[vjay]

Someone at my range told me it was a good thing to shoot FMJ rounds after shooting lead. It was some sort of clean-up!

I believe its exactly the opposite, what do you guys think?

[Doug b]

I think if your barrel is leaded all a jacketed bullet is going to do is iron it out and maybe make it harder to remove.

[Walkalong]

It will knock out excess lead, but don't do it in a really badly leaded bore. The best solution is to tweak your lead load so it doesn't, lead that is. :)

Welcome to THR

[jcwit]

I've heard of this before as a means of cleaning the lead out of a barrel.

Personally I don't think its a good idea and it's not that hard to remove the leading with a little Chore Boy copper mesh wraped around an old brush, with any thin oil even kerosene will work.

Actually if you're having leading problems you need to use a different lube, or a different size bullet, or a lighter load, or something. There is a reason for the leading and almost always can be corrected.

[NHSHTR]

Well, reading the info on the Missouri Bullet website regarding leading, they attribute heavy leading to the wrong bullet hardness for the bullet velocity.

I have no way to validate this, but also no reason to figure they're wrong. You can read and judge for yourself.

http://www.missouribullet.com/technical.php

[loadedround]

DougB is correct in his posting. Shooting jacketed bullets after shooting lead to clean out the barrel is nothing more than an "old wives tale" that's been around for many years. In addition to having trouble removing ironed in lead, you are risking excessive pressure by shooting jacketed bullets through a leaded bore, and we all know what excessive press can do to a pistol. Don't do it. :uhoh:

[Oro]

Shooting jacketed bullets after shooting lead to clean out the barrel is nothing more than an "old wives tale" that's been around for many years

I agree. I heard it first 20 years ago - who knows how long it's been around. I've tried it, and I notice if I do I:

1) Get poorer accuracy with the FMJ rounds
2) Smear the lead around so it's harder to remove

If leading is a problem, try harder bullets, or try using gas-checks under your lead to reduce leading.

[Randy1911]

Any time I am going to shoot both lead and jacketed, I always shoot the jacketed first. That is what I was taught to do it.

[Walkalong]

Not an "old wives tale" Try it. Prove it to yourself. ;)

Again, the best solution is to taylor your load so it does not lead. :)

[1858rem]

maybe someone should design sort of a SWC profile, total copper bullet, specifically designed to push out the leading, for those with leading problems they havent figured out the cause of yet lol

[gunnerh]

I think the idea of copper bullet after lead goes back to the "clean out" bullets used on Shapes cap and ball breech loading rifle during the Civil War. A slightly oversized brass disk was mounted in the base of the minie ball. The disk "clean out" the fouling from the black power. I have seen only a few of these bullets in collections.

[Ateam-3]

I agree with 'Walkalong' 100%.

[lgbloader]

Well... How much leading are we talking about? If you shoot lead boolits, it is likely that you will have a bit of leading. If it is minimal, no worries. If we are talking excessive leading, then that is the issue that should be addressed. Adjusting the components of the round would be in order.

I do agree with Walkalong that there is more to this than just "an old wifes tale". But shooting FMJ's after shooting lead is not the end all answer to cleaning the bore after shooting lead, nor is it the best.

Cheers.

* Sidenote: Am I the only one on THR that likes Expresso w/ Grappa on a nice saturday morning?

LGB

[NC-Mike]

I was told that is a huge nono.

How can it be safe to shoot a FMJ load down a leaded bore? Conventional wisdom advises not to shoot through a bore that is merely oiled, due to pressure concerns, so why would you attempt to clean out lead with a FMJ...

Doesn't sound safe to me.

At all. :uhoh:

[fatelk]

I remember hearing an old timer at a gun show once brag about how if he had a rifle with a pitted bore, he would shoot a bunch of lead bullets through it, then a couple of jacketed rounds. He claimed the lead would fill in the pits and the copper would smooth it out, so some sucker would think it was a good bore. What a crook.:mad:

[something vague]

loadedround answered the question correctly. People do do it but IMHO is a terrible recommendation made by anyone. The first thing anyone learns about firearms is to check for empty chamber. Then check for a clear bore. I've heard and seen videos of people that blow their barrel up because of a small blade of grass or something similar. So why would a heavily leaded bore followed by a hard copper plated bullet be any different? Don't risk it and just use some elbow grease.

[Walkalong]

But shooting FMJ's after shooting lead is not the end all answer to cleaning the bore after shooting lead, nor is it the best.
Absolutely.
People do do it but IMHO is a terrible recommendation made by anyone
I disagree.
So why would a heavily leaded bore followed by a hard copper plated bullet be any different?
Re-read the posts. No one advised shooting FMJ in a heavily leaded bore, and actually advised against doing it.

[vjay]

Well, actually I have little to none leading on my barrel, shooting with my CZ-83 380acp using air cooled WW lubed boolits.
But this buddy at the range was very confident on his statement, so I wanted to check first.

If I have some leading later on, I guess I'll stick to lewis lead remover and such.


Thanks everyone.
VJ