Severe leading

[forestswin]

Been reading this all night. Dude you are stoked! I'm about to experiment with lead in my new 686P, I hope that i can make it work. All these stories about ECM barrels has scarred me!! Going to measure cylinder throats and barrel diameter tmrw and decide what size lead to start with. Good reading here and lots of great info, thanks.

blaze
good idea to get the measurements. I had a crusty old gunsmith measure my 686 (2011) - the bore was 0.3565" and chamber throats were .3572"

with 5 grooves, its a little complicated to get a good slug measurement - I couldn't do it with confidence

.358" diameter lead bullets shoot fine, without leading at the right charge but the 0.357" diameter lead bullets group better.

 

[chasmatic]

@C17 - on a few stubborn barrels I have used a mix of Kroil and Hoppes 9 with a cleaning rod and bronze brush, powered by my Milwaukee battery drill. For the forcing cone a Lewis kit works well. The tapered piece and screen do the job.

BTW I only shoot plated or jacketed bullets in my newer revolvers: a 65-5, 6265JM, 686-4 and 640. I shoot lead in my Victory and Combat masterpiece. Barrel cleaning is not my idea of fun, grin.

I stay away from vinegar or ammonia. Some chemicals no good for finish.

 

[Gunsnwater]

Sure did. Got a long reach wire wheel and cleaned the hell out of it. Basically I had to use Lead Remover and the wheel. The LR only helped some, but the caked stuff I had to use the friction from the wheel to basically melt the lead.

Terribly bad way to remove lead, will cause more harm than letting the lead in. Use a Lewis lead remover, now made by hoppies. Polish with JB bore compound.