HBN question

[matchbook454]

Hi guys. I recently decided to try coating my barrel and bullets with HBN. I followed the instructions to a T and am not really impressed with it. I tested it using virgin brass so maybe that is why I am not seeing great ES and SD numbers? Anyway, I may just scrap this project even though I’ve mostly heard great things about it. I just want to make sure I can get this stuff out of my barrel (Boretech Eliminator?) and go back to shooting neked bullets? Any suggestions?

 

[LCazador]

Are you saying this brass was not fireformed to your chamber prior to doing the HBN test? If so that's your problem.

 

[Forum Boss]

What chambering? What bullets? What barrel brand/contour? What twist rate?
What brass?
What powder?
What was your accuracy before coating the bullets?
Did you change load to match velocity?
What is your shooting set-up -- are you using a front rest?

Without more info, not sure informed advice can be given.

Honestly, I'm not sure there is a meaningful advantage in HBN for the average shooter. Even in major F-Class matches, I don't know many people who are running coated bullets.

 

[rardoin]

Honestly, I'm not sure there is a meaningful advantage in HBN for the average shooter. Even in major F-Class matches, I don't know many people who are running coated bullets.

^^^^^This^^^^^

I worked with HBN coated (as supplied and self coated). My cleaning regime did not change nor did my MR/LR scores. Barrel life was not altered. No detriments but no advantage in my experience and not worth the extra effort. YMMV

 

[matchbook454]

Are you saying this brass was not fireformed to your chamber prior to doing the HBN test? If so that's your problem.

No I did not. And others on other forums have said the same thing. Rookie mistake. Thanks for helping though.

 

[matchbook454]

What chambering? What bullets? What barrel brand/contour? What twist rate?
What brass?
What powder?
What was your accuracy before coating the bullets?
Did you change load to match velocity?
What is your shooting set-up -- are you using a front rest?

Without more info, not sure informed advice can be given.

Honestly, I'm not sure there is a meaningful advantage in HBN for the average shooter. Even in major F-Class matches, I don't know many people who are running coated bullets.

It’s a 7 SAUM custom hunting rifle. Brux #5 at 25” 8.5 twist. Shooting Berger 180 Hybrids from ADG Brass (virgin which is what several people believe the problem is) and Reloder 26. I was shooting 62.6 grains at 3000 even and had a node between 62.4 and 62.8. ES 11-15 and SD 3-4. I had some issues with seating the bullets on my first batch. Nothing to do with HBN though. I size my necks with a turning mandrel (just a method that was taught to me) so I do this even to virgin brass to ensure or better ensure proper neck tension. I think this boogered up the necks as I had crazy seating problems. My second batch I did not do this and had no seating problems. However ES’s varied between 14 and 37 on 5 shot strings. Average velocities were different than the first batch too, most like due to boogered up necks. It appears that the same powder charge might yield the same velocity. I will do my load development all over again with the fire formed brass though to confirm.

 

[1/4 bore]

I’ve started started playing with HBN and cold bore mapping on a 30-28 Nosler. What started me down this road was I get a 1moa shift up after the first shot then it will group there. I have months of data add it’s highly repeat able. With bare bullets I would get the 1moa shift and a velocity drop of ~ 25fps would accompany it. I’m confident the 1moa shift is not due to velocity thou. After HBN the first few groups displayed the 1moa shift up but the velocity on the first shot was close to the others. The last 100yrd grouping was shots 19-22 with HBN, 3 shots stacked in the mid 1’s and a shot 1hr later after .1mill adjustment tracked where it’s supposed to ES was 3fps. Then I moved to 600yrds where first shot was spot on vertical then the next 2 where back to the the 1moa shift up. I held .2mil low and group 2 shots with the first shot. So the jury is still out as to whether HBN will solve the shift for a few shots or not. I will be happy if it’s repeatable holding 3 shots as this is a hunting rifle, I’m confident in the 1st shot but would like to know if I need a follow up that it will not be 1moa high. With that said, even if the shift continues I will still use HBN as I seems to help with 1st shot velocity and ES.
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