HBN, not for me!

[Nature Boy]

Using Tubbs' branded HBN on 6.5mm bullets with 0.0015-0.0005" 'neck tension' I had no issues with load precision in competition loads for F-class at 600yds. My seating pressures were in the range of 16lbs up to 60lbs in that NT range. I quit using it as I saw no advantage compared to uncoated bullets.

Robin

Sure seems like a lot of work

 

[rardoin]

Sure seems like a lot of work

Yea...I did not see any compelling reason to continue the practice.

Robin

 

[338 dude]

This is bound to start arguments but I'm just stating my findings, nothing more or less. I ordered 1 oz of Microlubrol Hexagonal Boron Nitride Ultra Fine 0.5 µ micron powder. Just got to experiment with it yesterday. Tumbled a few bullets for over an hour. They felt slick on the surface. Loaded a few cases (no powder/primer) for a test. The cases are all new, never fired, Hornady .308cases from the same lot, all neck turned and resized the same way. The bullets, except one, were all new A-Max 208g and all were inserted to provide full neck contact. All cases were cleaned inside the necks with alcohol along with the bullets. All had .002" interference fit. I tried pulling them out using a collet die in my press and for lack of a better way, used a 50 lb package scale held against the press handle and applying pressure gradually until they broke loose to get a ballpark reading. I was expecting good things. Not this time!

Dry & clean bare metal ............. 14lbs, 16lbs
Graphite coated case & bullet ..... 11lbs, 16lbs
HBN tumbler coated bullet, and wiped into neck ... 29 lbs
HBN wiped into case and on bullet ... 44 lbs

Same case used with HBN (44lbs) cleaned, resized, and coated with graphite ... 14 lbs
Same case as the Dry (14 lbs) except wiped with HBN and used a tumbler coated 200.20X ... 23 lbs
Same case and bullet as the 11lb graphite, not resized, cleaned and wiped in neck and bullet surface with HBN ... 30 lbs
Dry case and same bullet (that was 16 lbs), re-cleaned with alcohol, not resized. Bottomed the scale out at 50 lbs a couple times and it did not release.

Kind of a trend here. Seating forces aren't as relevant as the force needed to push/pull them out of the cases when fired. I also saw quite a bit of galling damage on the bullet surfaces with HBN. These were all new before the test.
View attachment 1017488
Does anyone have any ideas? This is my first experience with this lubricant. At this point, unless I see and can verify that it works, I won't use it again. A $21 education.

I too have tried to HBN was not impressed at all I don’t like how it roughed up the bullet through the tumbling process so no advantages at all but I do Molly coat bullets now with the water method very simple have seen lower ES an S D’s and of course there is always an increase in Barrel life it is proven for many years, and they shoot as good as they look