S&W model 67 barrel problem

[kannonfyre]

I ran 150 rds of fiocchi 158gr LRN .38 special rounds through my beat up S&W model 67 revolver today. However, after I was done shooting (rapid fire and aim shots in a 50/50 mix), I looked into the barrel and noticed what seemed to be a sliver of metal "splintering" off one of the rifling grooves.

Now I know that enough rounds through any barrel will wear the rifling down but has ANYBODY ever heard of metal breaking off from INSIDE the barrel?

Anyhow, when I poked at the sliver with a toothpick it sorta broke off and when I ran a cleaning brush and subsequent breakfree CLP soaked patches through the barrel, I could not find the suspected metal fragment.

Anything I need to worry about?

[Bullet Bob]

No worries. 99.99% probability it was a lead buildup from the bullets. I used to fire some jacketed bullets at the end of a lead bullet shooting session to help clean out the lead deposits. Some lead bullets are worse than others.

[Master Blaster]

Its lead from the lead bullets.

Clean it with a proper bronze brush.

[kannonfyre]

3 futher points that need to be brought up.....

i) the fiocchi LRNs were supposed to be coated with a black teflon like substance to reduce leading.
ii) This metal splinter in my barrel has never before been encountered and I USUALLY shoot 150 LRNs during a normal range session.
iii) the sliver or splinter hanging off the rifling was copperish in color.

Now do you guys still think my barrel hasn't sufferred any damage and that I have nothing to worry about?

[Dave Markowitz]

It sounds like some copper fouling got dislodged. It sounds like you have some serious metal fouling. One trick to help get rid of it is to wrap some material from a Chore Boy pad (get it at the supermarket where they stock dishwashing stuff) around your bore brush. This helps to scrub out stubborn metal fouling. Also, soak the bore in Hoppe's or Kroil overnight and let chemistry take the place of some elbow grease.

But, it sounds like your gun should be fine after some thorough cleaning.

[thatguy]

Barrel steel is very tough. Especially stainless steel which is tougher than carbon steel. Much tougher than lead or copper bullets so if anything is going to come apart it will be the bullets, not the barrel. If you really think you have peeled steel from the inside of your barrel then I will offer you $100 for that damaged gun right now. If you don't want to sell you might just try cleaning the barrel to remove the lead and copper deposits. :evil: