I have a Lewis Lead Remover for my .38 spl. Works great. Is there an equivalent tool for .22 lr? I don't see one advertised on the sale sites.
Lead remover
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Do you have a .22 that really needs it?
My concern with those lead removers is that they address the symptom rather than the problem.
If I had a .22 revolver that had severe leading issues, I’d trying to find out what’s wrong with the gun! Tuned correctly and assuming the rifling was properly machined and lapped, a .22 revolver’s barrel shouldn’t show anything after use other than some unburned powder and bullet lube residue.
My concern with those lead removers is that they address the symptom rather than the problem.
If I had a .22 revolver that had severe leading issues, I’d trying to find out what’s wrong with the gun! Tuned correctly and assuming the rifling was properly machined and lapped, a .22 revolver’s barrel shouldn’t show anything after use other than some unburned powder and bullet lube residue.
I have cut up a .44 screen and pushed it through with a brass jag and it did the job.
Piwo
Member
I use the Choir Boy method on my centerfire revolvers and it works well. For .22 rimfire, I find I only need to use a high quality bore brush, as opposed to the cheap walmart types. The good ones are stiffer and use thicker wire in their brush. Rimfire bullets are generally softer lead and deposits brush out more easily. Also, I run the brush through DRY and slowly. Tipton brushes are worth every penny.
I long ago accepted the fact that leading in a revolver is a fact of life. I have never seen a revolver that didn't lead up. Some lead more minimally, others more severely. While it is true that leading is only a symptom of another issue, I have too many revolvers to get to the root cause on all of them. It's easier to just clean them. Oddly, the newer S&W revolvers tend to lead less than my older ones. I think this is due to the generally smoother bores...
I long ago accepted the fact that leading in a revolver is a fact of life. I have never seen a revolver that didn't lead up. Some lead more minimally, others more severely. While it is true that leading is only a symptom of another issue, I have too many revolvers to get to the root cause on all of them. It's easier to just clean them. Oddly, the newer S&W revolvers tend to lead less than my older ones. I think this is due to the generally smoother bores...
I have probably 10,000 rounds through my 617-6. Most is HV some is copper coated, but I have no build up of anything in my bore. I run a patch or two through my more and chambers EVERY time I use it. I don't use dry patches to dry it out afterward, I just shoot with it slightly moist in the CLP. I haven't ever had to use a brush in the bore, a couple times in the chambers.
The least expensive method has to be to wrap a few strands of pure copper Chore Boy pot scrubber material around a bore brush. Put the cleaning rod down the barrel, thread the bore brush with the copper strands onto the rod, pull the brush through the barrel.
I have a 1933 Colt Officers Model .22 LR that shoots fine. However, it does build up lead ahead of the forcing cone. Is there a problem with the barrel? Of course, but I love the gun - it came to me after my handloading mentor passed on. A good brass brush seems to get the lead out.
Go to the "lead in barrel" thread in the Notable Thread Index in the early hand ejector section to learn how to remove it------quickly, easily, and remarkably effectively!!
Oh---and dirt cheap to boot!!
As to preventing it in the first place (for handloaders and bullet casters only ), you will find a combination of alloy, diameter, and bullet lube which is compatible with (ACTUAL) bore size---which won't prevent it in its entirety; but will damn well slow the accumulation WAY down-----to the point you can very likely keep up with it with an everyday metal bore brush. "Keep up with it" translates to cleaning the bore/chambers every time you shoot it----not waiting for an accumulation.
See the first paragraph for accumulations.
And speaking of diameter and bore size, you will very likely also experience what I call "ultimate accuracy" with the proper combination----"ultimate accuracy" as in from a machine rest---ragged, one hole groups out to 50 yards------and beyond, but 50 yards was the extent of my interest.
Ralph Tremaine
Oh---and dirt cheap to boot!!
As to preventing it in the first place (for handloaders and bullet casters only ), you will find a combination of alloy, diameter, and bullet lube which is compatible with (ACTUAL) bore size---which won't prevent it in its entirety; but will damn well slow the accumulation WAY down-----to the point you can very likely keep up with it with an everyday metal bore brush. "Keep up with it" translates to cleaning the bore/chambers every time you shoot it----not waiting for an accumulation.
See the first paragraph for accumulations.
And speaking of diameter and bore size, you will very likely also experience what I call "ultimate accuracy" with the proper combination----"ultimate accuracy" as in from a machine rest---ragged, one hole groups out to 50 yards------and beyond, but 50 yards was the extent of my interest.
Ralph Tremaine
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OP
Reason I asked is because I got a pre-model 18 that was leaded up, as in never cleaned. Thanks for the comments.
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Original Hoppes works if left in barrel over night. Seems much of what looks to be leading is just crud from pistol not being cleaned after use.
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I have never needed to remove lead from a 22 barrel or cylinder, but I suppose you could buy a few 22 Phosphor Bronze Chamber Brushes. They are a little oversized and sometimes stiffer than Bore Brushes. Brownell's sells them.
dfariswheel
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I found that AR-15 bore brushes work very well in .22LR revolver chambers.
These are larger diameter and a much stiffer bristle then bore brushes.
These are larger diameter and a much stiffer bristle then bore brushes.
Bullseye Smith
Member
When you clean a 22 that well it well shoot bad for 50 rounds or more. Best to mop it out and shoot it till it stars shooting bad then give it a good cleaning. All 22's are that way, even the benchrest guys just MOP.
