[TooTaxed]

I have a .357-Mag SS New Model Blackhawk, 6-1/2" barrel, that's a joy to shoot with .38-spl jacketed ammo...but using my favorite lead .38-spl target ammo (wad cutters or SWC) the barrel will lead up to the point I get keyholes in just one cylinder load or so! Is this common? Is there a fix? (All my .37-mag ammo is jacketed...haven't tried lead...guess I should to see if that leads also...):cuss:

[Dot_mdb]

If you are a reloader make sure you use a HARD cast lead bullet. The swaged bullets are very soft and I have found they always lead the barrel even at reatively low velocities.

Bill

[P95Carry]

I endorse Dot's observation completely. I never used swaged (always cast own) but some guys at one old club used em and even with the target loads .. yep ... leading and bad. There was one someone tried with was teflon coated and seemed better but price was silly.

A reasoable medium hardness cast should all but prevent leading . certainly to the point where a Lewis used at the end of sessionm should only have to removed some ''lead glaze'' in forcing cone and chamber throats.

I use a gas check cast for .357 . and even with quite hot loads .... leading is well acceptable.

A simple mix of 1:11 (tin/lead) is plenty adequate IMO for target load bullets, even if plain base..

[TooTaxed]

The .38-spl lead ammo are the same target loads I regularly use in my S&W K-38 and Colt Police Target revolvers, with nary a sign of leading...it's just the Ruger I have problems with. Perhaps a difference in rifling pitch...or something else?:confused:

[Sarge]

as well as cast, and have about eliminated leading by going to slower powders like HS6 and using standard primers. 'Slower' being a relative term here, as in comparison to Bullseye, Clays, Unique, etc.

[P95Carry]

...it's just the Ruger I have problems with Hmmm ...... I can only wonder about diameters .... of cylinder throats, bore, bullet dia itself .... I forget the forcing cone angle.... 15º is it?

Also wonder if any timing aspects even. Obviously something is different, then.... maybe do a ''compare & contrast'' re these dimensions .. just to see.

Is it actual bore thru its length that is all leaded ..... or one portion? Wonder, if whole length, whether bore is oversize for bullets.. or throats sizing bullet down too much?

[Ala Dan]

I'm in my friend Sarge's corner here! :uhoh: I use
to shoot swagged lead bullets from Speer; but has cost
rose, I started casting my own. It got to a point that the
fumes were more than I could handle; so I went back to
the basics, only this time shooting Magnus hard cast LSWC
bullets. But, I just bought a 1,000 count box of swagged
158 grain L-BBSWC's as made by ZERO bullets of Cullman,
AL for use in my 6" S&W 686-5. I don't believe that leading
will be a problem?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Majic]

Could be a rough bore. You could try polishing it Flitz or some metal polish. Try pushing some cotton thru the bore and then look to see if any appreaciable amount has been caught up in the rifling.

[stans]

Check the diameter of the cylinder throats. Ruger has a reputation for undersizing the cylinder throats. This does not present much of a problem for jacketed bullets, but lead bullets get swaged down as they pass through the cylinder, then have to swage up in the bore. The result is usually poor accuracy and more leading than you can shake a stick at!

[Ben Shepherd]

Have you slugged the bore? My 357 rugers(all 6 of them) are big enough I use .358 diamiter cast bullets, .357 was too small and leaded badly.

[RON in PA]

I've found that Ruger revolvers seem to lead-up more than my Smiths, esp. with swaged bullets. What I have found is that leading decreases after a goodly number of jacketed loads have been shot through the guns. Rugers just need to be broken in and that is usually best done by shooting a lot.

[Dot_mdb]

Ala Dan,

I had leading problems using Hornady BBWC in my 686-5. Please let us know the results of your experience with those Zero swaged bullets.

The hard cast bullets I now use are manufactured locally and they cost me less than any of the name brand swaged bullets. I've also had good luck with the Meister SWC bullets available from Dillon. The Meister are a little more expensive but they are good quality.

Bill

[Ala Dan]

We will do Bill. :) It probably will be around the 1st
of May before I get a chance to try those L-BBSWC
bullets from Zero out. I will report their performance
at that time. Take Care~

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member