Muzzle damage to Model 19

[jamesallen]

There seems to be some damage/scratching on the muzzle of my Model 19 Classic, which I just bought new about 3.5 years ago.
(see the attached photo)
I'm talking about that scratching that goes all the way around the edge of the bore.
Does anyone know what could have caused this? I just noticed it for the first time yesterday. It was not there for most of the time I had the revolver.
This is probably bad news, right? Is there a way to fix or remove it?
Thanks

 

[MetalMan]

Lead fouling?

If so, I'm sure that someone will come along soon with advice on how to clean / manage....

 

[Narragansett]

You sure it is not a lead build up? That is what it looks like

 

[jamesallen]

You sure it is not a lead build up? That is what it looks like

I hope that's what it is. I'm going to do a cleaning soon and see if it comes off. But it looks like actual damage to me, because I have never seen fouling that shows up on the muzzle.

 

[series guy]

Sure looks like lead build up to me.

 

[stansdds]

I've seen that plenty of times. It is a build up of lead from shooting lead bullets.

 

[Dave Lively]

But it looks like actual damage to me, because I have never seen fouling that shows up on the muzzle.

Do you shoot lead bullets in any of your other guns? I agree with the other posters, it looks like lead fouling.

 

[Alk8944]

Lead deposits from shooting lead bullets. Try cleaning the gun at least every year or two and this will go away. Have you ever cleaned that gun???

"I have never seen fouling that shows up on the muzzle." Then you have never looked!

Yes, I am being a smart Axx but a serious one.

 

[swagmeister]

I bet the inside of the bore needs a good scrubbing also.

 

[TJm15.38]

If it were mine, I would clean the bore with a good solvent and brass brush. The only thing I might do extra is use a brass weapon's brush on the muzzle. Don't try scraping it off with anything hard or you will screw up the muzzle crown. That has to be leading; nothing else .

 

[Pisgah]

Evidently, new guns are supposed to never need cleaning -- so yours must be defective.

 

[RetCapt]

Since I competed in PPC, I shot a lot of wadcutters, which are lead. Always got this fouling. Cleaned off easily.

That said though, I cleaned my guns every time I shot, no exceptions. So there was no opportunity to accumulate a build up.

In the matches we shot 150 rounds. That meant any revolver was pretty messy when it came off the line. It definitely needed that cleaning.

 

[Alstep]

Sure looks like severe leading to me as well. Wrapping copper chore-boy pot scrubber around a brass brush will help with the scrubbing. Use a good solvent. Be careful to use COPPER chore boy, not the copper plated steel stuff. Check it with a magnet.

I've shot thousands of rounds of lead bullets and never had leading like that. I cast all my bullets and lube them. Never a problem.

 

[Dvus]

Picture is too grainy to see for certain, but it looks like the bore is leaded as well. Hot loads with soft bullets? When shooting lead bullets with higher velocities, I like to run a few jacketed bullets through the gun afterwards. It helps to remove most of the lead build-up in the bore.
But that mess around the muzzle is definately lead.

 

[cmj8591]

Don't get too put off by the comments. It's just a bunch of old, cranky guys in need of an afternoon nap. Use a nylon brush and your favorite brand of bore cleaner and scrub away. If it's really stubborn, get a bronze cleaning brush and give it a good scrub. That's a good sign because it means you've been doing a lot of shooting. Your gun is fine.

 

[DETROIT]

Looks like fouling, but for future reference having a crown recut is not expensive

 

[CH4]

Definitely looks like lead. Give her a good cleaning.

 

[jamesallen]

It seems everyone was right. It was a bunch of lead fouling. I cleaned the gun real good and it is basically gone now.
I did not expect lead fouling there because I have only seen it in the barrel. What's more, I do clean the gun fairly regularly, and I never use bullets with exposed lead in that gun. I always shoot full metal jackets. So where does lead fouling come from?
The funny thing about lead fouling is, it always looks to me like some sort of serious damage, and it's a relief to find that it can be scrubbed away.

 

[jaymoore]

....I never use bullets with exposed lead in that gun. I always shoot full metal jackets. So where does lead fouling come from?
....

From the ammo that someone else uses when you aren't shooting the revolver. Sneaky!

Given the lead streaks in the rifling, it seems unlikely that it could be blamed on FMJ ammo with an exposed lead core showing at the base. Remington used to make a lead bullet with a jacketed nose, but that's probably been out of production for over 30 years.

 

[stansdds]

The standard, non-corrosive primer compound is lead styphnate. When lead styphnate combusts, there is a small amount of airborne lead, it might be enough to contribute to fouling, especially when combined with dirty burning powders that are usually used in cheap ammo.