Why Old Ammunition Was Coated With Wax

by
posted on March 25, 2014
qanda2015_fs.jpg (5)

Q. I have an old box of Winchester-Western Super X .38 Colt hollow-point ammo. On the side of the box is “Lubaloy coated Bullet special dry wax lubricant.”  It seems to me that most modern ammunition is not coated. Why is it (or was it) necessary to put some form of wax on ammunition?

A. The wax was designed to reduce the friction caused by the lead or copper fouling left in the rifle bore after firing. Without the wax, it was believed that lead would build up due to friction in the bore, eventually causing accuracy problems as well as the need to scrub the bore clean after firing. Ammunition manufacturers still use some type of wax coating on lead bullets. Copper-plated and jacketed rimfire ammunition is not coated. I am sure that when using lubricated bullets, there was a lot of that wax scraping off in the bore and chamber, requiring a lot more cleaning than would probably be necessary when firing jacketed bullets.

-Dave Andrews

Originally published April, 2006

Latest

Century BFT 01
Century BFT 01

New For 2024: Century Arms BFT74 & BFT556

Century Arms expanded its AK-style BFT rifle line in 2024 with two new models chambered for 5.56 NATO and 5.45x39 mm, respectively.

Preview: Armaspec SRS AR-15 Kit

This Armaspec upgrade to the AR-15’s standard buffer and spring includes a trio of interchangeable buffer weights that allow the user to tune it to his or her rifle/load.

Gun Of The Week: Davidson’s Exclusive KelTec KS7

Join American Rifleman staff on the range this week with a unique version of KelTec's KS7 bullpup shotgun.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 1, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Hydra Weaponry Expands To New Facility

Hydra Weaponry—the designer and manufacturer of the modular Marck-15 Hydra Weapon System and Maine’s largest firearm employer—has expanded into a larger facility.

Review: Bushmaster M4A2 Patrolman's Carbine

The M4A2 Patrolman’s Carbine from Bushmaster Firearms is the first in a line of AR-15s designed to bring back the standard, carbine-length firearms that have long been a staple of American shooting enthusiasts.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.