Leaded barrels … yet again

[jski]

I have a S&W .45 Colt Mountain Gun that I fired Hornady swaged cowboy bullets thru (BIG mistake). Ever since then I have lead smears in my barrel, some long enough and thick enough the cover up some of the lands and grove 1/2 the length of the barrel.

I’ve tried cleaning the barrel with Hoppe’s #9 and oversized bronze brushes to no avail. Is there something besides Hoppe’s? Should I attach my bronze brush to my drill and ream it?

Some have suggested firing 100% copper bullets thru it? Other have suggested Linotype bullets?

Suggestions?

 

[RKRCPA]

Use a few strands from a COPPER Chore Boy pad wrapped around a brush. Works every time.

 

[Shooterbob]

Soak a bore mop with kroil let soak a day before using chore boy . Seems to loosen lead deposits.Good luck Bob

 

[LiveLife]

Use a few strands from a COPPER Chore Boy pad wrapped around a brush. Works every time.

Works every time for me too.

I use old bore brush with copper strands checked with magnet (To rule out copper washed steel). Wrap it slightly oversized and few strokes back and forth and lead is removed and bore is clean. Fast and easy.

Check out Glen Fryxell's book (Bottom of Chapter 7) on lead removal - http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_7_Leading.htm

 

[jski]

Use a few strands from a COPPER Chore Boy pad wrapped around a brush. Works every time.

Thanks! Just ordered some.

Question: Is there any danger to the barrel with attaching a cleaning rod to your drill with a bronze brush at the other end and reaming?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

NO DRILL! Elbow grease. The tighter the brush and copper wool the better.

 

[Seedy Character]

Powder coated bullets are your friend.

 

[jski]

NO DRILL! Elbow grease. The tighter the brush and copper wool the better.

Well, damn! Too late!

I attached a bronze brush to my drill and reamed the bore.
Worked well in removing the lead but obviously not the best solution.
The CHORE BOY copper pads will be here Monday.

 

[mcb]

Thanks! Just ordered some.

Question: Is there any danger to the barrel with attaching a cleaning rod to your drill with a bronze brush at the other end and reaming?

I have done it but the bristles are moving the wrong way (across the grooves not up and down the grooves) and it does not work all that well. A little copper chore boy and some elbow grease is actually fasters and not much harder. A Lewis lead removes is another option works about as well as chore boy but comes with a forcing cone cleaner that works really good for that one location.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

1. Lewis Lead Remover: https://www.brownells.com/gun-clean...ead-remover/lewis-lead-remover-prod21587.aspx

2. Stainless pot scrubber: https://www.big45metalcleaner.com

 

[nettlle]

When shooting lead bullets I keep a separate rod with an old .22 caliber bore brush wrapped in Chore Boy. With each cleaning session the barrel gets about five swipes with this set up and Shooters Choice MC-7. Adds about 10 seconds to the cleaning process. Since I started this cleaning procedure I have no more problems with leading and my bores look like a mirror.

 

[hk940]

I have had some negative comments for this method, Toxic etc. but a 50-50% mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and white vinegar. Tape the muzzle and fill barrel with mixture wait 20-30 minutes dump and rinse. repeat if needed.
It will dissolve the lead.
I was skeptical about this at first but mixed up a small batch in a beaker and dropped in a 158 g .38 wad cutter head as soon as the slug hit the bottom it started to bubble.

 

[nettlle]

If you want to nuke it out with a chemical use Sweets 7.62. The leading isn't that hard to get out with Chore Boy if caught early.

 

[dfariswheel]

NEVER, EVER, run a brush in a rifled barrel with a drill....It WILL ruin the barrel and will do it fast.

Running a brush in a SMOOTHBORE shotgun barrel is a valid method of cleaning a fouled barrel or polishing it.
People hear about this and figure it'll work in a rifled barrel.

There are a number of good, safe methods of de-leading a rifled barrel.
The old revolver shooters all owned a Lewis Lead Remover kit which works extremely well and without risk of damage.
Wrapping GENUINE Copper Choreboy around a brush works, but be 100% certain it's real copper, and not copper plated stainless which will ruin a barrel.
Soaking the bore with Kroil a day or so allows the Kroil to infiltrate under the leading and loosen it for brushing out.
Cutting a Lead-Away type cloth into patches will quickly remove any leading.

As for "lead remover" chemicals, there are none.
Any chemical that will "dissolve" leading will also dissolve you if ingested.

If you own a revolver, even if all you shoot is jacketed ammo, you still should have a Lewis Kit. It has a special tip that cleans lead, copper, and carbon fouling off the critical forcing cone in the back of the barrel.
Periodically using that tip can prevent a cracked forcing cone.

 

[nettlle]

If you read the directions on Sweet's 7.62 it will dissolve the barrel if left unattended too long.

 

[.38 Special]

Chore Boy or 0000 steel wool on a brush. I have tried every method under the sun and nothing is as easy or effective.

 

[jski]

Wrapping GENUINE Copper Choreboy around a brush works, but be 100% certain it's real copper, and not copper plated stainless which will ruin a barrel.

How do I know if it's a "genuine" CHORE BOY ALL COPPER pad? I ordered them thru Amazon.

NEVER, EVER, run a brush in a rifled barrel with a drill....It WILL ruin the barrel and will do it fast.

How would a bronze brush "ruin" a hardened steel barrel, even if powered by a drill?

 

[LiveLife]

How do I know if it's ... ALL COPPER

Use a magnet to check

copper strands checked with magnet (To rule out copper washed steel)

 

[edwardware]

I have a S&W .45 Colt Mountain Gun that I fired Hornady swaged cowboy bullets thru (BIG mistake).

No, but you probably pushed them too fast.

Copper Chore Boy on a worn out bore brush is the answer; buy the name brand and they should be copper. Check with a magnet.

How would a bronze brush "ruin" a hardened steel barrel, even if powered by a drill?

It's more complicated than "harder". The bronze bristles will erode the steel, but so slowly that you won't notice. . . unless you get stupid with power tools

 

[4v50 Gary]

Use a few strands from a COPPER Chore Boy pad wrapped around a brush. Works every time.

Beat me to it. Chore Boy wrapped around an old brass brush.

 

[smith627]

Get the correct copper Chore Boy (got mine at local hardware store) and it really works great!
[/ATTACH]

 

[BrotherMaynard]

For light leading, I found brass pipe screens on a jag work pretty well and are cheap. For heavier leading, I use a bit of Big 45 wrapped around a brush:

https://www.big45metalcleaner.com/

I also use it to remove light rust from blued surfaces.

 

[usaral63]

Gdallmightydamn!! Get a LEWIS LEAD REMOVER......do not spin clean a good bbl, a bit of solvent, followed by a time or two thru that bbl with the LLR will make that bbl like new again. It'l work wonders on that forcing cone and the chambers as well............not the 'charging holes'!! The chambers!!!

& yeah, I was born a LONG time ago!

 

[.38 Special]

S&W has been calling them "charge holes" for a hundred years and sometimes still does. https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-627

 

[jski]

Use a magnet to check

Should have thought about proving it's not iron (steel) instead proving it's copper.