Hexagonal Boron Nitride (HBN) — How Well Does It Work?
For years, many shooters have coated bullets with Moly (molybdenum disulfide) or Danzac (tungsten disulfide or “WS2″). The idea was to reduce friction between bullets and barrel. In theory, this could lengthen barrel life and extend the number of rounds a shooter can fire between cleanings.
Moly and WS2 both have their fans, but in the last couple of years, some guys have switched to Hexagonal Boron Nitride (HBN), another dry lubricant. The advantage of HBN is that it won’t combine with moisture to create harmful acids. HBN is very slippery and it goes on clear, so it doesn’t leave a dirty mess on your hands or loading bench. Typically, HBN is applied via impact plating (tumbling), just as with Moly.
HBN Results — Both on Bullets and Barrel Bores
Many folks have asked, “Does Hexagonal Boron Nitride really work?” You’ll find answers to that and many other questions on gunsmith Stan Ware’s popular Bench-Talk.com Blog. There Paul Becigneul (aka Pbike) gives a detailed run-down on HBN use, comparing it to other friction-reducers. Paul also discusses the use of HBN in suspension to pre-coat the inside of barrels. Paul observes:
We coated our bullets … how we had been coating with WS2. Now our bullets have a slightly white sheen to them with kind of like a pearl coat. They are so slippery it takes a little practice to pick them up and not drop them on the trailer floor. What have we noticed down range? Nothing different from WS2 other than the black ring on your target around the bullet hole is now white or nonexistent. Our barrels clean just as clean as with WS2. Your hands aren’t black at the end of the day of shooting and that might be the most important part.
Interestingly, Becigneul decided to try a solution of HBN in alcohol, to pre-coat the inside of barrels. Paul had previously used a compound called Penephite to coat the inside of his barrels after cleaning. Paul explains:
If Penephite was used because it was slippery wouldn’t HBN be better? … We called Momentive again (our source for HBN), and talked about mixing HBN and 90% alcohol for a suspension agent to pre-lube our barrels. He though it sounded great but that the Kb>AC6111 Grade HBN would be better for this use. It would stand up in the alcohol suspension and cling to the barrel when passed through on a patch. We got some and mixed it in alcohol 90%. We use about one teaspoon in 16 ounces of alcohol.
We started using it this fall and what we have noticed is that now that first shot fired out of a clean and pre-lubed barrel can be trusted as the true impact point. We use tuners so now I got to the line, fire two shots judge my group for vertical, adjust the tuner as needed or not, and after tune has been achieved go to my record targets. This use has saved us in time at the bench and bullets in the backstop.
You really should read the whole article by Becigneul. He discusses the use of barrel lubes such as Penephite and “Lock-Ease” in some detail. Paul also provides links to HBN vendors and to the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the various compounds he tested.
Good Source for Hexagonal Boron Nitride (HBN)
Paul Becigneul (aka PBike in our Forum) has been using HBN for many years with good results. He obtains his HBN from Momentive Performance Materials:
Momentive Performance Materials
www.Momentive.comSales Contact: Robert Bell
Sales Email: robert.bell [at] momentive.com
Sales Phone: Robert Bell, (980) 231-5404
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- Boron Nitride Bullet Lube Sources
- Boron Nitride Sources and Application Procedures
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Tags: Bench-talk.com, Boron Nitride, bullets, HBN, Moly, Paul Becigneul, WS2
Glad there’s more folks using this stuff now… more info on how it works for them.
Interesting that his source – Momentum – has a spray product available. If it’s not too many $$ that could be helpful.
Interesting !
a.But what is the price for 100 coated bullets and one coated barrel ?
b.How many rounds is longer the life of an accurate barrel for calibers 6 mm BR Norma, 6 x 47 SM, 6-6,5 x 47 Lapua, 6,5 x 47 Lapua, 6,5 x 55 SE, 308 Winchester, 7,62 x 39 ?
c.HBN coated bullets and HBN coated barrels improve the accuracy of rifles or handguns ?
d.What are the differences in accuracy and wear between carbon steel barrels treated with HBN, stainless steel barrels treated with HBN and Titanium barrels treated with HBN ?
e.What is the reaction between barrels treated with HBN and bullets treated with HBN or even moly coated bullets ?
I am very interested to see some photos or films with the interior of such barrels (HBN treated) after 1500 rounds, 3000 rounds, 4000 rounds and 6000 rounds of HBN treated bullets.
I suppose that there is somebody who used such treatmens for his barrel(s) and bullets in the last four, five or six years…
In fact, why the main producers of barrels, rifles and bullets refuse to treat with HBN their
products ? Why the best champions in long range shooting refuse to use such coatings ?
I am greatful for such data offered by the author of the article. Thank You! But we need more data and accurate data on such tests and, of course, we need answers from the main producers of rifles and bullets.
Sincerely,
Inemin
David Tubb pioneered the use of hBN for coating bullets four or five years ago. He was motivated by his desire to improve the consistency of coated bullets’ performance. He’d been using the NECO moly-coating process, but saw changes in bullet performance due to ambient humidity from day to day.
Both Moly & DANZAC are sulfur-bearing compounds. Both have far lower temp limits than hBN, and when they break down reactive sulfur compounds can be left behind. These are what react with moisture in the air. Most are corrosive to common barrel steels.
Cost to coat bullets is no more than with moly. David offers this as a service for those unwilling or unable to coat their own. He charges $50 / 1000 bullets unless he’s changed that recently. Cost to coat barrel bores ought to be pretty low too as a little goes a long way.
Whether hBN can contribute to longer barrel life is strictly guesswork. I know of no definitive studies supporting longer barrel life when coated bullets of any kind are used.
Other than the salt-bath nitriding treatment mentioned here before, I don’t believe there’s any worthwhile way to increase barrel life in a meaningful way except by backing off on propellant loads.
Mr. Clark,
Thank you. I think that shooters and hunters, who had such experiences with HBN coated barrels and bullets, could help us to understand long term effects of such treatment on barrels life and accuracy. We can help each other to improve our performances and to save money. This page is a good opportunity.
Again, thank you Mr.David Tubb and Mr.Steve Clark for the data offered here. But I think that this is only the beginning. We have to wait for more data from more who experienced nitride coating.
Sincerely, Inemin
I have, and still do use hBN on bullets, and I still have a strong black ring, and no increase in accuracy or time between cleaning. I don’t know why I use it honestly.
I have often wondered if there will be health issues down the road with all 3 coatings from absorbtion through the skin and inhalation during the application process and again at the firing line. Mainly, black lung and silicosis or asbestosis type things. . .only time will tell. . .I guess you guys are the parakeets in the mine for the shooting world.
I wonder about carbon caused or left behind by the bullet coatings themselves. I’ve used WS2 for so long, that I have no comparison to consider..
have used it for at least 2 years. seems like less cleaning required but find cleaning less anyway. believe just thru only thinking about the problem is that; 1) the plasma/heat produced by the powder ignition eliminates the boron or moly coating in the barrel (not the bullet) and 2)the only fix to the problem of barrel life can only be addressed by the use of a ceramic sleve.
From what I have found, the spray is processed with a 15 micron filter. The spray will have particles as large as 15 micron, but no word on the size of the smallest particles.
HBN seems to be made using ammonia, possably boric acid, and ether sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid. Any chance if the product decomp’s it will bond with whatever is in the air and recreate these or other unhealthy compounds for your barrel?
Still no word if it actually helps with the barrel life
David Tubb did NOT pioneer the use of hBN coated bullets. RG Robinett, and I, along with others, were using it in 2005.
Bullet coating will be debated regardless of the material used.
I use Moly and HBN separately in different rifles. Both provide the results that give me confidence that coatings do something. If nothing else they allow me to develop loads that perform as I want them to. Predictable velocities and terminal performance are benifits of coating in my experience.
Barrels begin the process of wearing out from the first shot. I cannot say with any degree of surety that my barrels will last longer than any other barrel.
I have used moly since the 90s and have yet to see corrosion caused by the reaction of moly and the atmosphere.
I have used HBN since I first heard the buzz somewhere between Robinett and Tubb and have not experienced any detrimental effects that could be linked directly to HBN.
In a nutshell: Use it or don’t .
We were doing testing on BN coated bullets and Barrels back in 1995. Even went as far as applying for a patent.Which we found was not easy do to the fact People have been swabbing barrels for decades. Also contacted Olin Corp. at the time would not talk to us unless we had a patent. We’ve personally been using this since 1995.