[TooTaxed]

I have a Ruger .357-Mag Blackhawk, 7" bbl, Stainless Steel. It's strictly a jacketed or plated bullet gun, as lead bullets, any bullet type or loading, .38-Spl or .357 cartridges, will heavily lead the barrel in one cylinder load. Any idea why this happens, and what the cure would be? Would like to use my favorite .38-spl WCL and SWCL target loads for practice... :confused:

[TooTaxed]

I have an early Colt SP-1 CAR-15, 1:14 twist, and would like to get another upper so I can shoot bullets heavier than 55-gr. Use will be on ranges.

Are there any pitfalls in getting a Rock River 20" A4 upper kit for my early collapsable-stock lower? I assume an adapter pin would be required... What practical difference between an !8" and 20" barrel? Chrome-moly HBAR and Air-gauged stainless steel barrels? :confused:

[helpwanted]

lead rounds from the factory or just your reloads?

[slopemeno]

Get a 'lead wipeaway cloth' . It really works. Most gunstores carry them.

[HSMITH]

John, we need more info. Where specifically is the lead in the barrel? More to the end or more toward the cylinder? Handloads or factory loads? If handloads what is the load/s you have tried? Have you measured the cylinder throats? Does it copper foul also?

With a little more info we should be able to help you out.

[TooTaxed]

Lead is fairly evenly distributed throughout the barrel. Leading occurs with .357 and .38-spl commercial and handloads for both calibers. I've tried both 158-gr SWCL and RNL, and 148-gr WCL target loads. Leading occurs rapidly and is very heavy...I have gotten keyholes in one cylinder load. I have not had any leading in my blued steel K-38 and 2 Colt Officers Target .38-spl revolvers, but the same loads result in heavy leading in the Ruger stainless steel revolver. Frustration is rife!! :banghead:

[gamachinist]

TooTaxed,
First off,welcome to GA,even if it is temporary.

Has the gun been fired much with jacketed bullets?

I am guessing that the barrel may be a little rough on the inside,and may get better with more jacketed bullets run through it,or with some lapping with JB bore paste,or fire lapping.

I have never tried fire lapping (firing a bullet coated with abrasive) myself,and I am a little leary of it.
A lap coated with JB paste would probably help a lot.

On the subject of hand lapping,has anyone tried Cerrosafe for making laps?

[HSMITH]

John, measure your cylinder throats, what you are describing points to them being small. They need to be at least .357" and .358" would be better.