I opened a new box of Hornady conicals today, and it then dawned on me just how much lube they slather on these bullets. I guess it stands out after using sabots for awhile.

Anyway, it got me to thinking, what is the true purpose behind bullet lube? Is it to helf the bullet slide down the bore easier during loading? I wonder if this really is the case since, after pulling an unfired bullet out of the bore (actually, removing the breach plug and pushing it out the muzzle), I noted that most of the lube it left on the crown of the muzzle during loading. Upon removing the unfired bullet I noted that there is little to no lube on the newly cut rifling grooves in the sides of the bullet. This leads me to believe that the lube that would have been helpful is scraped off by the muzzle and lands leaving bare lead to steel contact.

I also am skeptical that the lube is intended to help the bullet slide out of the bore easier when fired. I was always under the impression that a lubricated bullet would actually reduce muzzle velocity because the bullet starts moving down the bore before pressure can build to its fill potential. I point to the use of moly lubes on centerfire rifle bullets as a similar case. It is my understanding that a rifle shooting the same load, with the only difference being the moly coated bullet vs. a standard copper jacketed bullet, that the velocity and chamber pressure will be lower with the moly bullet, but to compensate the case can be loaded " hotter" to bring the pressure back to the normal peak.

It would also seem to me that the lube would have the undersireable effect of allowing, under the right circumstances, the bullet to become dislodged from the power charge creating a dangerous air space in the chamber. I have never, to my knowledge, personally experienced this, but it makes sense that is could happen.

The only reason I can really see for the presense of lube is to soften the fouling created as the bullet leaves the bore by melting due to heat from the burning charge and the friction of the bullet against the bore. This softening effect would seem to help ease the difficulty of loading the next shot if one does not swab between shots, particularly if using a powder that fouls badly, such as real black powder. But if one chooses to spit patch between shots and shoots a clean burning, and easy to clean powder like T7, is the softening effect of the lube necessary?

So the real question is; is lubing bullets necessary in the age of black powder substitutes, provided that one cleans after every shot? Does the lube serve a greater and necessary purpose beyond ease of " dirty" reloading and easier cleaning?

Everyones thoughts are welcome.

Thanks,

Mike