Lead on cylinder face 38spl reloads HELP!

[05CarbonDRZ]

I have been having a problem with my .38spl reloads.First off here is the details of the load:Mixed headstamp brass,Winchester spp,Missouri bullet 158gr LSWC 12 Brinell over 4.5gr of Unique with a light to medium roll crimp.I have shot this load out of numerous S&W .38 and .357 revolvers and always get lead "rings" around each chamber on the front of the cylinder.The barrel has very light leading near where the forcing cone changes into the barrel rifling.I would like to shoot these reloads out of blued guns but the cleaning of the lead rings damages the bluing.Any insight in how to fix/reduce this is greatly appreciated.

 

[arjay]

It's the nature of the beast,hence stainless revolvers.
Black powder loads don't seem to do this.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Could be the lubricant they use. Have you tried some liquid Alox on them?

 

[S&WIowegan]

If you can't stand the lead rings, you can remove the cylinder and soak it in Hoppe's #9. Brush the cylinder face every day with an old toothbrush. It'll come off without damage.

 

[moosedog]

Bottom line is, it won't hurt a thing. Keep shooting and don't worry about it.
It's not a surgical instrument, doesn't have to be sterile.
The lead won't damage the bluing. Too aggressive of a cleaning will.

 

[forestswin]

another option is

iosso gunbrite polish

here's a link to it at Midway
Iosso Gunbrite Rust Preventative Gun Cleaner 2oz Paste

works great on that front face of the cylinder

clean your entire gun, as normal and then try this stuff - and see how much more comes off on the cleaning cloth

maybe I should try to buy some stock in the company - shame its private - it would probably do better than Alkaline water

 

[blujax01]

If you're feeling adventurous, you could spend an extra $20/500 and try plated bullets from X-Treme or Rainier or Berry's.

I mean if it's worth the extra $$$ to you it will make your cleaning easier...

 

[Pisgah]

I would like to shoot these reloads out of blued guns but the cleaning of the lead rings damages the bluing.Any insight in how to fix/reduce this is greatly appreciated.

Well, I've been shooting lead ammo from blued revolvers for 50 years and cheerfully cleaning the lead off, all the while never realizing I was removing the blue! Funny... they still look blue.

 

[Gunsnwater]

Melting the base. Use a gas check bullet or less powder.

 

[Alk8944]

From the question I can only assume you have never fired a revolver before.

Rings on the cylinder face are normal, there are several things which all act to cause them. There is absolutely no way to make a revolver that has been fired make it appear as though it has not.

As arjay told you, "It is the nature of the beast", shoot the gun and clean it normally. And moosedog, "The lead won't damage the bluing. Too aggressive of a cleaning will." They are both absolutely right, pay attention.

 

[shawn mccarver]

The Jerry Mikulek video shows his method of cleaning one of his Model 64s. In the video, he says it was a couple of months and 6,000 rounds of lead bullets since the last cleaning. And, it shows.

In any event, his method is not harmful and it works pretty well. I do not let cylinder face rings bother me any more than "turn lines." Neither is a problem. One proves you shoot and the other proves your revolver is working properly.

My method to deal with them is Hoppes on an old toothbrush and just a little scrubbing on the cylinder face - enough to make sure there is nothing interfering with proper rotation. The ring itself never comes off.

You can always tell one at the gun show that has been fired and amateurish efforts made to clean the cylinder face. If the seller will do that, it is no wonder what else he is hiding.

Guns are made to shoot. Go shoot it and don't worry about it.

Oh, and abrasives will remove metal, and over time increase endshake, and cause all sorts of other problems. Don't do it. You aren't shining the old silver. You are messing with a life saving instrument.

 

[Rpg]

This is, as the Bard would say: "much ado about nothing".

Clean it with #9 and a toothbrush. Use some wax (Johnson's paste wax, Flitz wax or Renaissance wax) after its cleaned off.

 

[JonF]

I kinda like the front face 'rings'. It's like having a custom color job for free.
I DO have the nicest looking 642 on the block !

 

[Engineer1911]

I've offered this advice before. Don't look at the front of the cylinder, you are supposed to concentrate on the front sight!

 

[Cd586]

Is there actual lead deposited on the front of the cylinder or is it just carbon? Sometimes I get small amounts of lead but I brush it off. I guess it depends if the gun is a looker or a shooter. On a stainless gun, I can get the burn rings completely off but it requires a few soaks in whatever cleaning solution I feel like using, and I have to brush like a madman. On a gun with a tight cylinder gap, this could effect rotation.

 

[TSQUARED]

I have been shooting lead in revolvers for ca. 50 years - shoot and forget about the rings up front.

 

[chief38]

Rings (carbon & lead build up) are as normal as snow but ONCE IN A WHILE should be cleaned so they don't build up excess amounts hindering cylinder rotation. I normally just hit the front of the cylinder with a tooth brush and solvent, but once in a while I will use either a pencil eraser or lead-a-way cloth to further remove the build up. i am not concerned with getting it all off, just the excess build up. ANY abrasive will eventually remove bluing and thin Nickel. Just do as needed - NOT every week!

 

[Bart45]

I'd try to find a softer cast bullet. Leading of any kind comes from hard alloy and not sized properly to bore size. Copper has a bhn of 35, which is going the wrong direction. Check the LASC website for a fine detailed study of shooting cast bullets.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I'd try to find a softer cast bullet. Leading of any kind comes from hard alloy and not sized properly to bore size. Copper has a bhn of 35, which is going the wrong direction. Check the LASC website for a fine detailed study of shooting cast bullets.

When I google LASC, I get Los Angeles Community College. I think the actual name would help.

 

[stu1ritter]

LASC = Los Angles Silhouette Club
NRA - IHMSA Handgun, Rifle, Air Pistol Silhouette Shooting. The Excitement Of Reactive Steel Targets At The Los Angeles Silhouette Club

Stu