First-time gun owner. S&W .357, 686-6 frame. I've put just shy of 1000 rounds of 38 SPL 158GR through the barrel. I clean the gun within a day or two of using it. Cleaning consists of cleaning fluid, patch cloth, and a plastic-bristle brush. Tonight I cleaned the gun and noticed the muzzle-end of the barrel looked odd. I'm unsure if I'm looking at barrel damage or projectile residue. Can anyone chime in and let me know if I'm just facing a thorough cleaning session or something more costly?
686-6 Barrel Residue or Other Problem (with pics)
- Thread starter Jerry9254
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OLDSTER
Member
What the h...?? 
I've never seen that before
One of the hand-loaders should be able to help you. Maybe you ought to repost this in the re-loading forum ??
I've never seen that before One of the hand-loaders should be able to help you. Maybe you ought to repost this in the re-loading forum ??
Milton
US Veteran
Looks like some odd very heavy lead buildup near the muzzle.look on this site for ways to remove lead from a bore and see if that helps.Never seen it that bad in any of my revolvers.
muddocktor
Member
Yep, I concur about heavy leading of your barrel. Get some copper chore boy brand (not the cheap copper plated steel imitation junk) and pull some strands off it and wrap them around a brass bristle brush for cleaning the bore. Load it up with your cleaning fluid and scrub the barrel with the chore boy wrapped bristle brush and see if that removes the lead. You can also buy a Lewis Lead Remover kit to remove lead from your barrel also.
BTW, what ammo were you shooting? Because they sure leaded your barrel up heavily.
BTW, what ammo were you shooting? Because they sure leaded your barrel up heavily.
OLDSTER
Member
You don't suppose your "cleaning fluid" is melting your plastic brush and depositing the gunk just behind the muzzle ???
158 grain lead or jacketed? It almost looks like it could be flaked out with a dental pick or something. Very odd.
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Yeah, need the exact specifications of the ammo.....
gwpercle
Member
That's the worse case of "residue" build up I have ever seen .
First off....loose the nylon brush and get a brass bore brush , a good rod, some Shooter's Choice Lead Remover Bore Cleaner and a big jar of elbow grease to scrub all that "residue" out .
It may take more than one scrubbing but it will come clean and you can start fresh .
Gary
First off....loose the nylon brush and get a brass bore brush , a good rod, some Shooter's Choice Lead Remover Bore Cleaner and a big jar of elbow grease to scrub all that "residue" out .
It may take more than one scrubbing but it will come clean and you can start fresh .
Gary
Pizza Bob
Member
I would assume that was 158 gr lead, either SWC or RN. That is some of the worst leading I have ever seen. Definitely a candidate for a Lewis lead remover.
OP: In the future you can avoid this by shooting jacketed or coated bullets. Even hard cast lead would be an improvement. Factory lead ammo is almost pure lead and vey soft. You see the result.
Good luck. Scrub hard.
Adios,
Pizza. Bob
OP: In the future you can avoid this by shooting jacketed or coated bullets. Even hard cast lead would be an improvement. Factory lead ammo is almost pure lead and vey soft. You see the result.
Good luck. Scrub hard.
Adios,
Pizza. Bob
Bayou52
Member
One of the worst cases I've ever seen. If that's lead, as it appears, something is very awry. If those were lead bullets, are you sure they were sized/swaged and waxed?
For example, decades ago, I knew of a case where a guy had just started casting but didn't know that the bullets then needed to be swaged and waxed. The result was a solidly lead-lined bore.
OK, I'll confess - it was me...
Bayou52
For example, decades ago, I knew of a case where a guy had just started casting but didn't know that the bullets then needed to be swaged and waxed. The result was a solidly lead-lined bore.
OK, I'll confess - it was me...
Bayou52
I wouldn't shoot that until I got the lead out. It's really bad!
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If that is from factory lead ammo you've got some cleaning to do. I'd use my Lewis Lead Remover, but another option is to use a cleaning patch cut from a Lead Remover cloth.
1. Scrub it with a brush and solvent to knock off the loose stuff. Like scrub it a lot. But there's no liquid solvent or brush that will get all that out of there without a weeks worth of scrubbing.
2. Get a .357 Brass (not plastic) cleaning jag. Cut a patch from the Lead Remover Cloth (LRC) and run it down the barrel. The patch will be kind of thick and it will be hard to start. You'll need a sturdy rod, and may have to slap it with your palm to get it started. You'll be surprised at how the lead comes off in little sheets. Flip the patch over and do it again. Then cut a new patch and repeat.
A Lewis Lead Remover works too but is the priciest option. The LRC patch is pretty quick, cheaper, and frankly does a more thorough job. I still use my Lewis Lead Remover occasionally, but I follow it with a LRC patch and always get a little more.
The worst leaded barrel I've ever had was from shooting up some 9mm lead bullet reloads in my convertible Blackhawk. It took me three patches to get it all out.
Spear Tip .357/.38-9mm Jag
https://www.walmart.com/ip/B-C-LEAD...ODyAPfN8FdJ_aOwYCuoZH8NtWkNGuQCIaAr0KEALw_wcB
1. Scrub it with a brush and solvent to knock off the loose stuff. Like scrub it a lot. But there's no liquid solvent or brush that will get all that out of there without a weeks worth of scrubbing.
2. Get a .357 Brass (not plastic) cleaning jag. Cut a patch from the Lead Remover Cloth (LRC) and run it down the barrel. The patch will be kind of thick and it will be hard to start. You'll need a sturdy rod, and may have to slap it with your palm to get it started. You'll be surprised at how the lead comes off in little sheets. Flip the patch over and do it again. Then cut a new patch and repeat.
A Lewis Lead Remover works too but is the priciest option. The LRC patch is pretty quick, cheaper, and frankly does a more thorough job. I still use my Lewis Lead Remover occasionally, but I follow it with a LRC patch and always get a little more.
The worst leaded barrel I've ever had was from shooting up some 9mm lead bullet reloads in my convertible Blackhawk. It took me three patches to get it all out.
Spear Tip .357/.38-9mm Jag
https://www.walmart.com/ip/B-C-LEAD...ODyAPfN8FdJ_aOwYCuoZH8NtWkNGuQCIaAr0KEALw_wcB
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Regarding the ammunition, it's not jacketed. Pic enclosed of what I've been shooting for the last 500 rounds. I haven't shot jacketed rounds in months. And other than running a patch cloth soaked in cleaning fluid through the barrel on the end of a rod I haven't paid a lot of attention to the barrel (lesson learned).
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Milton
US Veteran
Yep ,that will definitely do it !!!
muddocktor
Member
Yep, those definitely are your culprit. Is that a factory load or some reloads? I reload and personally, I no longer use plain lead bullets. If I am loading lead, I buy the Hi Tek coated lead bullets. They are lead bullets that have been coated with a polymer that cuts down or eliminates leading problems.
BTW, the use of coated lead bullets has even caught on with a few ammunition manufacturers. I have some CCI 22 LR ammo that has coated bullets instead of copper plated or lubricated lead bullets.
BTW, the use of coated lead bullets has even caught on with a few ammunition manufacturers. I have some CCI 22 LR ammo that has coated bullets instead of copper plated or lubricated lead bullets.
Methinks you're shooting a pretty soft alloy and that combined with what may be some choke at the muzzle could be causing the leading. IF you've got a bit of choke, that can be a really good contributor to accuracy. I'd use JB bore paste and Kano Kroil to work on getting it out and then slug the barrel. That should tell you if you've got any choke. If you find it significantly easier to push the bullet through once you get past the first inch or so of barrel, that ought to tell you if you've got any choke at the muzzle.
Wrangler Rich
US Veteran
Please, do not shoot jacketed bullets out of that 686 until that barrel is clean.
WR
WR
Had an experienced buddy of mine come over with his cleaning kit full of tools. He showed me what to look for and what right looks like. Then he took a brass brush and some cleaner to the barrell and got the majority of the lead out. I ordered some metal brushes, some lead removal fluid, some lead removal cloth, and a boresnake so that I could continue to work towards a clean barrel. Once I've got it cleaned out then I'll stick to jacketed or similar rounds that are less likely to leave deposits in the barrel...and I'll be cleaning the gun more effectively from now on.
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