Can someone explain my leading problem?

[LightningMan]

Hello all, Here's my problem. I have had a Ruger MKIII for a couple years now with no issues with leading in the barrel and still don't, but a couple of months ago I wanted another .22 pistol, which is where my problem started. I bought a M&P .22 pistol and it really shot well for the first couple of weeks, but about 4 weeks ago I went shooting only to have terrible accuracy. I went to clean the barrel and it was all leaded up toward the muzzle end. I want to blame the ammo but I was shooting the same (Blazer 525 bulk box) ammo in my Ruger MKIII, which was shoot as good as ever, with no leading build up. I talked to a few friend and got some suggestions, so I cleaned the barrel real good and tried the cotton test, also shot a couple of bulk boxes of plated ammo through it with no issues. Which brings us today, I started using (on purpose) some Blazer Bulk ammo again, while I didn't see any accuracy issues while at the range, it was when I got home to clean my M&P22 the I could see the beginings of some lead build up. I'm sure if I had continued shoot more than I had, the leading would have gotten so bad as to effect accuracy. Then to add to this, I was talking to someone at the range about this very issue, before hand, and he related his story about his Ruger SR22 having the same problem shooting lead ammo! So anybody have any similar storys, and was there a solution besides shooting plated ammunition only! I would really hate that because I really haven't found any plated bulk box ammo that was consistant as the Blazer 40 grain lead RN. Thanks for your replies. LM

 

[rcmodel]

Perhaps new barrel roughness?
Barrels get smother and less likely to lead the more they have been shot.

You could try lapping it with JB Bore Paste followed by JB Bore Brite to speed the process and see if it helps.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1160/Product/J-B-reg-NON-EMBEDDING-BORE-CLEANING-COMPOUND

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1161/Product/J-B-reg-BORE-BRIGHT

rc

 

[PO2Hammer]

Yeah, I would suspect a slightly rough barrel. MY Mark III and my S&W 63 leaded with Blazer, but not my Mark II or my CZ Kadet. All shot Mini Mags without leading.

I would shoot a few boxes of Federal 525 bulk plated ammo. That should smooth things up. If leading persists I would consider lapping the bore with Tubb lapping ammo.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/120980/tubb-final-finish-bore-lapping-system-ammunition-22-long-rifle-lead-round-nose-box-of-100

 

[LightningMan]

well this conferms my thoughts too, that its still a newer barrel which still has some roughness to it. I'll keep shooting the plated stuff, and try again sometime down the road. thanks LM.

 

[EddieNFL]

Over the past few years some manufacturers have really slipped in terms of quality. Try another brand and see if you get better results.

 

[Fremmer]

I wouldn't mess with trying to smooth it out, but if you do go easy with it. The plated ammo sounds like a good idea. Or just stay away from the blazer in that gun.

 

[Steve C]

Leading at the muzzle end of the barrel ccould indicate that the rounds are running out of lube before exiting the barrel. If I remember correctly the Blazer's used to have a rather thick waxy type lube on them but a box of more current ammo I have the bullets either have a clear wax or are not lubed as much as they used to be.

Leading will accumulate on fouling the barrel, either copper or lead. Once leading starts it quickly accumulates so keeping the barrel clean is important. Get your self a bore brush and some good lead and copper removing bore cleaner like Sweets and make sure the bore is completely free of lead. A small patch cut from a lead wipe away cloth and pused through the bore on a jag will show any lead if there's any left in the barrel and will also do an excellent job taking lead out.

 

[jad0110]

Get your self a bore brush and some good lead and copper removing bore cleaner like Sweets and make sure the bore is completely free of lead. A small patch cut from a lead wipe away cloth and pused through the bore on a jag will show any lead if there's any left in the barrel and will also do an excellent job taking lead out.

That, and run your chosen cleaner for lead or copper (I prefer home made Ed's Red as a lead remover) on a patch down the bore as soon as possible after shooting. I did this last time out at the range, ran an Ed's Red soaked patch down the bore about 30 seconds after shooting. Got big chunks of lead out of the end. Still took a lot of work after that though. Sure wish the Lewis Lead remover came in .22 cal!

 

[Drail]

Now you can see why aftermarket "match grade" barrels ain't cheap.

 

[Remllez]

I don't know how bad the leading is in your gun but like everyone said previously keep it squeaky clean and I'd shoot plated/ copper washed for awhile just for grins.

If you have a truly rough bore and the leading continues after a few thousand rounds, I'd send it back for R/R. I wouldn't try polishing the bore, I'd let Smith and Wesson do it on their dime.

 

[BCRider]

I've had two rimfire guns which leaded up on me. Both broke in after a few hundred rounds of somewhat more frequent cleaning and do not lead up anymore.

In one case I didn't realize that it was "new" since I'd bought it used. But the gun was in such nice shape it was obviously shot very little and the barrel was essentially still new. When I ran into accuracy issues it was leaded so badly that I could not even get a barrel brush to fit down the bore. Had to tap it through with a block of wood. I got enough lead "potatoe chips" out of it that I probably could have made a bullet out of the lead...

That was a while back. I recently bought a new rimfire semi and this thread is reminding me that I should be checking and cleaning it more frequently for the first 500 or so rounds to check for the same thing.