I have to respectfully disagree with some of the theories of Mr Lewis in his article in the FS 235. In the third paragraph Mr Lewis tells us “If a lead bullet comes in direct contact with the bore of the barrel then some damage to the bullet will occur. Lead molecules can be abraded from the bullet and the heat generated by friction can cause a slight melting of the bullet where it is in contact with the bore and this will result in bullet metal being smeared down the bore." Plenty of us shoot bullets with bore riding noses eg: 314299 and create superb accuracy. The bore riding nose carries no lube and is in direct contact with the barrel metal albeit an residue from previous shots. I very seldom clean my rifles and never experience any leading from such bullets. Experiments where I have applied a film of bullet to the bullet nose have been detrimental to accuracy. I am not so sure that the nose of a bore riding bullet is capable of generating enough heat from friction to melt lead. Further, if a bare lead bullet will foul in a barrel how is it that air rifle pellets do not do so? Many modern air rifles are matching rimfire velocity with bare, unlubed projectiles. Mr Lewis in paragraph four states “Anytime you find bullet metal being tranferred to the bore it is because the bullet lube has failed in some way." I am more of the opinion that leading is a factor of gas cutting due to too smaller diameter projectile and in this situation any lube is going to have its work cut out trying to defeat the ultra hot high pressure gas. Glen Fryxell has written extensively about cast bullet shooting and believes bullet lube is not a lube per se but acts as a liquid piston ring around the bullet. As the pressure builds the lube liquefies and acts as a gas seal. Seal is the operative word here. When a bullets properly seals the bore leading will not be a problem. In terms of lube conditioning the bore I believe there is some merit in this statement. Mr Lewis doesn't get into the black powder discussion however I have never accepted that BP bullets with deep grooves to carry lube to “keep fouling soft” actually ever do this. Firstly, how does the lube escape the grooves when in significant amounts to mix with fouling and secondly, given the surface area of the inside of rifle barrel and the 50% charge of residue, there can't be enough lube to come close to keeping fouling soft. Mr Lewis refers, in paragraph twelve, to barrel conditioning and I believe he has a point here. In the case of BP shooting I believe the factor in managing fouling is creating a microscopic film of lube the barrel steel that prevents fouling adhering so tenaciously. The same would apply, on a lesser scale, to smokeless powder. Again, I have to respectfully disagree with some of Mr Lewis's point but my compliments on a constructive article.
Cheers from New Zealand
