plastic bottle with a needle dispenser that is great for getting that tiny drop in the right place.

I switched from break free to Ballistol many years ago. The odor is not an issue.

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Me too! I use it to clean the firearms and wipe down including the wood parts. Also used on my leather holsters.

Ballistol has a distinctive odor, but it's a non-issue unless you make it one. There are some that say it smells like dirty gym socks, and that makes it bad. There are others that say it smells like anise or licorice, and that makes it ok.

I love Ballistol for BP. Don't use it much for other stuff.
I don't mind the smell. It's a lot less offensive than a lot of cleaners.

I kinda like the smell of Balistol. I have switched from shooters choice last year and won't go back

Where do you find non-aerosol Ballistol for sale?

il.bill said:

Where do you find non-aerosol Ballistol for sale?

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Found it on Amazon.

il.bill said:

Where do you find non-aerosol Ballistol for sale?

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http://www.amazon.com/Ballistol-Non-Aerosol-Friendly-Multi-Purpose-Lubricant/dp/B00ZAPMCHE

I bought a bottle of it a while back. When I clean guns with it, my gun safe smells like a mouse died in there.

So if you clean a small gun with Ballistic you could call it a dead mouse gun instead of just a mouse gun?

Everybody has an opinion on cleaners & lubes. Mine is that for modern handguns any of the gun lube products and a bunch of the automotive lubes will work fine.

I've got a gallon of CLP I'll be using for the next couple of decades - got it off Amazon too

I don't care for the smell .
My wife , who has a very good sense of smell , will not allow guns cleaned with it into the bedroom for at least a week.
Before you buy it...Smell it . My buddy , who owns a gun shop , touted Cleanzoil as the best stuff since sliced bread , so I bought a big bottle of the stuff. I made the mistake of NOT smelling it first , Wrong !....I have tried many times and just can't get past the strange , peculiar smell of the stuff...it just stinks and I'm stuck with a big bottle of it.
Might try mixing it with some Ed's Red bore cleaner....no that will just make an even stinkier cleaner .
Trust me...smell first or just buy a small bottle.
Gary

I like Ballistol for my BP guns and cleaning old used guns with light surface rust.Rust seems to come off nicely with a patch soaked in Ballistol and allowed to work for a few minutes.I personally do not find the odor offensive but some do,its like the German Hoppe's #9.

Break Free CLP is just a good all around product.I have been using it for well over 30 years.I mostly use it as a lube,but it will get your gun "functionally clean".

I like CLP as a general purpose option.

Balistol smells horrible and I won't deal with it.

For situations where I want a sprayable chemical, I recommend Gibbs. It doesn't smell bad, gets things clean, is safe on all finishes, works as a lube, and displaces water. I'm not sure exactly what's in it, but I like it.

http://wisementrading.com/

I have been buying from the above off and on, also from Brownells, Midway or anywhere on sale.
Having tried both, I think Ballistol is a better lube than Break Free and cleans just as good, also it is good for a lot more chores.

I've used both, and generally find Balistol to be a better cleaner, especially when it comes to black powder. And for blackpowder residue, between these 2 cleaners Balistol is the only choice as it is a water-based cleaner than will break down and remove the corrosive salts contained in black powder fouling. CLP won't deactivate those salts, and you'll get heavy pitting and rust in and on your blackpowder firearm if you use only CLP. As for lubricant qualities, I really don't see much difference.

As for the odor of Balistol: It smells good and bad at the same time, like an odd combination of licorice, anise, skunk pee, moth balls and old man farts .

Garry O: said:

Is there any real working difference between the spray versions of Balistol and Break Free when it comes to gun cleaning and maintenance? Thanks...

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I use both and I have a slight preference for Ballistol but Break Free is easier to find at the stores.

Life's too short, and there are too many products, to deal with stinky cleaners/lubricants. I recently tried G96 Gun Treatment and have found a product I will stick with. Only question is whether I will use up all the other stuff I have now. It works well, smells good and both cleans and lubricates. Works for me. Although I do use and like Break Free also.

I use both, selecting one or the other depending on the part and the stubbornness of the crud.

I don't mind the smell of Ballistol (I prefer it to the smell of Hoppes etc) and I like the way it works. The original formula for it was developed by Germany as a cleaner and lube, and also as a wood and leather treatment, way back in WWI. I use it for general gun cleaning and many other purposes around the house. I actually discovered it's use as a CLP on accident, and haven't seen the need to try another.

When I need some heavy duty copper or lead fouling, I use Hoppes or other cleaners for that.