Moly Coating Bullets

damadama

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I have read recently that Moly is not good for barrels in that it induces pitting by trapping moisture between itself and the metal. Apparantly this applies to both non-stainless and stainless barrels. Anyone have any experience of this in their rifles and how popular is moly now in the precision shooting world.
 
I use it in all my rifles, from 90 year old milsurps to brand new stuff. I mainly use it for it's copper fouling reduction and shot to shot consistancy. What got me started on it was my Savage 22-250......15-20 rounds and it was fouled all to hell and would shoot poorly. After I started using moly I could get 75-100 rounds before groups would open up and it would need cleaning. If I had a custom precision hand lapped barrel, it should be smooth enough that moly wouldn't be required as it shouldn't foul hardly at all.
As far as pitting, for regular cleaning all I do to clean is a patch soaked in CLP, brush 3 strokes, then dry patch until dry. Never had any pitting or rust or any other negative effects.
 
OK, I've never used moly coated bullets, but if you're experiencing fouling problems from the copper, wouldn't the moly build up and cause similar problems too?
 
bronco_mudder said:
OK, I've never used moly coated bullets, but if you're experiencing fouling problems from the copper, wouldn't the moly build up and cause similar problems too?

No, because unlike jacket metals, molybdenum disulphide does not stick to itself. That is why it is used so much in lubricants. :cool:

Ted
 
To Molly or Not to Molly, Microlon gun juice is the answer?

I think Im going to try the Microlong gun juice route, I have heard nothing bad about it and it seems to enhance performance and life as well as has a use on moving parts in rifles. I have heard many pro's and con's on molly and in my opinion, (not saying it is right) Molly makes me nervous.
 
I've looked through the 6mmBR site and have seen a few references to "moly build-up" but no methods to clean the moly out, or even how to know if I'm getting a moly buildup.
 
I sort of adhear to the idea that when shooting moly coated bullets you have simply added one more variable one must consider in his quest for accuracy. Having said that, I could determine no change in accuracy between Nosler J-4's which were coated to those which were not.

As to the question concerning the damage of barrels by moisture being trapped beneath layers of moly, I submit that most accuracy nuts keep their barrels clean and therefore it is a non-issue. When I've used coated bullets in my hunting rifles, I have seen no signs of problems associated with the bullet coating.
 
Splatter said:
I've looked through the 6mmBR site and have seen a few references to "moly build-up" but no methods to clean the moly out, or even how to know if I'm getting a moly buildup.

The moly plates onto the steel, and that is as far as it gets. Once there is a plating on the steel, it no longer "builds up." :)

http://www.molyslip.co.uk/theory.html

The easiest way to remove moly is to shoot a few 'naked" bullets down the bore. It will be gone pretty quick.

Ted
 
From my experience and bore scoping of barrels, I have seen no negative issues with respect to Moly.
 
Moly Fun

I've been shooting moly'ed bullets for years. Not a single problem. Cleaning is easier and less frequent.

I go about 5X as many bullets before I notice any accuracy dropping off. Simply put, I'll clean AFTER CFSAC / NSCC weeks when I get home. No need to clean my rifles at Connaught. :)

The ONLY down side I've experienced is being too lazy to tumble off the excess moly from the bullets after applying the moly. Then I end up with moly'ed fingers, then I pick up the phone forgetting I've got moly on my fingers from loading the bullets before the ram pushes the cartridge into the seater die.... it gets worse.... then I sneeze and scratch my nose, now I look like a bear with a shiny black nose... :p

I'm kinda getting over the smell of the moly compound.. For the most part, the moly experience has been great.

Removing moly from a barrel ? Lots of patches pushed through with JB bore paste.... The patches come out progressively lighter grey and much lighter grey until the patch is quite white enough for your desire / taste. :rolleyes:

Moly away......

Barney
 
People who practice good housekeeping will most likely like moly coated bullets. Its not for the casual or lazy shooter who is not into barrel cleaning and general firearm cleaning and lubrication.
I have seen both chromemoly and stainless steel barrels that were ruined as a result of using moly coated bullets and then putting the rifle away without cleaning and then using a protective film of oil in the bore.
Yes, I use it and like it.
 
rgwhitman said:
I have seen both chromemoly and stainless steel barrels that were ruined as a result of using moly coated bullets and then putting the rifle away without cleaning and then using a protective film of oil in the bore.

I am quite interested in hearing the rest of the story. I have heard of this, but you are the first person who has actually said they have seen it firsthand.

Please elaborate.

Ted
 
This is the information that I found that caused me to post the question initially. I have used moly from the time it first hit the shooting scene without problems but I have heard of these horror stories so please elaborate.
 
Just out of curiousity, and not trying to hijack a post, has anyone tried the Gun Juice, Microlon route and compared it to molly? what were the differences performance wise? My read on the Gun Juice is it will out perform molly, and is easier to use, and better for cleaning. What do you guys think of it?
 
For those that developed rust in their barrels after shooting moly, I bet those same shooters would have rusty barrels if they shot bare bullets.

Gun powder fouling does attract moisture and in humid climates you will get rust issues. Why cleaning after shooting became the 'norm'. Really didn't do much for accuracy except to keep rust away.

If moly was hydroscopic (attract moisture), it would be a large hard lump in any package if left open. I have the same pouch of moly I use for coating open to the atmosphere for over 7yrs. Still a wonderful fine powder. Don't think it likes water.

I don't buy the moly causes rust thing. I am a very lazy person when it comes to barrel cleaning. In fact, I almost never clean my rifles and store without any bore treatment between range sessions.

My climate and storage area are quite dry. Simply no rust issues at all and I use moly bullets alot.

Moly can help provide a stable barrel for lots of accurate shooting between cleanings. When I clean, I just remove the fouling that is affecting accuracy (usually a few strokes with a dry very stiff nylon brush, that's it). I do not clean to bear metal as I have found that to be a waste of time. I most certainly do not want to remove the moly layer.

Pros and cons galor posted all over the shooting internet. I am pro moly especially in production or surplus barrels. Where the barrels are less the match BR lapped smooth, it does make a difference.

Jerry
 
THe rifles that I referred to as being damaged by using moly were both stainless and chromemoly steel types. I live in New Brunswick and do gunsmithing as an occupation so I see more rifles than most shooters do.
As long as the rifle is cleaned after shooting and a protective film of oil applied to the bore I do not believe that any corrosion damage will occur.
However some of my customers use ther guns around the coastal areas and they bought into the 'You don't have to clean your rifle anymore if you use moly coated bullets and this caused them some serious problems.
I am not a chemist or a great expect on the subject but from reading many articles and such in magazines such as "Precision Shooting" I would get the following impression.
Moly is not -hydroscopic- it does not attract moisture from the air like the salt peter does in black powder but it does break down in the barrel froim the heat and high pressures involved and because it leaves a 'dusty' coating in the bore it creates more surface area in the same way as a plowed field has more surface than a flat unplowed field. This fine dusty surface will condense moisture out of the air and in a humid environment this acts on the moly deposits so that the -molydendiumdisulfide -- the disulfide portion mixes with the humidity to form sulfuric acid and will play hell with the barrel.
I have a stainless barrel that came off a Ruger in 223 that was pitted very deeply. We are not talking a light roughness but rather cavities all along the barrel like you might see in rotton teeth! Not pretty at all or condusive to accuracy.
 
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