I have about 500 rounds of 3-D Wadcutters from the 1980's. I picked them up online a few months ago for $11 a box for 50.

I shot a few rounds through one of my J Frames a while back. It's pretty smokey and dirty. But fairly accurate. And I love the perfect round holes they make in the target But I wonder if the lead bullets will lead up my barrel? The lead just looks soft.

Anyone shoot much of this stuff? Does it lead up the barrel much? How much work is it to clean the barrel? Though I am pretty anal about it, I don't love cleaning my guns.

I haven't shot that particular brand.

But the 148-grain HBWC (Hollow Base Wad Cutter) is THE best target load of all times.

It should be pretty low velocity - the Precision Delta counterpart runs 635 fps in my 2-inch J-Frame.

And they do make perfect holes in targets!

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John

Buy a lead removal cloth at your local gun shop. Cut the cloth into 38 cal patch sizes and clean the bbl and cylinder holes with the patches. All the crud will come out. Oil the bbl with a quality gun oil. Your problem is solved!

I never used that brand, but about all of that soft lead stuff did back then. Just clean your revolver when you get back from the range and it won't be a problem.

Twenty years ago I had a next door neighbor who was a reserve police officer. He sold me a bunch of 3D ammo he had, to shoot in my M686. It leaded the barrel horribly. I remember at one point looking down the barrel and seeing no trace of rifling. Cleaned it up with a ton of elbow grease and Sweets 7.62.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

That's what my department issued for practice ammo until around 1985, when they switched to Remington 158 gr. LRN. If you requested it, you were allotted 1,000 rounds per year. The Town Supervisor and our Chief both felt it was a small price to pay, encouraging us to keep our shooting skills sharp.

I ALWAYS drew my share for plinking & squirrel hunting. As I recall, it came loose-packed in 2"x3" square boxes. Shot very soft & accurately, was easy enough to clean (bronze brush, Hoppe's No. 9, and lots of patches), and didn't cost us anything extra.

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Virtute et armis

Careful; some lead removal cloths can also remove bluing.

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Mark

Shoot it and when done shoot six jacketed rnds thru and that will take out any leading.

We were issued that stuff for a Firearms Instructors Training Course back about 1976. It was horriblely in accurate. I'm surprise that any of the students passed the Firearms Instructor's test. It was not what I would call "El Primo". Best advise, shoot it up and reload yourself. You'll get a much better round than that old 3-D stuff.

It almost sounds like it is not worth the trouble. I will probably just skip it or just shoot it in a particular gun or two.

I bought 500 rounds of 3-D a while back and found it shot pretty well, wish I would have picked up more for the price.
Little hotter than the standard 2.8 bullseye load. Believe it chronoed at close to 800 Fps.

.41 cal

This has been my method for years....

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Mine, too. I've been warned that it will drastically increase pressures, but I haven't seen it.