is lead in a barrel visable?

[v-max29]

i loaded up some 44 mag lead swc's to 1746fps in my marlin 1894, it has a micro-groove barrel. my friend told me that 1746fps was too fast for lead and i was going to have a leaded barrel. i just took my rifle apart for cleaning and i dont see any lead in the barrel, i cleand the bore with borescrubber and didnt see any lead on my patches. should i be able to see the lead if it was a problem? or do you just "know" its there? Thanks, Dennis

 

[Sgt.Dusk]

It is visible.
Leaded barrel looks "dirty", you recognize it better when using flashlight when looking into barrel.

...so it seems that you have no leading.

 

[dmftoy1]

If you're really worried about it, pick up a box of "Chore Boy" pot scrubbers and cut a piece the same size as your cleaning patch. After running a cleaning patch back/forth lay the chore boy patch on top of it and run it through your barrel. If you've "leaded" the barrel you'll see slivers of lead in the chore boy threads when it comes out of the barrel. It'll be very obvious.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Jeff F]

My bores are very shinny when clean. If after shooting cast lead and cleaning they look dull, that is usually lead fouling. You can see it.

You can push hard cast lead pretty fast and with a gas check even faster without leading.
I thought the micro grove barrels did not like cast bullets. How did that Marlin do accuracy wise.

 

[v-max29]

accuracy was just ok,i had some loaded with 20gr of 2400 that shot around 3" at 100 yards and some loaded with 19 that shot around 4 or 5" at 100 yards. i also have some factory winchester 240gr sjsp ammo and it shoots real well under 1". i think in gonna try the 240gr xtp bullets in my next loads. Thanks, Dennis

 

[Slamfire]

I have no doubt that if you were to look at your bore with a bore scope you would see lead particles imbedded in some of the tooling marks.

And, so what. The only time leading is a problem is when it builds up to the point you can see it. When that happens, it deforms lead bullets.

I shoot lead out with jacketed bullets. Of course the removal is not 100 %, in fact I just think I am swaging the stuff in the bore, the stuff that breaks loose gets blown out the barrel.

I have a Ballard M1894, I get 1750 fps with cast bullets without severe leading.

 

[rcmodel]

Micro-Groove rifling and lead bullets often times don't get along too well from an accuracy standpoint.

That's why Marlin doesn't use it anymore in the big-bore stuff.
The Cowboy Action guys wanted better accuracy.

rcmodel

 

[v-max29]

from what i have read, they will shoot lead fine if you have bullets sized to .432