Well, I did a little test over the weekend with Ballistol, Weapons Shield, and Gunzilla, three very different CLPs I have on hand. While I can't quantify long term protection, nor do I have the chemistry background to really understand which would technically make the better lube, I have to say that Ballistol is the least effective cleaner of the three. I found myself doing the old song and dance of using patch after patch to clean out simple carbon fouling. 3-4 soaked patches, a dry one, a couple more wet, another dry, finally starting to come out clean. Then I run one wet patch of Weapon Shield through the barrel and I get out more stuff that the Ballistol wouldn't touch. Similar results with another gun and Ballistol vs. Gunzilla. Felt like I was back to using Hoppes #9...
Gunzilla cleans like nothing else. It's a very thin liquid and penetrates under the gunk, lifting it out. It leaves a dry lubricating residue, which then wets then next time you use it, and it cleans even easier then. It's biodegradable, and has very little smell. It leaves metal surfaces slicker than <whatever>, but dry to the touch.
Weapon Shield seems like an excellent CLP for those who want a more traditional oil-based product. It smells like 3-in-One household oil, not unpleasant at all, cleans very well, and seems to lube and protect well, based on what I've read. For those that may have used FP-10 in the past, WS is a new product by the guy that invented FP-10.
Time will tell how these do as lubes and protectants. I do plan to do that corrosion test I mentioned. Maybe soon.
-- Sam