Too much leading? How to avoid / clean?

[os2firefox]

Finally got a chance to take out my 629 to the range. I ran through 50 rounds of freedom munitions jacketed rnfp rounds and when I came home, I found that the barrel had a layer of lead.

Is this normal or too much leading? I thought that jacketed bullets shouldn't be this bad. Any reasonable way to avoid it and how do you best clean it (my nylon brush didn't seem to have much effect)?

 

[twodog max]

There ought not be any leading with jacketed bullets. Any possibility these are plated instead of jacketed. IMO you are going to need a bronze brush for this chore and some good solvent and elbow grease.

 

[jbtrucker]

Shooters Choice Lead Remover or other brand, soak Barrel and repeat several times with Bronze Brush. Chore Boy Copper cleaning Pads is recommended with small wad pushed through. Only FMJ in my Revolver after two days of cleaning

 

[smamh]

Is that a crack in the bottom of the barrel in the first picture?

 

[5-Shot]

Is that a crack in the bottom of the barrel in the first picture?

It shows up in the third photo too!

Ed

 

[mgriffin]

Google Lewis Lead remover....

 

[EK2944]

As far as lead removal it's hard to beat good ol bronze wool. I get mine in the paint section of most hardware stores. 3 pads for about 3 to 5 dollars. enough to do several guns. Wrap strands around an old bore brush and make sure it's tight fitting. 5 or 6 strokes and lead is gone.

I agree with the others. Appears to be hairline crack in that barrel. I would get that checked before letting another round go down that barrel.

 

[oger]

A Lewis Lead remover is the best but bronze wool will work but take a lot longer.

 

[sw282]

l checked the Freedom Munitions website..Their 44mag fhp ammo is loaded to 1240fps... The bullets used are copper plated swaged lead..
Biggest makers of plated swaged bullets I KNOW OF are Berrys and
Raniers... Bullet max velocity specs are 1500fps for Raniers and 1250
on Berrys. Without knowing the exact maker of the bullets l would say
the ammo is OK.. l have never seen leading that bad before after just
50 rds..l have even shot UNLUBED cast bullets and the leading was
not that bad.. l don't know the cause of the leading
The crack is what concerns me most...l would get that checked before shooting it again

 

[rockquarry]

May be the quality of the photos, but what some are referring to as a crack might be merely a scratch. Look closely at the first photo. Below the "crack" depiction is a faint scratch on the face of the underlug that appears to be a continuation of the "crack".

 

[sw282]

My vote is a crack. l see a distinct separation In the metal. Wider at the bore edge and tapering invard

 

[Peak53]

Something is very wrong here. Any chance the barrel was leaded by a previous owner before your range trip?

 

[Jingles]

Wow, I've never seen lead fouling that bad. Was the gun new? If so did you clean it before taking it to the range? It almost looks like a jacket separated from the bullet and subsequent rounds passed through the stuck jacket, which might also explain the crack.

 

[os2firefox]

I bought the revolver new and ran a boresnake through it a couple of times, bore was nice and shiny.

Do you get a lot of leading from plated swagged lead bullets? Didn't realize freedom munitions used that, but thanks for the heads up on how to clean it out.

The crack that some people mentioned was a hair/string from the wipedown towel I used that got caught on the rough leading.

 

[chief38]

Not purposely trying to alarm you but I have NEVER seen leading that bad before and I have been at this for a long time. I would suspect there is something weird with the bullets you are shooting.

For starters I'd get a Lewis Lead Remover from Brownell's, then I'd call the bullet manufacturer and email him those pics. I think that is WAY WAY TOO MUCH leading from any bullet design from 50 rounds. Something just isn't right IMHO.

 

[smamh]

Glad it wasn't cracked.

 

[twodog max]

I have to think you have a bullet problem.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

First of all......stop using that brand bullets..........

Second...........

 

[glenwolde]

Something is very wrong. I've been shooting revolvers for decades and have never seen anything even remotely similar to that. That is a dangerous level of leading, bordering on a bore obstruction.

Even if you remove it, you have to find the cause. I'm stumped as to how that could happen with plated bullets. Granted they aren't as tough as jacketed bullets, but still. That's just crazy leading.

Personally I'd run that by a gunsmith, or S&W, before I cleaned it. They likely aren't going to believe it without seeing it.

It would be interesting to know if your throats are really tight. Revolvers require proper diameter of throat, barrel, and bullet to avoid leading. One, or maybe two, of those things are off in your gun.

 

[cmj8591]

This is an ammo problem for sure. If you are going to drive bullets really fast, stick to true jacketed bullets. Keep velocities below 1000 fps for lead and plated bullets. Pushing non jacketed bullets fast without problems is in the realm of advanced reloading.