You have probably noticed that they didn't you what it is. No one will because it is proprietary but the main ingredient appears to be Bees wax + what they won't tell you. Even though the SK is made on a different line than the Lapua I suspect but do not know that components may also be shared if only quality selected. Most likely is the condition of the machines between the two. Some where I have a picture (which I can no longer find) of Lapua Midas, Center X and SK and Wolf when they still made it. Visually I could not tell the difference between the four brands/types.

 

I'm just getting into 22 silhouette shooting and have noticed significant differences in the lube used on different ammo brands. Lapua and RWS lube appears to be much less viscous than Wolf, Fiocchi, Ely, and CCI. Beeswax and paraffin are mentioned in several postings as 22 ammo lube so I bought some of each, both are solid at room temperature indicating that if Lapua and RWS use either they must be mixing it with something.

Due to bad weather I needed something to do indoors so I played with waxy substances and vegetable oil. Articles I've read indicate plant based oils dissolve beeswax while volatile solvents (Acetone/Kerosene mix) dissolve paraffin. I wasn't to keen on using the volatiles on my ammo but I found that a little olive oil and beeswax made a substance that felt similar to the stuff on Lapua and RWS. Olive oil also removed the lube, allegedly paraffin, from CCI SV.

Now I'm wondering just how much difference the lube really makes, does it matter if the bullet is loose in the case, if $25 a box ammo is 2.5 times better than $10 a box ammo, will stripping the lube from $4 CCI SV and recoating it with a beeswax/olive oil salve make a difference, or is it more like 50% ammo/gun with 50% shooter ability/luck to hit a target at 200 meters. After all, the bullet is about 50 inches above the LOS at some point and kind of falls toward the target.

 

According to Eley, lubricant contributes little to accuracy.
It's intended to facilitate chambering by minimizing friction.

the link....

Waxing lyrical about .22LR lubricants: beeswax or paraffin wax? | ELEY

All of ELEY’s .22LR rounds have some form of lubricating wax applied. The two main 22LR lubricants being beeswax and paraffin wax. But what’s the difference?

eley.co.uk

After slugging a barrel immediately after firing a shot,
the bore is coated with wet burn residue.
That's what the next bullet is sliding through, not lube.

 

According to Eley, lubricant contributes little to accuracy.
It's intended to facilitate chambering by minimizing friction.

the link....

Waxing lyrical about .22LR lubricants: beeswax or paraffin wax? | ELEY

All of ELEY’s .22LR rounds have some form of lubricating wax applied. The two main 22LR lubricants being beeswax and paraffin wax. But what’s the difference?

eley.co.uk

According to Eley, they use beeswax and paraffin wax. Nowhere do they say either contributes little to accuracy, and their reputation for accuracy suggests that they, more than most other rf ammo mfgs, have worked out a really good recipe or two.

Nowhere do they say in that link that any lubes contribute little to accuracy. They do mention their ammo's reputation for accuracy. And they didn't make that up. They do give the impression they might use beeswax and probably use paraffin for repeaters/autoloaders.

When cowboy matches cranked up in the 90s, I discovered a lot about lead bullets being shot rapidly and the lubes available back then. Accuracy was affected about halfway through matches from leading. I tried the lubes available and then started mixing up my own lube. I was already casting. Turned out there were a number of natural lube ingredients that were expensive but definitely contributed to the accuracy of my lever rifle from the git-go til the smoke cleared.

I've often thought that Eley might be using one of those expensive natural ingredients, and thought that info link might tell us something, but that link is typical advertising.

 

Okay, I'll highlight the parts that I apparently misinterpreted...

copied from the link:

Lubricant applied to .22LR ammunition is to ease repeated chambering.
The idea that lubricant sends the bullet down the barrel is a common misconception.
While it helps, it’s not its primary function.


All of ELEY’s .22LR rounds have some form of lubricating wax applied. The two main lubricants ELEY use is beeswax tallow and paraffin wax. So what’s the difference?

Beeswax tallow

As you may have guessed, beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees. The wax is formed into scales by glands in the abdominals of worker bees, and is then discarded in the hive. Beeswax has a more yellowy tint, whereas paraffin is a colourless substance.


The main difference, however, is texture. Beeswax tallow produces a softer, thicker and stickier lubricant as opposed to pure paraffin.
As a result, it creates a much more accurate round, because the softer wax minimises the effects of chambering.
Through tribological testing and verification, this effect has been examined by ELEY. As such, it is why ELEY apply it to its competitive, high-end ammunition such as ELEY tenex and ELEY match. It’s designed for precision and for those competing at the highest levels who want the most accurate ammunition available.


It’s important to note that due to the greasiness of beeswax, it will potentially pick up more lint and debris. As a result, beeswax residue will slowly build up and dirty the rifle or pistol chamber slightly more, so it’s important to have a proper cleaning regime in place. (Check out our other ELEY article for more information on how to properly clean your barrel).

Paraffin wax

Comparatively, paraffin wax is a much thinner lubricant and remains harder than beeswax at any given temperature due to its higher melting point. This gives it a drier feel and is less prone to picking up debris.


Thanks to its harder texture, paraffin wax is more suited to semi-auto firearms as it doesn’t clog the mechanism. As such, ELEY use paraffin wax on its recreation rounds including ELEY force and ELEY action.


What’s more, paraffin’s cheaper price point makes it ideal for semi-automatic ammo to help keep costs down for shooters who are firing a large number of rounds at a fast rate.

I'm reading that as the intent is not to coat the bore/rifling to improve accuracy.
The purpose is to coat the bullet to minimize damage caused by chambering.
Preventing dents, dings, nicks and chips which will cause wobbles.
Yes? No?

 

I'm reading that as the intent is not to coat the bore/rifling to improve accuracy.
The purpose is to coat the bullet to minimize damage caused by chambering.
Preventing dents, dings, nicks and chips which will cause wobbles.
Yes? No?

That's how I read it.

 

If the lube is really for chambering, not coating the rifling,
does it follow that attempting to change the lubricant to improve accuracy, is a waste of time?


....and that pristine bullets are more critical to accuracy than lubricant?

 

What improves accuracy is a better rifle, better ammo and better skills. You can starve to death scraping the floor for crumbs while a full meal is on the table right over your head.

 

He's right ya' know.


But it's not like we don't enjoy the discussion.

 

All lube isn't just for chambering, and all isn't just to inhibit leading.

It's been proven more than once that changing the lubricant you use for your cast bullets can significantly change the accuracy you get. And most definitely can change how often you clean the bore. Neither outcome is a waste of time.

Back in the 90s I was gifted a brick of very expensive rf target ammo. Its lube had dried out and left tiny dots of hardened residue all over the exposed bullets. I wiped a box worth clean. Before I shot them an older position shooter mentioned there were a number of lubes available for "dip"lubing cast bullets. The ones he was talking about came in liquid form. You dipped the bullets and let them dry before shooting. I got some and dipped half the 50 cleaned rounds, bullet first, to the crimp.

I also had some boxes out of that brick that still had good lube on the bullets. (I didn't tell the old gent about those 😉

so I shot 3 "lots". The ones with good lube shot good. The naked didn't. The dipped shot ok, but didn't come close to the factory lubed. So two different lubes in otherwise perfectly similar "lots" shot differently.

Did the difference in lube affect anything? yeah
Do we have the capability today to change our lube in factory rimfire ammo? no

Lee Alox Bullet Lube 4 oz liquid

 

Something I have noticed is that SK lube feels more slippier than others.

 

The Eley statement that "The idea that lubricant sends the bullet down the barrel is a common misconception" is itself confusing. The combustion of primer and powder, not lubricant, always sends the bullet down the barrel.

In any event, regarding lubrication and chambering, would users of single shot match or BR rifles confirm that chambering was difficult with match ammo that had its lubrication removed?

To be sure, one purpose of the lubricant may be to assist the chambering of ammo on repeaters, which chamber equally well with .22LR ammo lubed with either hard and dry lubricant or the greasier lube found on match ammo. But is that the most important role of lubricant?

According to Steve Boelter in The Rifleman's Guide to Rimfire Ammunition and George E. Frost in Ammunition Making the lube used on .22LR bullets serves to lubricate the barrel to reduce friction and avoid leading the bore. In fact, Frost, who spent a long career in ammo manufacturing, including .22LR, notes that "Match ammo seems to achieve maximum accuracy with a greasier lubricant." (p.84.) No one should wish to shoot .22LR ammo without any lubricant.

 

Does it matter which lube is used?
Will it improve results?
Will changing lubricant change any of the other variables?

I've tried changing lubes.
Mixed a variety of ridiculous concoctions ranging from paraffin to beeswax,
lard to 2 stroke racing oil, and combinations of all the oils and grease's in my garage.
Did it improve results? No. Still had hot and weak cartridges,
still had odd strays likely caused by factory dinged bullets.

If the cartridges aren't uniform in quality, don't have similar mv's,
lubricant can't fix those other annoying factors that cause trajectory spread.

Thinking about burn residue...it doesn't appear that bullet lube
can do anything about the remnants and combustion byproducts
deposited in the bore with every shot. Silica still scratches the rifling
as evidenced by the fine scratches that are left visible to a borescope.
I see each bullet pushing through the bore, shoving the wet fouling ahead of it,
or possibly dry fouling if the barrel set too long.
Take a look down y'er bore after firing a shot.
There's grit and crumbs of wet ash all down the rifling.
I can't see that any lube can overcome that sort of deposit.

 

I see each bullet pushing through the bore, shoving the wet fouling ahead of it,
or possibly dry fouling if the barrel set too long.
Take a look down y'er bore after firing a shot.
There's grit and crumbs of wet ash all down the rifling.
I can't see that any lube can overcome that sort of deposit.

The fouling in the bore always includes whatever lubricant is used by the ammo maker. It's never only the detritus of the combustion itself.

It indeed sounds like an experiment is required to determine if the main purpose of lubricant is to assist in chambering and if it has a role in accuracy. Shoot at least a box of good ammo that's lubed and at least a box that's had the lube removed. Compare how lubed and unlubed rounds chamber and how they perform on target.

 

It does make your fingers slick but i do like SK 22lr ammo....

 

Bore lubrication does matter.

One has to wonder just who at Eley is making comment these days?

Take a look at these statements from Eley's own EPS bullet patent!

The nose is provided with a centrally disposed projection and a reservoir of lubricant around the projection.

but we have found that an additional reservoir of lubricant can be provided during the coating process at the bullet nose around the base of the projection from the flat surface. This further reservoir can provide an extra degree of lubrication on firing of the ammunition so that the bullet surface is better protected as it travel along the barrel.

This reservoir provides additional lubrication as it can be forced to flow along the exterior of the bullet as it is fired through a gun barrel.

Hmm? It certainly seems as though Eley gives a good deal of Hoot about the bullets travel down the bore. Furthermore, the EPS bullets lubrication location (in three separate quotes above) would have nothing whatsoever to do with chambering.

US6959648B2 - Ammunition cartridge - Google Patents

 

Ya' have me curious NIB.

Should be easy to verify. Start with a clean bore, one set with, one without lube.
A box of decent 22lr, clean 25 until all lube removed, leave 25 as is.
Shoot a Grid, see what happens. Right now, I don't know.

Might be an interesting morning.

Nope, 25 of each won't do it for me, needs to be at least 50 of each.
Need another 50 to prime the rifling. 75 shots with lube, 75 without.
Start with a squeaky clean bore for each run.
That ought to provide enough results to satisfy my OCD.

 

Spray some CCI SV with white lithium grease and see if it improves the groups.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

K, it didn't.

Neither did wheel bearing grease, WD40, Boeshield, 30 weight, Marvel,
3in1, 2stroke oil, transmission fluid, moly-lube, graphite,
or combinations of the above mixed with melted paraffin or lard.

Didn't improve Fed 36gr cphp either.

 

Western Cartridge Company, the first to Copper Plate High Velocity 22lr back around 1927 found out that their Lubaloy (Lubricating-Alloy) was not sufficient to prevent bore leading when applied alone. Shortly after, this Copper Plate had additional Hard Wax added over the Plating.

This thread got me looking closely at some of my RWS ammo. Their Subsonic HP's and High Velocity HP's both have grooves added (not knurled cannelures), two grooves that hold lubrication one small one "above the knife cut" and one larger one above the small one. These grooves must spin out their lubrication onto the bore after firing.

That's interesting RWS! 😎

SK ammo...what a pristine looking bullet (crisp edges, smoothly formed) with a slippery lubricant added.

 

Yep. Needs doing PG. I don't have a useful answer at this time.
I have a brick of Eley that has done well at 100 yards.
I figure 3 boxes of cartridges to do the test right.
455 Lilja off the F-Class bipod with the Fly trigger, has been producing consistent results.
2 Grids at 50 yards, 75 shots at each, see how the patterns unfold.
I'll be watching for a calm morning to get it done.

Good thing I'm easily entertained.

 

I'll be waiting for your results.

 

Ditto... This is fascinating info...

 

Lube is very important to accuracy folks, for a couple of reasons.This has been pretty much verified in the outright accuracy game and is thus for a couple of reasons.
while no doubt an aid to chambering it also acts, somewhat, like oil in an engine.
Pistons do not move in cylinders touching cylinder walls, they ride on a thin film of oil. Match ammo, ride through match barrels on a thin film of warm lube, also why, by and large that combo rarely if ever lays down lead in bores.
Also that warm lube together with the nice leading edge of the drive band removes much fouling leaving, ideally, mostly clean lube in the barrel. Why you get those black holes on target.
To the OP, Lapua, nor anybody else for that matter isn’t going to divulge much about target lube……it is proprietary, their secret sauce.
As stated, ELEY , mostly wax/tallow. Lapua, graphite/molybdenum in some sort of oil based carrier.
Lapua currently has the upper hand in the accuracy game, IMHO one big reason is that it seems to lay down fouling in the throat at a significantly slower rate. Them’s the facts as I understand them, take’em or toss’em.

 

Still not convinced that applied lubricant is critical to accuracy.

Why? Centerfire copper jacketed projectiles, 22wmr, 17wsm, 17hmr, 17hm2.

 

Still not convinced that applied lubricant is critical to accuracy.

Why? Centerfire copper jacketed projectiles.

Apples and oranges
Do you not realize that center fire lead bullets do find lubricant to be critical to accuracy?

 

I don't shoot cast bullets Red. No experience.

I'm going to see what happens with lubed and unlubed Eley when I get a calm morning.
This weekend won't be it....winds NE and gusting.


Didja know lead is listed as a lubricant?
Not graphite....lead. the heavy, soft, malleable metal.

 

I'm going to see what happens with lubed and unlubed Eley when I get a calm morning.
This weekend won't be it....winds NE and gusting.

Haven't gotten any calm mornings?

I'm sure I'm not the only shooter wondering how un-lubed Eley did.

 

I hear y'all.
Yet Eley has made a comment that raises my curiosity.
I think lube is important, yet Eley states it isn't for sending through the bore.
Am I going to accept any further statements without testing for myself? Heck no.
This is the internet, lot's of well meaning folks repeating previously posted remarks as gospel.
Look how well that turned out for supersonic transition and poor accuracy with hi-v 22lr.
Remember...."No significant effect on accuracy".

 

I have no experience with un lubed bullets but years ago there was a guy who experimented with everything 22LR. He wasn't scientific but he sure tried. He claimed to get better groups with the wax lubed bullets by using Peperation H as a lube. A lot of guys complained about leading and loss of accuracy when the lube dried out on match bullets and used Ballistol to renew it. Finally several guys claimed that they got better accuracy out of HV ammo by shootinhg a greasy match round every five shots. Can all these guys be wrong. Why do guys claim that their rifle takes between 5 and 25 rounds to settle in after a clean barrel. I can't believe the only reason for lube is so the rounds enter the chamber better. But I've been wrong before and will be again.

 

One statement from one Eley Greenhorn.

Use CCI Polymer 22lr and you won't have to bother removing any lubricant at all.