Ballistol for cleaning?

[JAYjohnson]

While waiting for my G19 I'm shopping around for what I need to maintain it. My youtube hero (im sure Im not the only one who knows of the glock loving Tennessean) swears by this stuff. I just would like some more feed back from other guys who have used it. Also do you use the Sportsman Oil or Multi-purpose Lube?

[Ultimate]

I've been wondering about that stuff. All indications seem to point to ballistol being a mild solvent and good for cleaning but I have heard mixed reviews for using it as a lube for a stored gun.

[Mr. Meeseeks]

Hoppe's #9 is always the safest bet, I've also had great luck with Hoppe's Elite, both liquid or gel, both these products are quite mild and will run less of a risk damaging your finishes and polymer frame.

Stay away from ammonia based solvents, as they are very aggressive, if you do use ammonia based, thoroughly wash off the remainder of the solvent with hot water and dish soap, followed up with a thorough drying and lubing. Do not use ammonia on your polymer frame and parts.

If it looks like you have a really tough cleaning job in front of you, do as the old timers do and just let the part soak in a small olive jar full of Hoppe's #9 or Elite for a few days, then scrub with a bronze brush or bronze scouring pad, if you're really paranoid use a plastic tooth brush and plastic dish washing scouring pad.

With polymer frames I've found it actually easier to get a deep clean by simply washing them with hot water and dish washing liquid, that is after detail stripping them to as far down as I'm capable (for a Glock a complete strip is very easy).
Then blowing all the excess water out with compressed air or computer/lens cleaner.

For lube, I like to hit the rails with Tetra Gun Grease, and a few drops here and there of Gun Butter on moving parts or any place where there is friction, but really CLP, rem or hoppe's gun oil will do. You can even use a light weight synthetic motor oil if that's all you have.

BTW, keep Birchwood Casey cold blue far away from your new Glock slide, it will react with the metal based finish and leave a dull blemish (trust me, I learned the hard way when I tried to touch up the sights I installed on my G17).

YMMV

[Lurch762]

I use Ballistol Sportsman oil to clean my BP mortar and any mil-surp after shooting corrosive ammo and have not had a problem yet. I prefer the can and not the aerosol if I'm mixing it with water for cleaning because the propellant or something in the aerosol makes it foam up when mixed. Although it says you can use it straight as a protectant, I usually follow up with either CLP or Corrosion-X as the final wipedown.