goofy question

[moooose102]

i am a former mechanic, so to me, all moving parts should have lubrication. i understand why lube in a barrel is nor acceptable (high pressures), but why are jacketed bullets not made with some kind of lubricant made into the metal? such as oil impregnated brass, or some type of dry lube impregnated into the copper? i know that there are moly coated bullets, and coating available, and i will be using them now that i have started thinking about it. just curious as to why this has not been addressed in the past. or is the major factor in barrel wear erosion of the throat from powder burning? i have seen one rifle that the barrel was worn oblong at the muzzle, it was an OLD 30-06 military rifle.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

or is the major factor in barrel wear erosion of the throat from powder burning?

This is where the majority of wear occurs. And a lot of rifling "wear" is not wear, but the grooves filled up with jacket material fouling. In very high-velocity rifle cartridges, this "moly coating" could have some benefit in this area.

i have seen one rifle that the barrel was worn oblong at the muzzle, it was an OLD 30-06 military rifle.

IMO this is more likely from using improper cleaning techniques - i.e., jamming the cleaning rod against the crown when pushing it into the muzzle - overa long period of time. Was this a semi-auto, e.g., a M1? You can remove the bolt from a bolt-action and push the rod through from the breech, but this is not an option with a semi-auto, lever, etc.

Also IMO, at less than half - or even a third or a fourth of - the velocity, rifling wear is a moot point with handguns. Revolver forcing cones ( a short, unrifled area where the bullet enters the barrel after leaving the cylinder) can erode or crack, but this has nothing to do with lubrication.

 

[PointOneSeven]

I don't think they'd even lube lead if it didn't lead the barrel all up.


I think copper jackets aren't lubed because they don't have to be. The bullet morphs to the shape of the rifling and goes from there. If the slugs weren't very flexible, steel like barrel lining, lube might be a good thing.

 

[DWARREN123]

Brass is kind of a self lubing metal. Don't need a lube for general use, maybe for tiny groups at extreme ranges.

 

[.cheese.]

as far as I'm aware, there is no reason why you couldn't have lube in the barrel. I would imagine it'd just burn up upon the first shot or two, but would be good for storing guns and keeping rust away.