Why Old Ammunition Was Coated With Wax

by
posted on March 25, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
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

Shooting For 1000 1
Shooting For 1000 1

Reaching for 1,000: A Study in Long Range Marksmanship

Calculating all the factors that go into a well-placed shot at distance can be a daunting task for those new to long-distance marksmanship, but when it all comes together, the result is gratifying.

ATF Proposes Changes to Form 4473

The ATF proposed a series of changes to form 4473 in May. If approved, the modifications would shave three pages from the paperwork and eliminate a lot of the previous form’s confusing redundancy­, trimming questions for both the purchaser/transferee and FFL.

Roar of the Muskets: The North-South Skirmish Association

The North-South Skirmish Association keeps Civil War history alive through competition shoots using Civil War-era arms at its Fort Shenandoah home base, as well as at regional shoots across the country.

Interest in Gunsmithing Grows as Potential AI Safe Haven

We’re told AI could eventually eliminate every job, and the trades will just be the last to go. But a pair of experts dedicated to training gunsmiths have a different opinion on the fate of their graduates.

Pietta Re-Introduces Starr Revolver Models

Late last year, Pietta announced it would be re-introducing their Starr revolver in both its double-action and single-action form, and now, the guns are finally arriving stateside.

Why the Murder Rate Quickly Fell to a Likely Historic Low

If the gun-control Left is to be believed, then the murder rate in the U.S. should be going up. After all, gun sales and ownership rates have been rising for the last few decades and anti-gun groups claim that gun ownership is the cause of violent crime. This, of course, is nonsense.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.