38 special ammo results

[afriqueart]

Went to the range today. Shot 50 Remington lead wadcutters and 50 Federal American Eagle lead nose.

The remington was really dirty. I was surprised at how smoky/dirty the ammo was. Spent a couple of hours working on both guns.

Anyone recommend a cleaner round? FMJ cleaner?

 

[Magnum 7mm]

I ran 50 rounds of Remington 357 magnum LSWC through my 686 a week or so ago. Real smoky, dirty, nasty! Those were the last lead bullets I had and will be the last I shoot. From now on, I'll shoot FMC or JHP'S in all my handguns. Clean up will be easier.

 

[afriqueart]

I'll not shoot lead rounds again. Just spent another hour cleaning! They're looking pretty good now!

 

[BigRich315]

I know how that feels, I have an old M&P .32-20 that I've invested hours in cleaning and I'm still not there. Years and years of lead and powder fouling, about 70 years worth. I'm afraid of what I'll find when I'm done...

 

[RON in PA]

Every time I see a thread like this I really wonder why people shoot their safe queens. 38 specials are meant to be shot with lead bullets and yes they get dirty, that's why there are gun cleaners. If you are spending more than a half hour cleaning a revolver you need to increase your meds to control your ACD. You are probably causing more wear and tear to your guns than shooting does.

 

[Centenniel]

Every time I see a thread like this I really wonder why people shoot their safe queens. 38 specials are meant to be shot with lead bullets and yes they get dirty, that's why there are gun cleaners. If you are spending more than a half hour cleaning a revolver you need to increase your meds to control your ACD. You are probably causing more wear and tear to your guns than shooting does.

I totally agree! Well said.

 

[AZ Desertrat]

I reload a ton of wadcutters and SWC's for my .38's......yeah....they are smokey and get dirty.....BUT.....a good cleaning with Butch's bore shine and some "Jack Armstrong" elbow grease, will clean 'em right up.

 

[Texas Star]

One issue here is that lube on lead bullets may melt in hot weather and contaminate the ammo. So I've read. Never had it happen.

Lead .357 ammo has always been a major mess. Too much velocity for the soft lead bullets. Harder cast bullets fare better. Some also employ gas checks on the bullet base to avoid leading your bore.

T-Star

 

[NiklasP]

I only shoot lead bullets in my S&W M60. Remington 38Spl lead bulleted ammo has been the cleanest yet and requires only a few passes with bronze brush to leave bore clean and shiney. Have not yet fired any of Federal 38Spl lead bulleted ammo but, expect it to give same performance. Both Remington and Speer pure lead WC bullets leave no lead in bore. On other hand, I have used other factory lead 38 Spl ammo, with hard cast bullets, and ended up with badly leaded bore and VERY dirty gun.

My reloads use mostly very soft Speer or Remington 0,358 bullets, either 148 wadcutters or 158 grain SWC. Other bullet currently used is 158 grain 0,358 very soft lead SWCHPs with gas checks. The soft lead SWC bullets are loaded up to almost 1000 fps and those with gas checks up to somewhat over 1100 fps -- NO LEADING!!

HOWEVER, IF you have a gun with oversized cylinder throats, forcing cones and/or bores, you MAY get lots of leading IF hot powder gasses are blowing past bullet, melting lead and depositing it on gun. This is most likely to be severe with hard cast bullets.

Niklas

 

[Spotteddog]

Yup,
They're dirty. How'd you like to have to deal with the corrosive primers and powders of yesteryear? Where you had to scrub out the thing with soap and water to neutralize it before you could start cleaning it? Many end up as described above, with 75 years worth of crud in them because at some point, someone too said "this is a PITA". I've always felt that the cleaning ritual is where your best inspections can be done. You have to clean the areas that are usually most affected by failures. Even down to pulling grips to clean beneath and check strain screw tension, etc.

 

[linde]

Anyone recommend a cleaner round? FMJ cleaner?

For target practice I still prefer lead bullets, and for factory 38 Special rounds I've found the MagTech ammo to be about as clean as any I've used. This past week I put 100 rounds of their 158 gr LRN through my 36-1. The powder burned completely and the lead was hard enough so as to not leave any significant lead build-up.

Russ