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Yes, Ballistol is absolutely a good gun cleaner. It’s reliable, versatile, and has been trusted by firearm owners for over a century. Whether you’re cleaning pistols, rifles, or even tools and knives, Ballistol gets the job done efficiently—and it does a whole lot more than just clean.
A Brief Look at Ballistol’s History
Ballistol’s story starts back in 1904, when German chemist Dr. Helmut Klever developed a multi-purpose oil for the German Imperial Army. He combined the words ballistic and oleum (Latin for oil) to name the product—Ballistol, or ballistic oil.
By 1905, Ballistol was officially adopted by the German military. Fast forward to today, and it’s a staple in garages, workshops, and gun rooms across the globe.
My Experience Using Ballistol
Over the years, I’ve tried everything from Hoppe’s No. 9 and BreakFree CLP to newer options like Shooter Lube. But Ballistol has earned a permanent spot in my cleaning routine—for a few good reasons.
- Convenient aerosol can: Perfect for tossing in the range bag without worrying about leaks.
- Cleans fast: I coated the barrel of my Glock, waited about a minute, and wiped it clean. Carbon buildup came off with ease.
- Light oil coating: A quick pass with a Ballistol-soaked rag gave the slide and frame just the right amount of protection.
- Done in under 5 minutes: Seriously, it’s that efficient.
The only downside? The smell. It’s not terrible—some say it reminds them of a men’s locker room—but it’s strong. I usually clean in the garage with the door open, and it’s totally manageable.
Why Ballistol Stands Out
Here’s what sets Ballistol apart from other gun cleaners:
✅ Cleans, Lubricates & Protects
Ballistol acts as a cleaner, lubricant, and rust protectant—all in one can. You don’t need to juggle three different products to get the job done.
🌿 Safe on Wood, Leather, & More
It’s safe to use on metal, plastic, rubber, wood, and leather. So if your rifle has a wood stock or leather sling, you don’t have to worry about damage.
♻️ Non-Toxic & Eco-Friendly
Ballistol is biodegradable and less harsh than many petroleum-based cleaners. It’s a solid option for gun owners who prefer environmentally friendly products.
🛠️ Perfect for Tools & Gear Too
Beyond firearms, Ballistol works wonders on knives, tools, fishing gear, and even car parts. Think of it as a multi-tool in a can.
📦 Convenient Aerosol Delivery
Its aerosol can makes it super easy to spray down your gear—whether you’re in the garage or at the range. Plus, no mess in your range bag.
One of Ballistol’s standout features is that it doesn’t come off when it gets wet. That makes it great for humid environments or rainy days at the range.
Ballistol vs WD-40: What’s the Difference?
People often compare Ballistol to WD-40—but they’re not the same.
WD-40 is a solvent and water displacer, not a dedicated lubricant. It might help loosen a rusted firearm, but it’s not ideal for regular gun maintenance.
Here’s why:
- WD-40 evaporates fast – leaving your gun dry and unprotected.
- Ballistol sticks around – offering ongoing lubrication and rust prevention.
- Ballistol is made for guns – WD-40 isn’t.
That said, WD-40 can be useful in emergencies—like when your firearm gets submerged in water or is completely rusted shut. But once you’ve got it cleaned up, you’re better off switching to Ballistol.
What Is Ballistol Made Of?
Ballistol is a blend of:
- White mineral oil – for lubrication and rust protection
- Vegetable-derived oils – to help condition wood and leather
- Alkaline salts of oleic acid – for neutralizing acidic residues
- Alcohols & Benzyl Acetate – to help with cleaning and penetration
- Propane/Isohexane (in aerosol form) – to propel the product from the can
It’s safe to use on metal, plastic, rubber, wood, leather, and more, which makes it a versatile option for gun owners who also maintain knives, tools, or even fishing gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the military use Ballistol?
Yes, the German military used Ballistol from 1905 to 1945. Today, it’s used by some U.S. Coast Guard units, Navy SEAL teams, and German special forces.
Is Ballistol made in the USA?
No, Ballistol is still manufactured in Germany by Ballistol GmbH in the village of Aham.
Can Ballistol be used on wood or leather gun parts?
Absolutely. That’s one of its biggest selling points. It’s gentle enough for leather slings and wooden rifle stocks, while still cleaning and protecting metal parts.
Final Thoughts: Is Ballistol Worth It?
Yes—Ballistol is a fantastic gun cleaner. It cleans thoroughly, lubricates effectively, and leaves a lasting protective barrier that helps prevent rust and corrosion.
It might not be the flashiest product on the shelf, but it works—and it works well.
Where To Buy
I was put on to Ballistol by the C&Rsenal YouTube channel. It is what WD40 should be. Highly recommended.
This isn’t a ‘gear review’, it’s a commercial…
Its not a commercial. It’s my thoughts on the product. “gear review” is just the category its assigned to.
Are you guys going to address the comment section issues?
We work through the pending comments twice a week. Most comments post, but any that go into our pending queue get addressed twice a week.
I’m not talking about comments held for moderation. There’s another issue. All comments aren’t visible all of the time. There were ten comments visible on the P320 article. After I made a comment, suddenly 20 comments were visible. The total number at the top of the page changed to reflect that as well. If I close it, then change IP and come back, then it’s back to ten comments. I can’t even see my previous comment. If I make another comment, then the other comments appear. The site didn’t use to do that. That will cause less engagement and fewer site views. Are you aware of that issue?
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/sig-p320-accidental-discharge-holster-issue/
Another example: I cleared my cache and came back. Now I can’t see the previous reply I made to you. I bet it will be visible after I post this comment.
Yep. Now I see it.
If they have, their efforts were in vain!
I’m a fan. I’ve used it for years.
Yes, it’s that simple.
Yes, it is a good cleaner, been using it for years,
Sounds good, I’ve never used it.
After reading this review I shall give it a try.
Could the operators of T Tag kindly explain the lag in posting a comment and seeing it appear.
I love the stuff and have used it for years on all kinds of stuff for all kinds of purposes. Re: the smell, it smells like licorice to me.
I’ve used BALLISTOL for years(& Hoppes lube). Non toxic IS huge for my sun(& chemical) damaged skin over 70. My secret for making several Taurus’s work perfectly. Independently exactly what
Hickok45 does🙄
I guess we ran out of ‘which caliber is best’ articles so now its going to be ‘which gun cleaner/lubricant is best’.
🙂
Seriously though, Ballistol is not a bad cleaning thing and does a good job. But as a lubricant and protectant for moving gun metal friction contact surfaces – especially on semi-auto firearms, there are better lubricants and protectants especially the quality penetrating micro-layer-deposit types.
Which caliber is best depends on what your doing with it.
Motor oil on your Mini14 barrel makes it smoke really cool.
Cycles my friend. Cycles.
You let the caliber warz cool off for a bit and then you can really make a splash with a hot take like “I tested all the calibers and 5mm Clement is, hands down, the best self defense caliber ever made!”.
Leave a comment.
Well I did.
You’re supposed to do the secret move at the exact moment you hit Post Comment. It has to be exact, or it won’t work. Let us know how it goes.
WD40 isn’t ANY KIND lubricant. And a poor penetrating spray (get a can of PB Blaster). Only thing it’s good for spraying the underside of a lawnmower deck.
Hickok45 got me on the stuff, and it’s my go to. I’ve ysed it to treat wood and leather to great effect as well. Refinished stocks I’ve oiled with Ballistol instead of traditional oils hold up great.
To my knowledge, I’ve never seen this for sale.
This being kind of a commercial, I’ll wait to see the opinions of others who’ve used it before I bother looking for it.
So, I guess I’ll check back in a couple days or a week when people are out of comment moderation jail.
In all seriousness though, the current moderation system, or whatever it is, is trash and makes this site barely worth visiting. Combine that with these product placements as “articles” and all I can say is “Well, at least they’re not positing listicles” which, by the by, ain’t a compliment.
…. Try the local bait shops and fishing equipment/sporting goods shops.
$6.75 at the bait shop near me and he goes through cases of it a year – I hear the fly rod guys LOVE the stuff.
I’d probably just buy a can off the web and try it out.
Fly fishing is another [overly expensive] hobby of mine and I’ve still never heard of this product or seen it for sale. Never once has someone told me to use it for… anything.
And no one has mentioned the sector that uses Ballistol and pretty much only Ballistol… high-power airguns. Ballistol cannot diesel. Thus it is the go-to cleaning product for serious airgunners.
I’d never bought Ballistol until I had a high-fallutin’ PCP airgun. But I use it now on lots of other stuff, too. Anytime there’s a question about something else being too harsh… Ballistol is first to try.
Sounds like an ad, but it’s a good, useful product.
mineral oil is petrolium based. look it up.
also why would you want a lubricant to biodegrade?
Nontoxic is great i grant you but i want any lube i put on a weapon to be there and stay there not leave mess behind after it quit doing its job
Nobody talked about black powder – Ballistol emulsifies in water and is perfect for keeping all percussion guns and muzzle loaders perfect. Been using the stuff for years.
I use Hoppe’s low odor, Rem Oil and Pro Shot 1 step C L P.
They seem to work ok for me. Guess they would work on my guns too.
No mention if it removes copper fouling…bet it doesn’t.
Therefore I can’t regard it as a gun cleaning product
One thing that Ballistol can do that other gun lubes/cleaners cannot do is neutralize acidic/salty fingerprints.
When I’m handling white/raw steel, if I don’t use gloves or neutralize by fingerprint oils with Ballistol, I will leave fingerprints that corrode into the steel. Ballistol’s pH is between 8.0 and 8.5, which will neutralize weak acids. It will help clean corrosive priming compounds out of a bore.
It can also be used on wood stocks, leather gear, including horse tack and slings. That was one of the requirements when it was developed 10 years before WWI, when the German army moved on horseback.
Ballistol’s other big advantage is that it isn’t toxic, as so many solvents are. You shouldn’t drink it, but you’re not going to to have issues with it absorbing through your skin.
What it won’t do is remove copper or lead fouling.
I came across this awhile back. A pretty comprehensive test of different CLPs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fibRewlndLg
Ballistol doesnt place very high in those tests..
Sounds like it is another example of selling the sizzle and not the steak
What are the made in USA alternatives to this foreign made product?