aggressive barrel-leading removal methods?

[Echo47]

I have two stainless 4" model 64-5s with significant barrel leading discovered on cleaning after the last range outing.
I've been using the old-fashioned elbow grease method with the available cleaners I have which claim to remove barrel leading with minimal success.
I am looking for a product/method which is "more aggressive" without having to scrub until next Christmas, but not damaging to the exterior stainless finishof the revolvers.
I can't find any information regarding use of mercury for lead removal (I know an older shooter who has some) but not clear on disposal methods for this dangerous product.
Someone also suggested firing some +P JHP rounds and problem will be resolved.
Any suggestions?
Echo47

 

[peh_7]

For me the best and fastest is a Lewis Lead Remover. I've been using them since the '70s. Available at Brownells. Buy one kit and then adapter kit(s) for other calibers.

 

[chief38]

The Lewis Lead Remover is an indispensable tool for .38 Special, .45 ACP & .45 Colt. Works quickly, efficiently, cheaply and won't harm your gun when used properly. Sold by Brownell's.

 

[Rpg]

Back in the day, using mercury as a lead remover was pretty straightforward: plug one end of the barrel (beeswax worked well), fill the barrel with mercury and plug the other end. Let the barrel sit for a while, then pour the mercury back into the bottle to be used next time. A few passes with a bronze brush and the lead is gone.

That was before folks knew or worried about the dangers of using mercury of course.

Disposal wasn’t an issue: the mercury got reused.

 

[BC38]

All I'll say about the mercury method is that it is regulated as a hazardous material for a reason, and the traces left behind in the barrel will be spewed out the first few rounds you shoot afterwards.

Get a Lewis Lead Remover, or get some Chore Boy (all copper) pads and use a few strands from one wrapped around a regular cleaning brush to scrub it out of the bore.

 

[arjay]

I was out of screens for my LLR some years back so I tried some copper chore boy wrapped around an old brush.Thats all I use now-fast and easy

 

[robertrwalsh]

The very best method is mercury, referred to a few posts up. That being said it is very dangerous and not nearly as cheap as it used to be. It will, however, take the bore right down to the steel. Like others above I have had very good luck with the Lewis Lead Removal tool. Cheap, effective, easy to use.

 

[apollo99]

I have a method that works for me, I do a regular cleaning with Hoppes and a brass brush, usually to get the bulk of the lead and the easy stuff. I then use liberal (excuse the Liberal word) amount of canola oil, yep the one you have in the Kitchen. I let a rag soaked in it sit in the barrel for a few hours or over night. The next day the lead and fouling comes out in chunks. You can use the left over oil for frying(just kidding).Experts say Fire Clean was just canola oil and that stuff was $18 an ounce.

 

[WR Moore]

There are also lead removal cloth products for stainless. I had a similar problem and after the LLR quit removing stuff, cutting bore patches of that stuff worked very well.

When you're down to just a wee bit in the angles of the rifling, jacketed bullets work well.

 

[Freischütz]

The 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar method works well for me. Really heavy leading may take several applications.

That canola oil method sounds interesting. I'll have to try it.

 

[magothy1]

Birchwood Casey lead remover cloth, a patch on a very tight jag or brush works pretty well. WipeOut cleaner solvent helps.

 

[BC38]

The 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar method works well for me. Really heavy leading may take several applications.

Isn't that hard on the blueing - or ar you only doing this with stainless guns?
Seems like I've read of people stripping blued guns for refinishing using vinegar....

 

[DWalt]

I still use Mercury and have about two (liquid) ounces of it I use for de-leading barrels. I use great caution to avoid spills, and always outside. It is not nearly as hazardous as it is made out to be, so long as you take care to not spill any. For years, I worked around great quantities of it every day without any ill effects. The main problem today is finding any of it, but it can still be had.

 

[Delta Rose]

Brass wool wrapped around an old bore brush and a little CLP has always worked well for me.

 

[Steve_53]

Not cheap, but definitely effective and usable on blued or stainless guns: Outer's Foul Out III. Equally good at removing copper fouling (with the appropriate solution).

 

[gwpercle]

Lewis Lead Remover....it will do it !

Second best is bore brush, wrapped with #000 or #0000 steel wool , with plenty of Ed's Red Bore Cleaner....a smearing of JB Bore Paste also helps get the lead out !

 

[Gamecock]

Copper wool very aggressive on leading. Amazingly so. You'll ask yourself, "How does it do that?"

 

[Jeff423]

Not cheap, but definitely effective and usable on blued or stainless guns: Outer's Foul Out III. Equally good at removing copper fouling (with the appropriate solution).

Apart from mercury I have tried all the above mentioned methods and have the Foul Out to be the most effective. I found an original Foul Out and a Foul Out II on ebay with a couple gallons of solutions - lead and copper.

I used the LLR and Copper Chore Boy and then followed it with the Foul Out and it still pulled lead out of the barrel. Whether or not this remaining lead was problematical I can't say, but it was there after the LLR and Chore Boy.
However it's not fast.

 

[andy52]

I think I'll stick with my Lewis lead remover, the mercury thing sounds a little to hazardous.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Go to the nearest Walmart / Ace Hdwe and buy " Chore Boy " the pure copper scouring pads . Cut a piece about the size of your thumb , or a bit bigger . Wrap it around an old bore brush for that caliber and start scrubbing . The lead will be gone in a couple of minutes . Copper is much softer than the barrel so no harm to the barrel . Regards, Paul