The following information has been distributed widely on the internet
by the Parsec Group.While we agree with many of Parsec's positions,
some of their comments are claims driven by marketing efforts. We have
added our comments in an attempt to further clarify some issues we
feel are misleading.

From The Parsec Group Engineering and Technical Support Division
parsec@netside.com Fax 410-378-9226

"What is the real truth about Moly?"

As promised, we have compiled an FAQ on the subject of Molybdenum
Disulfide used as a lubricant in a weapons environment. The following
information is based upon the multitude of questions we have been
asked over the past 18 months or more and the scientific answers to
those questions. For the sake of space, we have not gone into what
moly is and where it came from as it is felt that most readers already
know this. Every effort has been made to make this FAQ as much in
layman's language as possible.If any of this information is unclear or
does not cover a question the reader may have, do not  hesitate to
contact our Engineering and Technical Support Division by E-mail:
parsec@netside.com or Fax 410-378-9226 for additional answers and
refer to the FAQ by its number.

The following terms and their definitions will apply.

MoS2 or Moly = Molybdenum Disulfide

Particle Size = The size of a group of moly crystals which is measured
in microns.

Technical Grade Moly = Moly whose particle size ranges from 25 microns
and above.

Technical Fine Moly = Moly whose particle size ranges around 5
microns.

Lubricant Grade Moly = Moly whose particle size ranges below 1.5
microns.

Micron = A unit of measure equal to 40 millionths of an inch and
denoted by the symbol.

Remicronized = The classified process of reducing the particle size of
moly crystals to almost one uniform size of less than 0.5 micron.

Inhibited = The addition of another compound(s) to the moly in order
to neutralize the naturally occurring acidic quality of moly.

Substrate = The material to which moly is applied.

Molecular Polarity = The positive and negative poles of a molecule of
a certain compound. Molecules of different compounds may be either
attracted to or repelled by each other depending upon the molecular
polarity of each compound.

In Situ Deposition = The depositing of moly on a substrate by virtue
of the moly's natural molecular polarity and attraction to the
substrate.

Burnished Deposition = The depositing of moly on a substrate by
rubbing or impacting the moly onto the substrate. Generally used when
there is no strong molecular polarity between the moly and the
substrate.

Bonded Deposition = The depositing of moly on a substrate by the moly
being mixed either with an epoxy or phenolic resin which "sticks" or
bonds to the surface of the substrate. This application usually
contains only some 60% moly and is most frequently used for
lubricating metal in a hard vacuum such as in deep space or applying
moly to a non-metallic substrate.

Compressed Deposition = The depositing of moly on a substrate by
applying substantial mechanical pressure against the moly in order to
force a thicker coating of moly to adhere to the substrate.

Colloidal Suspension = A solution of liquid or gas in which extremely
small solid particles are suspended with little or no settling out of
the solids.

(1)    Q - Can I eat game shot with moly bullets and/or is moly toxic
or hazardous in any way?

A - A two part answer to this. (a) Moly is necessary in the human body
in order to maintain good health and is usually ingested by eating
vegetables which take up moly from the soil. One need only read the
back panel of almost all man made fertilizers to see that one of the
ingredients is moly as shown by the chemical symbol Mo. Any excess
ingestion of moly will result in the excess being thrown off by the
body in the same manner as an excess of vitamins. Therefore, there is
no danger at all in eating a game animal killed with a moly bullet.(b)
However, breathing dry moly is another story entirely. Moly with a
particle size of 7 microns or below is comparable to a droplet of fog
suspended in the air and is very easily inhaled. Dry moly in the
presence of moisture (such as in the lungs) quickly becomes acidic and
just as quickly begins to irritate lung tissue. The latter, irritated
lung tissue, allows rapid invasion of bacteria and viruses which
quickly lead to respiratory infections. Prolonged or regular
inhalation of dry moly and the continued irritation of lung tissue can
lead to lung cancer and death. Anyone who works with dry moly should
wear a respirator and safety glasses at all times.

(2) Q - Is all moly the same?

A - Most certainly not. Moly can be found in an infinite number of
particle sizes and levels of purity depending upon the mining/refining
source. The most desirable type of moly for weapons application is
lubricant grade (1.5 microns or below), 99% pure (100% pure is not
possible) and should be a wetted and inhibited formula in a colloidal
suspension. Poorly refined or impure moly can contain undesirable
quantities of Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Mercury, Nickel and
Lead. Such impurities in quantity can be very detrimental to any
weapon.

(3) Q - I have heard that moly is corrosive. Is this true?

A - Any moly is corrosive if it does not contain an inhibitor to
neutralize the naturally occurring acidic quality of the moly. Dry
moly is particularly bad as it is chemically impossible to add an
inhibitor to dry moly. Even the most highly refined and pure moly will
contain (among other compounds/elements) some Sulfur and Sulfur
Dioxide (SO2). When the Sulfur or Sulfur Dioxide is exposed to the
humidity in air, it combines with water vapor to form Sulfuric Acid
(H2SO4) which then immediately attacks any metal. The higher the
humidity the more acid is formed and the more corrosion which takes
place. One cannot detect this corrosion by simple examination as it
takes place between the moly crystal and the substrate and is hidden
by the moly crystal covering it. Corrosion can only be seen by first
removing all moly thereby exposing the corrosion to view. Those who
fire bullets coated with dry moly will have little corrosion as long
as firing is being done as the heat from firing drives off the
moisture. However, as soon as a firing session stops and the weapon
cools down, water vapor will begin to be absorbed by the moly and
corrosion begins. And, the longer between firing sessions, the more
corrosion which will take place. The corrosive properties of
uninhibited or dry moly have been well documented by military testing
as far back as 1968.

RSI Note: This is a position held by Parsec who has vested interest in
the sale of purified moly products. We have not experienced corrosion
problems caused by moly if firearms are properly cleaned and oiled
after each shooting. To our knowledge corrosion problems have
primarily been an issue within the gas tubes of semi autos (i.e.M1's)
that were not entirely cleaned before long term storage. Unpurified
Moly has been used by industry for more then 30 years and to our
knowledge corrosion problems are not an engineering consideration when
it is applied to quality steel products as used in rifle barrels.

(4) Q -  I am a precision competition shooter and already get almost
twice the life out of my target barrel using dry moly coated bullets
when compared to my use of standard non-coated bullets. Why do I need
to worry about corrosion, etc.?

A - If you have no problem with the time, aggravation and expense of
replacing your target barrel every 3,000 to 4,000 rounds (maximum life
as reported by moly bullet users) and also have no problem with other
drawbacks of using dry or uninhibited moly (velocity decreases,
build-up/caking, etc.) then you should continue to use the dry moly
coated bullets. If, on the other hand, you would like a viable
alternative, then you should seek out a moly weapons oil formulation
which is remicronized, inhibited and in the form of a colloidal
suspension. Use of the latter as instructed will eliminate velocity
decreases in rifle length barrels, virtually eliminate all fouling and
provide an almost indefinite barrel life.

RSI Note:  There are numerous moly bore solutions available and they
do have their uses.Treating the bore directly can provide many of the
advantages of shooting Moly bullets (less bore wear, copper fouling,
etc.) but is removed after firing a few copper jacketed bullets and
therefore must be manually replenished.

Moly coated bullets re-coat the bore with each successive shot and may
extend the number of shots before you must cease shooting and clean.
But yes, coated bullets will eventually leave too much moly in the
bore so that it must be removed. Which method to use may be depend on
the number of shots you wish to take before cleaning and how your
barrel behaves when using moly coated bullets. Our experience is the
"bore wipes" must be replenished after 20 or 30 rounds while it MAY be
possible to shoot 75 to 100 rounds of coated bullets before cleaning. 
Before you decide to shoot 100 rounds before cleaning your rifle make
sure it is not prone to severe moly caking.

Parsec claims that a bore wipe will maintain the same pressures and
velocity. This may also be explained by the fact less moly is
deposited in the barrel using this method.It could be argued that the
coating is insufficient to provide the same degree of lubrication. 
One characteristic of Moly bullets is that it may take 10 shots to
coat a clean barrel so that velocities stabilize.We have successfully
used Moly bore solutions to reduce the "fouling" time  to only 3 or 4
shots or half that of starting with  coated bullets in a cold clean
barrel.

(5) Q - What causes me to experience a reduction in velocity when
firing moly coated bullets?

A - This will be a complex answer with several factors involved.
First, modern gun powder is in reality a solid propellant which is
chemically formulated in a precise manner to burn at a controlled rate
not unlike the solid propellant found in the booster rockets of the
Space Shuttle and other space craft. Controlled burning is a critical
factor in understanding the answer to this question. Another fact to
keep in mind is that to our knowledge, no reloading charts or
ballistic tables exist which were computed on the basis of a weapon
firing moly coated bullets. In addition, it must also be understood
that the popular "tumbling" method of coating bullets with dry moly
leaves only a very thin layer of moly on the projectile as the
attraction by molecular polarity between the moly and the gilding
metal (bullet jacket) is relatively weak compared to moly's attraction
to steel.

Now, keeping the above factors in mind, let us actually track the path
of a moly bullet as it is fired in a modern rifle. Once the primer is
struck ignition begins in the solid propellant at the rear of the
cartridge case. Expanding gas from the controlled burning of the
propellant creates pressure which then forces the moly bullet out of
the end of the cartridge case and into the throat of the bore. This
initial leap of the bullet into the bore throat is a harsh environment
for the bullet as it must not only size itself to the bore but must
also conform itself to the lands and grooves of the rifling to begin
its stabilizing spin. By virtue of its moly coating reducing friction,
the bullet moves more easily and sooner in time (not speed) into the
bore throat achieving its conformity and spin much sooner than an
uncoated bullet. As this bullet travel is taking place, the propellant
continues to burn at the controlled rate dictated by its chemical
formulation which was compounded for non-coated bullets. Let us now
imagine that the bullet has reached the half way point or 50%
(approximately) down the length of the barrel. In our mind's eye we
now "freeze frame" the tracking of the bullet at the approximate 50%
point in its trip down the barrel in order to see what has happened
and is happening. Since the bullet began its trip into the bore throat
easier and with less effort than an uncoated bullet, the amount of
propellant which had burned was less in relation to the position of
the bullet down the bore. The reason being the moly bullet, having to
overcome less friction in starting its movement, has required less
energy from the burning propellant to begin its trip. As a result of
this, the area or volume of space available to the expanding gas from
the burning propellant has become greater due to the more rapid entry
(sooner in time, not speed) of the moly bullet into the bore. It is a
known scientific fact that pressure from an expanding gas is inversely
proportional to the space in which the gas is allowed to expand. This
means that the greater the space available for expansion of the gas,
the less pressure the expanding gas exerts. One now readily sees that
the overall pressure of the expanding gas, which has a direct effect
on bullet velocity, has been reduced due to a larger volume of space
in which to expand with the latter being caused by the quicker entry
(in time, not speed) of the bullet into the bore. In addition, the
propellant may have almost, if not completely, burned with little or
no more to burn to create pressure (this will also be effected by the
type of powder used). Let us now look at yet another thing which has
happened at this approximate 50% mark. The moly bullet, due to the
very thin coating of moly on its jacket, has had most, if not all, of
the moly rubbed off and redeposited onto the steel of the first 50% of
the bore length (this will vary to some degree depending upon the
thickness of the moly coating on the bullet). The moly bullet has now
become almost, if not completely, a standard non-coated bullet. The
remaining thing which has happened is that the heat generated by
firing the bullet has also been reduced due first to a larger area
within the throat and bore in which the heat is transferred and
secondly due to the reduction in frictional heat caused by the
increased lubricity of the moly bullet. This reduction in heat is the
primary reason for the increased life of the bore throat of the barrel
when firing moly bullets. Let us now put things back into motion and
track the bullet the rest of the way out of the barrel. In the
remaining length of the bore, the bullet now begins to encounter
increased friction as most, if not all, of the moly is now gone. This
increased friction further slows the bullet and when the projectile
finally exits the barrel, chronographic measurements clearly show a
reduced bullet velocity when compared to the firing of standard
non-coated bullets.

(6) Q - How can I regain or get back the lost velocity?

A - There are 3 ways this can be done. First, you can use a faster
burning propellant (powder) in which case you will lose some of the
extended life of the bore throat. Second, you can increase the charge
of the same powder in order to provide a longer burn time and
continued pressure as the moly bullet travels down the barrel; however
(again depending upon the type of powder used), this can cause
undesirable excessive "muzzle flash" from still burning powder exiting
the bore. Use of the second method can also leave unburned powder in
the bore. Third, you can abandon entirely the use of moly bullets and
use a properly formulated moly weapons oil as outlined in FAQ #4.

RSI Note:  For the calibers we have tested there has been no problem
increasing powder charges to gain additional velocity. In fact,
because bore friction is so much lower when shooting moly bullets you
can often achieve higher velocities with the same powder before seeing
any sign of excessive pressure on primers. This could be an issue with
some calibers but we believe using distance "off the lands" to control
the pressure curve steepness should prevent excess muzzle flash in
normal length barrels.

(7) Q - I have been firing moly bullets for some time and I'm getting
some kind of build-up or caking in the bore. What is this stuff?

A - The build-up/caking can be caused by 2 factors (or a combination
of both) as follows: When one first begins to fire bullets with a
burnished or impacted coating of moly, the moly quickly rubs off the
bullet and is redeposited onto the walls of the bore. Continued firing
of moly bullets continues to redeposit moly onto the bore but instead
of in a burnished deposition of moly it becomes a compressed
deposition of moly caused by the mechanical pressure of the bullet
against the bore wall. Compressed deposition of moly will cause a
thicker layer of moly to be plated onto the bore which then causes an
undesirable build-up. There is great deal of truth in the old saying
that "there can be too much of a good thing". In addition, one could
be using a dry moly powder with an excessive amount of impurities in
which case the build-up is being caused by not only the compressed
deposition of too much moly but also by the impurities in the dry moly
powder. As an example, there is one metal working company in the US
which consumes some 40,000 to 50,000 pounds of dry moly powder each
year. The moly powder is used to "tumble coat" various mild steel
shapes in preparation of a cold extrusion process which converts the
steel into its desirable configuration. The wire drawing industry is
another example of large consumers of dry moly powder used to coat
steel rods which are then "cold drawn" into wire. The dry moly powder
(many times not a true lubricant grade particle size) used by these
industries soon becomes ineffective due to the accumulation of various
impurities. Most of these impurities are oxides of iron, Zinc in the
form of stearates and many other types. This used, ineffective and
contaminated moly powder should then be disposed of in a land fill;
however, it is known that much of it finds its way back into the
market place through local machines shops, etc. who are unaware of the
level of contamination it contains. Some of this contaminated moly
powder is being purchased by shooters,  also unaware of its
contamination, to "tumble coat" bullets. And, it should be noted here
that the popular method of tumble coating bullets with moly is nothing
more than an adaptation of an industrial process used for well over 25
years in the metal working industry. In addition to used and
contaminated moly being available, a great deal of poorly refined and
impure moly has been coming into the US from such countries as
mainland China, Mexico, Poland and other sources and this moly is no
better than the used and contaminated type.

RSI Note:  Indeed Moly powder is not all the same. A common term used
to describe better quality Moly is "Technical Grade". Technical Grade
Moly is often 99% pure and finer granules so it adheres to surfaces
better.

One of the greatest causes of serious caking problems has now been
identified! Many early coating kits (the kind with bb's) did not
mention the importance of first degreasing bullets of swagging lube.
If bullet lube is not removed before tumbling the moly will not
properly adhere to the copper surface of the jacket and instead
deposits too thickly and combines with the lube. The lube (which would
normally blow out the bore) is burned and converted to carbon then
deposited in the bore with moly. This kind of caking is much more
difficult to remove and has been known to ruin barrels.

You can tell if a bullet was tumbled in a low grade Moly or not
properly cleaned because the bullets look black and/or rough. A good
bullet coating will appear almost as if the bullets are nickel plated.
They should be smooth and silvery in appearance with no exposed copper
jacket. Another tell tail sign of lube contamination is if the tips of
hollow pointed bullets are plugged with moly.

Degreasing is as simple as first washing the bullets in soap and water
or a solvent to remove the swagging lube used during manufacture.


(8) Q - OK, how do I get this build-up or caking out of my rifle?

A - Once moly has plated to steel, removing it is not an easy task. If
the build-up is not too severe, it can be removed by using a dry
powder chemical compound called Alkanox (your local chemical supply
house should have it) and some very vigorous scrubbing with a brass
brush. If Alkanox is not available, then use the gel type detergent
made for dish washing machines with even more intense scrubbing with a
brass brush. In severe cases, you should take your weapon to a
competent gunsmith who will likely have to remove the build-up and
moly by using a mild abrasive.

RSI Note:  Removing Moly is as easy as pushing a patch thru the bore
providing the following:

1) The bore is smooth, properly "shot-in" and does not foul with
copper when shooting conventional bullets. (see tech article on
shooting in barrels)

2) The bullets are properly coated with a good grade of Moly and not
contaminated with lube.

3) Clean with Kroil and JB or IOSSO bore paste and no harsh chemicals.

(9) Q - In the future, how can I avoid any build-up or caking and
other undesirable side effects of using moly bullets?

A - The most objective and honest answer we can give to this question
is to discontinue the use of all moly coated bullets. You can achieve
better shooting results and a much longer barrel life with a properly
formulated moly weapons oil as outlined in FAQ #4. A properly
formulated moly weapons oil deposits moly onto the bore by the "in
situ deposition" method and completely eliminates build-up, caking,
corrosion and loss of velocity together with providing you with many
other benefits.

RSI Note:  Consider the source. Bench rest shooters are no longer
using Moly bullets but a few are adding moly to their powder so they
can control how much is deposited in the bore. This however does not
mean Moly does not have an application outside of benchrest shooting.
Benchresters only shoot 10 rounds before each thorough cleaning and
indeed it does introduce another variable to the "accuracy equation".
If you are a varmint hunter that would like to hold "reasonable" group
sizes over more shots you may still want to shoot moly coated bullets.

(10) Q - I have heard of people using Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) in
place of moly. Is this effective?

A - Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) is also a soft metal and has some
lubricating ability. It has been used for many years as an ingredient
in racing oil for the motor sports industry. However, it does not have
as low a coefficient of friction as Moly (does not lubricate as well)
and is also corrosive just as dry moly is corrosive. A popular product
on the market which uses Tungsten compounds is one called "Danzac".

In closing, let us recognize that Molybdenum Disulfide is the finest
and most effective lubricant known to modern science -  provided it is
both formulated properly and applied correctly.

The Parsec Group Engr/Tech Support      Last update: 1 Mar 99
comcentr/hp

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's what Sinclair has to say about Moly Coated Bullets

Bullet coating manufacturers and bullet makers claim all kinds of
benefits can be realized from shooting coated bullets. Let's look at
some of these possible benefits and discuss them.

The prevention of copper fouling in barrels with the resulting benefit
of less cleaning is the most frequently claimed benefit of shooting
coated bullets. Traditionally, shooters have scrubbed and cleaned with
all kinds of bore cleaners, mops, patches, and brushes to remove the
copper build-up laid down in the barrel as copper jacketed bullets are
shot through them. Bench rest shooters are especially finicky about
cleaning barrels after every 10-20 shots to remove any possible copper
fouling.

There is possibly some benefit in reduced copper fouling and
potentially less cleaning, but the results differ from barrel to
barrel. You still need to clean, but in some cases, less than before.
One observation we have made by looking closely in some of our own
barrels, and the barrels of others which have had moly coated bullets
shot through them, is that moly or some other substance, tends to
build up over time unless the barrel is cleaned thoroughly and
regularly. You need to inspect your own barrels closely to check for
built up moly, especially in the first 4 to 6 inches forward of the
throat. We suspect this build-up to be a mixture of moly, burnt
powder, and copper.

Another benefit claimed by coating specialists is extended barrel
life. We have not seen any validated scientific tests that show
extended barrel life. We have heard many personal testimonials, but
have not seen any real hard data. Shooters using coated bullets from
bench rest to high power have claimed to receive extended the
"accurate" life from their barrels. Many have claimed also that they
have used coated bullets in barrels previously thought to be "shot
out", and that it brought back their accuracy. Again, we have not seen
any good studies that show this, but many shooters from around the
country have reported to us that accurate barrel life has been
extended.

Another benefit that has been discussed is that coated bullets
possibly have a higher ballistic coefficient. "Precision Shooting"
magazine ran a couple of articles by Dan Hackett on this subject. Some
tests were run by the lab guys at Norma Precision who reported some
improvement in ballistic coefficients on the bullets they used in
their tests (approximately 3%). Norma theorized that the bullets
stabilized sooner, and much closer to the muzzle, than uncoated
versions. Again, this has been theorized and written about but no real
hard statistically valid data has been presented to support this
theory.

The benefit that very few manufacturers or suppliers of coatings will
claim is increased accuracy. This would be a difficult claim to prove
since the improvement is probably very slight. The problem would be
that to compare coated versus uncoated bullets one would have to use
two different barrels and the variable in barrel accuracy is probably
enough cause to question any improved accuracy from coated versus
non-coated bullets.

We have heard several people, including some reputable magazine
editors, endorse coated bullets because the winner of this match or
that match was shooting coated bullets. With more and more shooters
using them, the law of averages says this will happen, but the
important flaw in this logic is that the winners still happened to be
top ranked shooters.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

(RSI Summary)

Caking is the most often problem cited when shooting moly bullets.
Excessive caking is more likely to be a problem if a barrel is of poor
quality or has not been properly "shot in". It is only logical that a
barrel that fouls with copper will also build up Moly faster then a
good smooth bore. Unfortunately the importance of first "shooting in"
a barrel before switching to Moly coated bullets has not been
emphasized enough by many moly bullet vendors.

I have noticed that moly does not always cake evenly throughout a 
barrel and often collects in just a couple inches at certain points
down the bore. This is probably why people have ruined barrels after
shooting moly bullets. The barrel makers I have talked with confirm
they often find "rings" in a barrel where the bore has been stretched
outward (certainly logical if the hole in the bore gets small at that
point). I asked one barrel maker if most of the ruined barrels tended
to come from semi-autos. He indicated most were, and added, "often
from .223 high power shooters". To me this confirms the barrels may
not have been properly "shot-in" before moly was used which
contributed to caking, and/or had been shot too many times before a
proper cleaning.

Removing hard caked moly from a good barrel is not difficult. Simply
run a patch wet with Kroil penetrating oil thru the bore after each
firing of a normal jacketed bullet. After 10 to 15 rounds nearly all
moly should be removed no matter how bad the barrel is caked. Then, a
touch of JB gets the rest. This is preferred over "scrubbing" hard
with brushes or abrasives that can damage the bore further.

Berger's recommendation of a patch wet with Kroil, a dry patch, then
some JB and one last clean patch will quickly remove normal caking
from a good barrel making ready for another 80 to 100 rounds.

If the caking is real hard to get out (probably caused by a poor
coating contaminated with lube) try a nylon brush coated with IOSSO
bore paste. Firing a dozen or so plain jacketed bullets will often
also strip the moly from the bore.

Bore Treatments verses Coated Bullets?  We use moly coated bullets in
our rifles and moly bore treatments in semi-auto handguns. Treating a
handgun's bore rather then the bullet seems to prevent copper fouling
nearly as well and avoids "black thumbs" from filling magazines with
moly coated bullets. There is no doubt that moly bore treatments also
work well and are sometimes preferred depending on the application.

The Parsec Group insists most bore treatments and moly bullet coatings
are not refined and can cause barrel corrosion. According to Parsec an
ultra thin coating of Molybdenum Trioxide (MoO3) is formed in the bore
when heat exceeds 1,000 deg. F. The MoO3 forms a protective oxide
coating over MoS2 crystals embedded in the bore metal (see above) and
helps slow corrosion. They say JB may remove this protective coating
along with the caking and since Kroil does not contain any acid
neutralizers, it's application will only seal off the MoS2 from
moisture in the air for a short time. Over time if a firearm is not
used, the Kroil film will dry and rupture so moisture can penetrate
the MoS2 crystal, forming acid and encouraging bore corrosion. We are
located in Arizona where humidity is low and therefore cannot confirm
Parsec's warnings. Nor are we aware of any source that confirms this
problem exists in bolt action rifles that have been properly cleaned.

As long as a gun is cleaned thoroughly and used regularly, corrosion
from Moly in the bore should be minimized. The bottom line may be if
you don't shoot a gun regularly or live where rust is already a
problem, you might want to avoid Moly coated bullets. Also, if you do
not have a need to shoot 50 or more rounds before cleaning you may not
want to introduce another variable to your load recipes.


Jim Ristow, Recreational Software, Inc.info@shootingsoftware.com
http://www.shootingsoftware.com