Will copper washed 22LR reduce lead vaporization?

[scooter123]

I've been shooting Winchester Xpert HV in my 617 and am seeing lead deposits on the outside of the cylinder, the crane, and the top strap that are the product of lead vapor deposits. It really doesn't bother me in regards to the extra work involved in cleaning the gun, what concerns me is that I am probably breathing in those same vapors. BTW, leading in the barrel has been nearly non existant and the B/C gap is 0.008 inch and endshake is below 0.001 inch.

Question is, will changing to the copper washed Federal cut down on the production of vaporized lead? If so, I'll probably make the change to the Federal. If it won't have any effect, I may have to think about getting a dust mask for when I'm shooting the 617.

 

[k22fan]

Hello Scooter123;

I have not noticed copper washed .22s leading revolvers any more or less than lubed .22s without the copper coating. I have experienced the presence or absence of a bullet lubricant to be more important. In the 1990s I bought a few 5000 round boxes of Winchester Wildcat that, unlike previous boxes did not have their usual waxy bullet lubricant. Before that shipment arrived I had been very pleased with Wildcats that had the wax lube. The unlubed cartridges leaded bores and built up lead around the front of cylinders terribly.

I don’t believe that any protection from heat provided by a copper wash on .22 LR bullets is significant because of an observation of the effect of heat on the base of bullets fired from a .357 mag. revolver. I once watched a very expert rifle bench rest shooter experimenting with homemade substitutes for gas checks for his castings from molds that were designed for gas checks. Ed used a paper punch to stamp out appropriate diameter round pieces from ordinary glossy smooth yellow Styrofoam egg cartons. They separated from the bullets upon leaving the muzzle and were easily picked up off the lawn. Their outer edges that were folded up alongside the bullet when they were seated into the case were smudged with black fouling but the surface that was exposed directly to the burning powder looked brand new. The duration of the powder flame is so short that full power .357 magnums did not melt the Styrofoam or even dull its glossy surface. Also recall that cotton cloth patches are not singed at all when fired out of muzzle loading rifles even though they are exposed directly to burning black powder or black powder substitutes. Consequently, although I welcome comments from anyone more educated on this matter than I am, I doubt that vaporization of lead occurs at all while firing an ordinary revolver. Absent evaporating lead, the leading build up on .22 LR revolvers must be rubbed or shaved off mechanically while they pass through the cylinder gap. Lubricating the bullets passage into and through the bore seems to be what matters.

I believe the more important health hazards from lead are from fine dust thrown up by bullet impacts into back stops and lead in priming mixtures. Both are best minimized by good exhaust fans at indoor ranges or firing outdoors.


Incidentally, Ed got his usual superbly tight groups and no bore leading with his egg carton gas checks.

Best regards;

Gil

 

[scooter123]

Thanks for the reply. What triggered my concern is that I am seeing lead deposits in areas that I have not seen in any other of my revolvers. Specifically on the outside diameter of the cylinder about 3/16 inch back from the front face mid point between each cylinder notch. Scrape it with a fingernail and the immediate result is bright shiny fresh lead that almost looks like a patch of solder. Odd thing is that I am not seeing any real accumulation of lead in the barrel.

Because it's so consitent in this buildup, I think that the best thing to do is just try some of the copper washed Federal and see what happens. Hopefully it will group as well as the Winchester, which has been giving me 2 inch groups at 100 feet when I use a sandbag.

 

[cp1969]

I tried some of those egg-carton gas checks in my .45 Colt once, except I used the styrofoam tray that hamburger comes on. All I succeeded in doing was flame-spraying the hood of my truck with some pink crap which was almost impossible to remove.

 

[k22fan]

Hello again, Scooter123;

I’m not certain about where your leading is from your wording, but it think you mean lead that is shaved off on the bullets transition through the flash gap is reflecting off the topstrap onto the top of the cylinder. Some of this is normal. It is more apparent with .22s than centerfires primarily because we tend to put more lead bullets through .22s. I believe you’ll see some lead/fouling/crud at the junction of all .22 revolvers’ topstraps and breachfaces. If it is excessive compared to your other K22s and you have a good relationship with a convenient gunsmith it would be quick & maybe free to have him check chamber to bore alignment with a range rod and timing/carry up. I do not think a copper washed bullet will change this but it can’t hurt to try different ammo.

You might stumble into a combination that groups better in the process. My favorite ammo for my K22s is Federal bulk pack copper washed 36 grain with the shallow hollow point. The hollow point may be worthless but it’s among the least expensive ammo and out of all my K22s it groups tighter than a lot of posters on this forum think inexpensive .22 ammo has any right to. I confess that I’m not a bench rest shooter but with all of my K22s I don’t blame Federal bulk pack for any shots that don’t score a 10 on the 50 ft. slow fire bullseye target.

Gil

 

[LuddhaBuddha]

I believe what he is refering to is lead vapor/dust from the actual explosion vaporizing a small portion from the base of the bullet which then gets blown out the cylinder gap. I do not know if a copper wash will eliminate this but it certainly couldn't hurt, after all they use plated or TMJ bullets to get rid of this in larger calibers.

 

[Alk8944]

Scooter,

In sort no. The majority of what you are seeing on the gun is not lead anyway, it is carbon and graphite from the powder and a little bit of wax from the bullet lube. Even if it were lead, you would have to be shooting on an indoor range frequently and for hours with several other people for it to even have a chance at being a problem.

When I was still an active LEO we had to do a lead test of the indoor range at the station. Basically it was 6 of us, shooting lead bulleted ammunition about as fast as possible, for 30 minutes. To make matters as bad as possible the ventilation system was turned off. Each of us wore an air sampler which was subsequently laboratory tested to determine the concentration of lead in the air. Bottom line is the results were that the particulate lead level in the air didn't even come close to the EPA standard for concern.

In short, don't worry about it. The lead warnings on ammunition and reloading equipment are federally mandated. They are the result of the greenies and tree-huggers efforts to demonize lead. There is virtually no foundation in this, but they had you scared, didn't they? I am not being facetious, but rather very serious. There just isn't anything to worry about, especially with a .22 and/or you are shooting outdoors.