Leading real bad

[cib911]

I finally got to shoot my brand new M63. Shot great at first,
then the accuracy went all to hell. Figured it was me and went home.
Started to clean the barrel and couldn't get the cleaning to pass through. Got out a flashlight, and low and behold, the entire barrel was caked with lead. So much so that I couldn't see any rifling. Flash forward 45 min and still lead in the bore but I can see rifling now.
Any ideas or tips?

 

[arjay]

Head to the grocery and get some copper scrub pads (make sure it's pure copper) .Cut off a piece and wrap it around a bore brush.It will shred that lead right out of there.

 

[scott1970]

Here is how to quickly and safely remove the lead. Purchase some Chor-boy brand pure copper scrub pad. Make sure it is pure copper. Cut a small square and wrap it around a brass bore brush. Scrub it back and forth and the lead with come out very quickly. Do this outside to avoid lead dust - which you will be able to easily see.


To combat this from happening again I would first clean the barrel with a good copper cutter like Sweets 7.62 (this is after the lead is removed). I would then slug the barrel and get a precise measurement. Make sure you purchase or cast bullets a couple thousands larger than the bore. Also, you don't want to run cast bullets more than maybe 1500 fps. Beyond that you can play with various lubes, alloys, etc.

The above works for me. I always hear lots of hype about "hardcast bullets". BHN (alloy hardness) isn't that big a deal compared to the above. Bullet to bore "fit" is key.

 

[Pisgah]

Here is how to quickly and safely remove the lead. Purchase some Chor-boy brand pure copper scrub pad. Make sure it is pure copper. Cut a small square and wrap it around a brass bore brush. Scrub it back and forth and the lead with come out very quickly. Do this outside to avoid lead dust - which you will be able to easily see.


To combat this from happening again I would first clean the barrel with a good copper cutter like Sweets 7.62 (this is after the lead is removed). I would then slug the barrel and get a precise measurement. Make sure you purchase or cast bullets a couple thousands larger than the bore. Also, you don't want to run cast bullets more than maybe 1500 fps. Beyond that you can play with various lubes, alloys, etc.

The above works for me. I always hear lots of hype about "hardcast bullets". BHN (alloy hardness) isn't that big a deal compared to the above. Bullet to bore "fit" is key.

Good advice, but not for a .22.

Clean the bore, try different ammo before you do anything drastic.

 

[cib911]

I shot a variety of different 22 ammo today. It was the same stuff I have been shooting through my 617. My 617 has never leaded up like this.
Thanks for the tip on the copper pads , I will get some tomorrow and try it.

 

[guy sajer]

Were you shooting any "bulk" loads like Thunderbolt , Wildcat , Blazer ?

These use wax coated lead bullets at high speeds . The wax isn't up to the task of reducing friction at those speeds .Stick with copper clad ammo and your problem should be solved . Also a Hoppes Bore Snake works well but not if the lead is already caked up . Try the snake every 100 rds .

 

[scott1970]

Good advice, but not for a .22.

Clean the bore, try different ammo before you do anything drastic.

Oh man, I feel stupid right about now. I looked at the model of the pistol and misread it completely.


Get the copper scrub pad....skip ALL the rest. Really. Just ignore it.

 

[Rpg]

That's abnormal leading!

Makes me wonder if you have problems with a badly done barrel.
You said its a new gun.

When I shot on my high school rifle team, we NEVER cleaned the barrels during the season. Shot only standard velocity all lead ammo. Probably 5,000 rounds each season.

I made the mistake of cleaning my rifle once: Sargent Shaw -the coach- had me doing push-ups for days to remember never to do it again.

To this day , I clean 22s only to keep the action working smoothly ( clean out the ash that can gum thins up ). In 22s, the bore is well maintained by shooting it. The wax on 22s is a pretty good protection against most everything.

I suspect a problem with the barrel.

Sounds like a gun problem, not an ammo problem.

 

[arjay]

Pick up a box of CCI standard velocity.If that leads up the barrel....

 

[guy sajer]

If he was shooting standard velocity ammo then I would suspect the barrel .

 

[cib911]

I shot a mix of SK, American Eagle, and Remington. I have some std vel CCI, but I save it for my CZ rifles.
What type of barrel problems cause this to happen?

 

[arjay]

Thunderbolts?

 

[Gearhead Jim]

Several years ago, I bought a ~500 rd box of the Winchester bulk ammo at Walmart, with the un-plated bullets.

Functioning was horrible, and it did lead the bores on several of my guns. After shooting about 100 rds total, I gave the rest of it to a guy I didn't like.

The more recent Winchester bulk, with plated bullets, seems very good in my guns.

 

[cib911]

No, they were golden bullets.

 

[Rpg]

I've never seen that heavy leading in a 22 except in very badly pitted bores.

Since your gun is new, I assume it isn't rusted.

A Badly finished bore would mimic a badly rusted bore.

 

[Pisgah]

Believe it or not, I have seen the problem in exactly the same circumstances -- lots of firing with various loads in one session. This particular gun did not lead at all as long as I stuck to one load, but I quickly learned to clean the bore before switching to another load.

 

[arjay]

Ive read a number of posts on a rimfire site where some shooters are getting leading like this in various guns with Remington ammunition.I haven't had trouble with it in my guns,but it's curious.

 

[chief38]

Try a different brand of bullet and see what happens with them. Never saw excessive leading on a .22 revolver before. If the situation continues, you might want to send it into the Factory as something just isn't right.

 

[scooter123]

Leading this bad can only be caused by a manufacturing error. I would advise that you clean your revolver as well as you can, contact S&W, and send it home for a warranty repair. Because no matter what ammo you try I expect that you will always have problems with excessive leading.

 

[Texas40]

Use a bore snake the copper brushes on it will fix you up.