Lead Heads and Why?

[howard829]

I have been using store bought 9mm ammo for my M&P9mm FS. When I can find it locally it does a great job! I haven't noticed any flaws in my shooting but I did notice there wasn't much to clean up afterwards. Put some CLP down the barrel and then ran the Bore Snake and that was it. Similar when shooting my M&P22 using CCI MINI Mags, real clean shooting and cleanup. Now, today I have another situation. Got a hold of some reloaded 9mm lead bullet/heads from my buddy that were powdered down a bit. Seem to not kick as hard as a factory full loads but did notice a fair amount of smoke. I went through a box of 50 then called it a day. Upon getting home and into the cleaning I was very surprised and disappointed at how dirty the barrel was. Had what appeared to be a lead buildup down the bore of the barrel. This took me many hours to try to dissolve and brush the lead away. Maybe if I would have gone back to the range and sent some store bought 9mm through it that might have fixed it up.

Any thoughts or similar things happen to you? I don't think I was shooting too fast or hot. Until I get some answers I'm going back to the store bought jacketed rounds.

Thanks,

Howard

[Batchs]

lead bullets leave deposits in the barrel more or less determined by the hardness of the lead. Also, some of the powders we use when reloading burn cleaner than others. Useing a few jacketed rounds after fireing lead will help at cleanup time.

[marlin.357]

Lead bullets are also lubricated, or they should be, to help reduce leading. The burning lube also produces more smoke.

You have now discovered the main reason most folks prefer jacketed or plated bullets over lead!

[smokey0118]

I'm always skeptical of shooting anyone else's reloads. You've got to trust that they're responsible enough and have enough attention to detail to not overcharge a cartridge. In lead projectiles, they need to properly alloy/heat treat the lead to bring hardness up to about 18 or so for 9mm. They also need to properly size it. If it's not sized correctly, not lubed correctly, and has soft alloy(like just using wheel weights at about 11), it will lead your barrel pretty bad.

Be careful removing lead. Most chemical lead removers will harm your bore if left in for too long. Most solvents only soften the lead a bit and loosen the fouling underneath the lead to make it flake off easier. One cleaning tool that's especially effective is the lewis lead remover.
LEWIS LEAD REMOVER | Brownells
It uses brass screen to physically scrape the lead off of the bore. The screen is much softer than the barrel and won't cause damage.

If you also have a 9mm glock DO NOT shoot those lead reloads out of it. The polygonal rifling in the glock can get fouled easily by the lead and cause overpressure issues(especially in .40).

[Rastoff]

Get one of these:


Cut off a small piece and shove it through the bore. Two or three passes and your bore will be clean.

[WHO CARES]

Like Rastoff says, I take one of the chore boy cleaning pads and cut off a bit and wrap it around my regular brass cleaning brush to get a tighter fit and work it through the bore - it does a much faster job on lead than the regular brush alone.

Be sure to get the all copper one and not one made of steel or simply copper coated steel. Steel brushes are not good for your barrel!

ward

[howard829]

Originally Posted by WHO CARES

Like Rastoff says, I take one of the chore boy cleaning pads and cut off a bit and wrap it around my regular brass cleaning brush to get a tighter fit and work it through the bore - it does a much faster job on lead than the regular brush alone.

Be sure to get the all copper one and not one made of steel or simply copper coated steel. Steel brushes are not good for your barrel!

ward

Thanks guys, gonna try this scrubber.

[howard829]

Originally Posted by Rastoff

Get one of these:


Cut off a small piece and shove it through the bore. Two or three passes and your bore will be clean.

Got the Chore Boy Cleaning Pad today and it worked like a charm! Thanks for the tip.

Howard