Will Using Moly Bullets Extend Barrel Life?
Probably. Though this is controversial, studies by European barrel-makers indicate that use of moly bullets from the start may extend a barrel’s useful life up to 50% compared to a barrel that used “naked” bullets exclusively. That said, the part of a barrel that wears out first is the throat. Throat wear is mostly caused by heat and pressure. By backing down your charges somewhat, you can extend your barrel life significantly, and avoid some problems associated with moly. 1000-yd shooters have turned away from moly because of unexplained flyers, and some people complain that moly buildup in a bore is worse than copper because moly is quite difficult to remove without abrasive bore cleaners. Still, we think moly makes sense for rapid-fire match shooters who may shoot 40-60 rounds in a relay without the opportunity to clean.
