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Lead Fouling

swampwalkerswampwalker Member Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
edited February 2009 in Ask the Experts
Ive got lead fouling really bad in my slug barrel. It is rifled and I cant get it out at all. Ive tried everything from blue wonder to hopps and nothing gets it out. Its my fault. Someone gave me a bunch of rifled slugs and I used those instead of sabots. Ive got lead smeared the whole way down. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Larry
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Comments

  • swampwalkerswampwalker Member Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know this question has probably been asked ad nauseum but, I don't know the answer. How do you clean lead fouling out of a barrel?
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  • swampwalkerswampwalker Member Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have found 3 threads on removing lead in the bore dating back to 2004.
    I have a question about not getting it. I was given 150 rounds of Remington UMC 38 special rounds. Not wadcutters but bullet shaped lead rounds. If I run them through my S&W 357 65-3, will I get lead fouling that quickly? I have never shot anything except FMJ in this weapon and don't want to take chances. Free ammo is a good thing unless it causes problems. Then free isn't!
    Thanks.
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  • carolinashootercarolinashooter Member Posts: 339 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The answer depends on a lot of variables. One would be how smooth/polished is your bore? A rough bore will lead up very quickly. Second, the softness of the lead in the rounds will be another determining factor. Velocity will have a bearing on this also. If your bore is smooth, these 38 Specials will probably not lead up much. When you are finished with them run a cylinder of jacketed magnums through the barrel and you will probably see little,if any, leading in the barrel. Enjoy the ammo.
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Probably not; leading is way over stated an really nothing to worry about at 38 SP velocities. It is also easy to clean with a Lewis lead remover, available from Midway for a few shekels.
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Every time you shoot a firearm you get fouling Albeit powder, lead or jacket material . all of this needs to be cleaned from time to time to keep the barrel in good order. lead is no harder to clean from a barrel then jacketed fouling. I have found lead bullets are easier on a barrel and my match pistols get about 100,000 rounds through them before I replace then it is because of wear on the lockup not on wear to the inside BORE of the barrel.
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  • burpfireburpfire Member Posts: 1,158 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    hello. lead fouling is over-rated. i shoot nothing but lead round nose in my full auto mac-11. too many rds to count. i dont ever clean the barrel. not once have i ran a brush down it. still runs like a fire hose. i suppose leading might eventually affect accuracy, but in a handgun length barrel i dont think it matters.
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  • michaellee32084michaellee32084 Member Posts: 110 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    reading my manual for my new Sig.always clean the bore after firing any lead rounds before firing any FMJ or plated stuff.any one else ever heard this?
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  • gunnut505gunnut505 Member Posts: 10,290 ✭
    edited November -1
    Since it's just an old Smiff; you needn't worry about ruining any collector value[:D].
    I always clean the bore of whatever weapon I'm shooting while it's still warm, whether I've shot any lead or not. Some seem to think that continually plating the bore with unwanted material is a good idea, and if it's not MY weapon, that's OK for them.
    A clean, smooth bore will pick up less and less material when firing with any kind of bullets; why not celebrate not having to clean instead of just not cleaning?
    As to cleaning lead without screwing up your bore-the folks at almost all the matches I've attended use either an aggressive solvent to get it over with quickly, or a rather benign solution of 2 commonly available household chemicals and let it soak for an hour.
    Either way works, I prefer to let it soak so I can chat with the other competitors.

    Didn't see the warning about lead bullets in my Sig paperwork; must be a relatively new one. Makes sense, though.
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    A properly fit well lubed bullet in a smooth bore with crisp rifling will not lead or rather won't lead cumulatively. Any lead you get should wipe right out with a patch and Hoppes.

    However copper fouling is harder than lead and if your bore is already copper fouled it will add a layer of lead to it. I'd recommend getting the copper out first with a copper solvent.

    I shoot mainly lead these days, so much cheaper. Even out of high power rifles.
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  • swampwalkerswampwalker Member Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for all of the answers. I think based on what I've been told, I'll shoot and clean while enjoying both.
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