Your thoughts on my thoughts.........

[FlaRon]

Years ago the thought was that after you fired lead ammo from your revolvers a few rounds of jacketed ammo would make cleaning the barrel/forcing cone easier and it seemed to work.

Now that I am getting back into revolver shooting again I am thinking that the same proceedure would be acceptable.

My 1968 S&W Model 36 and my 1974 Colt Dick Special are getting shot with 158 gr. Federal LSWC standard pressure ammo for practice and carry.

I bought a few boxes of Remington 110 gr. jacketed hollow point standard pressure ammo at a good price to help with the cleanup of lead.

I haven't reloaded since the 1970's but if I did I would be putting a gascheck on my LSWC rounds and helping to minimize the leading.

Your thoughts on my thoughts and any other suggestions for the cleaning process.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

FlaRon

[LeMat]

You'll hear folks who do the same thing and those that rail against it.

I just try to use a little common sense and take a look to see how much leading there is before running any jackets. I reload, so I try to tailor loads for the least amount of leading possible. The only bullets I use gas checks on are heavy 45 Colt and 44 Magnum.

I've never felt that cleaning those stubby tubes was too difficult anyway, but I pretty much always run a few jacketed after shooting lead.

[RDLouks]

When I was casting and reloading 158 grain SWC I would always put a Gas Check on them, it did seem to cut down on the lead fouling. I would also follow up with 6 rounds of jacketed when I was through. I still reload, but no longer cast my own, I have been using the Berry & Rainier plated. I find them to be very accurate and the cost is right in line with LSWC.

[Oldgungeezer]

For many years, I've shot a lot of lead SWC's out of various handguns (majority .38/357's, but also .44's & .45's). Maybe it's just habit, maybe it's not necessary........and maybe even senseless, but I almost always sum-up a plinking session with a wheel or two of jacketed bullets.

As a kid, Grandpa taught me that the harder jackets would reduce the residue left by the lead bullets and Dad followed suit.............and I've just always done it.

It could be interesting to experiment with this.................and get some real world empirical data to compare. But ya know, I think many of us already know the answer and that's why we do it.

Regarding gas checks (and jackets): My old timer opinion (as with the above) that's also been with me for over 50 years (probably should be tested).........The rule of thumb numbers are 900-1000 FPS. Below that, lead is ok. Above that, without a gas check or jacket and your asking for lead fouling. Needless to say, the hardness of the alloy is also a factor.

I haven't been loading ammo for many years, but it looks like I may restart..........partly because of these types of experiments/testing, but primarily for custom loads. My previous preference has always leaned toward jacketed bullets for hot loads and lead for mild stuff.

LeMat, you're absolutely right...............they're not hard to clean up anyway. But, on a long or extended range session, barrel leading could affect accuracy (unless cleaned up during the session).

Best Regards Folks,

Geezer

[Dalan]

I heard that there was a method of making it easier to clean rifle barrels. That was to take a center fire rifle and fire it 5-10 times, cleaning it between each shot. Then, once every five rounds until about 20 rounds. And that there was some special ammo which would achieve this more quickly. If true, wonder if would work on handguns. The result of the more frequent cleaning was a higher polish?

I just do not get that much leading on my pistols. I do not load them hot and have only got a couple hundred rounds given to me which are not hard cast. For the most part, I use Laser cast.

Also, boresnakes seem to speed up the process.

[DocZeus]

I, too, have run a cylinder or two of jacketed rounds through my revolvers I shoot lead bullets in, to "chase" the lead out, as long as the "leading" of the bore isn't too bad; I only use hard-cast, fairly high-Brinell-hardness lead bullets at moderate to slow velocities, though.

If the leading gets too severe from shooting softer lead bullets, THIS is the BEST and EASIEST way of getting that stubborn leading out:

LEWIS LEAD REMOVER - Brownells

Video Link to how the Lewis Lead Remover is utilized:

GunTech : All About Lewis Lead Remover

Choice of calibers, a quick and easy MECHANICAL solution, and the woven-brass patches will NOT harm the bore or finish.EVERY revolver shooter that shoots lead bullets should have some of these, should the need arise!

Y'all know how the "old-school" gunsmiths used to "get the lead out"? They plugged the bore on the chamber end, filled it with
MERCURY(), let it sit for 30 minutes, and poured the Mercury back in the bottle.....The Mercury would "attack" the lead, copper, etc., and float it out, to be poured back in the bottle.....The bore looked like it just came from the factory.....I think the EPA just had a coronary when I typed this.

DocZeus
AKA
David

[RDLouks]

You talking about mercury, reminds me of when growing up if a thermometer broke we would gather up as much of the mercury and play with it, coating copper pennies with it was always fun! I think the EPA is just panicking, it didn't bother me....... didn't bother me............. didn't bother me none!

[FlaRon]

Thanks for the input guys.

Since the Federal 158 gr. LSWC is under 800 fps leading should be at a minimum and the old shoot a cylinder of jacketed at the end of the sesson method should work just fine along with Hoppe's and a bore brush after range time.

Regards,

FlaRon

[Vee Kay]

Try getting mercury today..... I remember a 7th grade science class, had a small amount of mercury and it was passed around we students. It was started on the other end of the semicircular classroom and never made it all the way to me who was close to the other end of the class.... Guess that's why I was at the top of my science class....
Went to a drug store to buy some years ago, they were "out" but the cashier knew someone that had some old wall thermostats. We broke them open and harvested the bore cleaning material.... Just in case, we are being monitored, the mercury is no longer in my possession and was disposed of properly....


PS. It worked....

[Bob K]

Ron, I don't reload....but, I have read that shooting jacketed bullits after using lead bullits, may remove some leading, but, mostly it forces the lead into the grooves in a thin shiny coat. Many people think the shiney barrel is clean, but it's not!

All I can say is....I shoot .38 Spl. LSWC's std. vel. (800-850 fps (just a GUESS) in 2"-4" barrels) Ultra Max reloads from Dick's. Not positive...but I haven't noticed any leading. I do scrub my barrels with Breakfree CLP and a brass brush.....so I think they are good. Bob