moly bullets downrange

Little-e · June 19, 1999, 03:14 PM

1. Does anyone have any experience with what a moly coated does on a target? I've read they are good for breaking in a barrel, extending barrel life, and can give you higher velocities. I'd like to know if they give you any advantages when they hit something.

2. I just bought some moly coated bullets (Hornady A-max) to load for my .308 and they appear to be ballistic tips. Are they true ballistic tips and will they function the same with the moly coating?

Thanks in advance.

flatlander · June 19, 1999, 05:22 PM

LittleE: Don't know what kind of advantage you're talking about - the moly'd bullets I've shot prairie dogs and coyotes with did the same job as uncoated bullets. Ballistic Tip is the trademarked name that Nosler uses for their plastic tipped bullets. Hornady uses V-Max & A-Max, while Sierra uses BlitzKing. They're all direct take-offs from the old Remington Bronze Point hunting bullet. The only practical difference between moly'd and plain bullets is that moly'd bullets take more powder to reach the same velocity as uncoated bullets, and usually leave your bore cleaner and easier to clean after shooting.

**Art Eatman** · June 19, 1999, 11:36 PM

Flatlander: I thought one of the main reasons for the moly-coat was to make the bullets "slicker" and give higher velocities for a given loading.

If I'm loading a standard bullet to max in my '06, I sure ain't adding more powder behind the same weight of bullet...

Sign me "Puzzled".

**Mal H** · June 20, 1999, 12:06 AM

I do believe the flatlander is right. It's because coated bullets are slicker that they produce lower pressures for the same powder load. It's easier to push 'em along so the pressure levels don't get as high - lower pressure = lower velocity. It usually takes a small fraction of additional powder to get the pressure up to the uncoated bullet level, around 2% or so.

bfoster · June 22, 1999, 12:40 AM

One further note: I am not alone in recording very slightly decreased ballistic coefficients associated with some bullets after moly coating. Both Mic MacPherson and Norma have also observed this phenomenon. Insofar as practical shooting is concerned, there isn't a signifigant difference at normal (hunting) ranges.

June 19, 1999, 03:14 PM	#1
Little-e Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 1999 Posts: 171	1. Does anyone have any experience with what a moly coated does on a target? I've read they are good for breaking in a barrel, extending barrel life, and can give you higher velocities. I'd like to know if they give you any advantages when they hit something. 2. I just bought some moly coated bullets (Hornady A-max) to load for my .308 and they appear to be ballistic tips. Are they true ballistic tips and will they function the same with the moly coating? Thanks in advance.

June 19, 1999, 05:22 PM	#2
flatlander Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 1999 Posts: 120	LittleE: Don't know what kind of advantage you're talking about - the moly'd bullets I've shot prairie dogs and coyotes with did the same job as uncoated bullets. Ballistic Tip is the trademarked name that Nosler uses for their plastic tipped bullets. Hornady uses V-Max & A-Max, while Sierra uses BlitzKing. They're all direct take-offs from the old Remington Bronze Point hunting bullet. The only practical difference between moly'd and plain bullets is that moly'd bullets take more powder to reach the same velocity as uncoated bullets, and usually leave your bore cleaner and easier to clean after shooting.

June 19, 1999, 11:36 PM	#3
Art Eatman Staff Lead Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX, USA Posts: 21,050	Flatlander: I thought one of the main reasons for the moly-coat was to make the bullets "slicker" and give higher velocities for a given loading. If I'm loading a standard bullet to max in my '06, I sure ain't adding more powder behind the same weight of bullet... Sign me "Puzzled".

June 20, 1999, 12:06 AM	#4
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern VA Posts: 14,128	I do believe the flatlander is right. It's because coated bullets are slicker that they produce lower pressures for the same powder load. It's easier to push 'em along so the pressure levels don't get as high - lower pressure = lower velocity. It usually takes a small fraction of additional powder to get the pressure up to the uncoated bullet level, around 2% or so.

June 22, 1999, 12:40 AM	#5
bfoster Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1998 Location: N. of Fords Switch, OK, USA Posts: 299	One further note: I am not alone in recording very slightly decreased ballistic coefficients associated with some bullets after moly coating. Both Mic MacPherson and Norma have also observed this phenomenon. Insofar as practical shooting is concerned, there isn't a signifigant difference at normal (hunting) ranges.