Testing WS2 vs. HBN, help me design a test

[Keith Glasscock]

Here is what I have:

I have 500 Berger 215 hybrids on the way and a good guy just sent me some samples of both WS2 and HBN to test. I want to give each of the materials a fair shake. How would you design the test?

The barrel has only shot naked bullets for the first 600 rounds.

My first inclination is to take WS2 (because it is black) and coat about 100 bullets with it, dry burnish the WS2 into a sparkling clean barrel and shoot 25 with my "normal" load work-ups. After that, I'll do load testing and tuning for the remaining 75 rounds.

Here is problem #1: Can I really get it all out of the barrel by cleaning, or do I need to fire "naked" bullets for a bit to get it all out?

After getting all of the WS2 out, I'll do the same testing with HBN and compare the final tuned load product.

So, the big question I have is whether I can get all of the stuff out of the barrel, and how. I don't brush this barrel if I can help it, but I do use JB paste to get the carbon out.

Does this make sense to anyone? Should I do it differently?

Thanks,
Keith

 

[Bob3700]

Keith,

I have shot both Moly and HBN thru the same bbl. Cleaned after the moly.

Can't really see any negative results from switching coatings.

Have one rifle that has shot WS2 and then switched to moly, again couldn't see any difference on the target.

The WS2 to HBN is one switch I have not made. That said, it really doesn't seem to matter what friction reducing coating you are using, the target doesn't show a difference.

This is MR and LR HP prone shooting.

Bob

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Bob,

Can you clue me in on a couple of things?

Does the HBN coated bullet make a good smudge on the target? Since we shoot best-edge, I'm wanting a good friction reducer, and good target marking (to maximize the chance of "winning" a point on a close shot).

Have you seen any difference in the viability of the three bullet coatings? Is any one noticeably slicker than the others?

Thanks,
Keith