Metallic build-up in barrel?

[vanagon40]

I just removed this stuff from the barrel of my K-22. What is this?



Here is the long story:

Several months ago, I purchased a S&W 17-3 (K-22). I did not clean the revolver prior to shooting it (although I did not notice anything out of the ordinary on a very brief visual inspection, the bore was clean and shiny).

I shot about 100 to 150 rounds of cheap Remington Thunderbolt through the revolver and then cleaned it. I noticed that there was somewhat of an obstruction at the breech end of the barrel. My cleaning patch would stick when it hit the end and require some effort to push it all the way through. I also noticed a dark ring or shadow at the breech end of the barrel. I ran my brush through a few times and still was not completely satisfied, but gave up for the day. I have not shot the revolver since.

I was cleaning some other guns last night and thought I would take another look at the K-22. Of course nothing had changed and there was still a problem pushing a patch through the very end of the barrel (breech end). I soaked a patch in Hoppes 9 and pushed it to the breech end and let it sit (I added a few drops of Hoppes 9 down the barrel for good measure).

About an hour later I removed the patch and pushed my brush through. At that time, I noticed a few very fine slivers of metal came out of the barrel, and a visual inspection revealed that there was some metal flaking of the breech end of the barrel. At this point I got a large straight pin (small hat pin) and poked around in the barrel (I am not poking very hard and not nearly as hard as the dentist pokes at my teeth). After a little poking and some brushing, several relatively large slivers of metal were removed from the barrel.

What’s up with this? The barrel looks much nicer now. I assume that stuff did not belong in there?

 

[vanagon40]

By the way, this was not an old and abused revolver. It looked nearly perfect when I purchased it (and still does).

 

[highorder]

It's lead.

There are a number of good products to remove excess leading from the bore; among them is the Lewis Lead remover.

 

[vanagon40]

So is it likely this lead was in the barrel was from the 100 to 150 rounds I put through the revolver, or was it likely there when I purchased it?

I have very little experience at cleaning revolvers. I used to own a little Smith .38 Special (that someone stole from me) but never saw anything like the above. However, I was using army surplus ammo.

 

[highorder]

It was probably there when you bought it, but you probably added to it just a bit.

How as your accuracy?

 

[Eightball]

likely there when I purchased it?

This gets my vote if it was so difficult to remove.

Just lead. Clean it well, be vigorous, and it'll eventually work its way out.

 

[vanagon40]

. . . . How as your accuracy?

Accuracy is only so-so.

I hardly ever shoot (maybe three or four times a year) and I never really made an effort to improve.

Now I am working on a better grip and better stance and think I will be improving. I bought the K-22 (and an old H&R Sprotsman) so I could practice double action with .22 and not spend a fortune to get better.

BTW, it scared me to death when the metal flakes started coming out of the revolver. I thought for sure something was wrong, but after a little reflection I realized that nothing that was supposed to be "attached" to the barrel would flake off so easily.

 

[kanook]

That must have been some hot loads to remove your rifling. Just send it to me and my wife will be very happy errrrr I'll take care of it. That is one very nice looking Smith. I'm a Ruger nut, but man that is nice.

PS lead.

 

[Iggy]

A really good cleaning, and removal of the built up lead in the barrel may result in a substantial improvement in your accuracy.

Your bullets are being distorted by the build up and then bouncing down the rest of the barrel.

Give your gun a chance and it may make a good shot out of you.

 

[vanagon40]

I think I have it all out now. Had to give up last night because it got late on me, but I should be able to finish tonight. As I said before, the barrel looks a lot better now.

 

[rcmodel]

Pay special attention to the forcing cone at the rear of the barrel.
If it is also leaded badly, a bronze bore buush will not take it out while cleaning the bore normally from the muzzle.

But it will deform bullets and cause the bore to lead again.

rc

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

Our club has a 617 that leads really bad like that. Most .22s can go thousands of rounds with no real cleaning, this 617 has to be cleaned every 150-200 because lead builds up on the crown and causes the gun to keyhole.

 

[gearchecker]

Vanagon,
Just curious, and if you don't mind letting us know, can you let us know roughly what you paid for your K-22?
The prices seem to be all over the place and it will keep us aware of what they may be going for. I'm looking for one myself.

 

[Sheldon]

It could be the Thunderbolt ammo it too soft. My neighbor had a new Walther P22 and I was sighting for him as he shot. I saw the rounds hitting the target sideways and had him stop. His barrel was leaded up really bad. Guess what he was shooting....Thunderbolts. Try some different ammo or closely monitor future use with the Thunderbolts and clean as needed. My guess is your gun doesn't like the Thunderbolts.

 

[Jim Watson]

cheap Remington Thunderbolt

Ah-HA!
I think Remington Thunderbolt is the worst ammunition I have ever shot. It leaded the barrel of my Colt Ace so bad it was throwing keyholes. The rifling was almost completely full of lead. That took a LOT of cleaning.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

I think Remington Thunderbolt is the worst ammunition I have ever shot.

I'll second that. Our club bought about 30,000 rounds of it. That was the worst semester ever. We were getting 5-20% duds, and the recoil was different with every shot.

 

[Loanshark]

Try the federal bulk pack from wally world...

 

[vanagon40]

Yeah, I gave up on the Thunderbolts. Now using these

 

[vanagon40]

As far as a price on the K-22, I paid just over $500 at Gunbrokers. With shipping and FFL fees, it cost a total of $560. Probably too much but it is in excellent condition. Manufactured in 1971.

I quit smoking in March of this year and used the money I saved during the first six months to buy the K-22.

 

[vanagon40]

With the money I saved, I was also able to by this

 

[vanagon40]

And this (19-3)



I am now finished buying because I agreed that I would use only 6 months of cigarette money.

 

[Steve C]

Looks like lead fouling in the bore. Even though it was cleaned after every shooting session I had some serious leading in a Ruger Single Six with some cheap .22 lr ammo I bought at Western Auto in '75 that was branded with their name. Went to clean the pistol after shooting and couldn't even get the rod through it. Used a mallet to tap it trough and it drove out a tube of lead. Looking down the bore didn't show me the fouling. Got some Hoppes, a good bronze brush and scrubbed the bore out well. I shot many thousands of rounds out of that pistol with other brands of ammo while I owned it in the years following and never saw another occurrence of this type of problem.

Its been my experience with centerfire pistols shooting lead bullets that once lead or copper fouling occurs it tends to accumulate lead quickly. A good clean bore will usually not foul with good bullets for a long time.

 

[s4s4u]

6 months of cigarette money

Holy.......

 

[gearchecker]

Yeah,
I quit smoking in July 08' and I've bought 12 guns since then.
It's easier to quit smoking than to quit buying guns.
By the way you got the K22 for a good price.
Nothing to write home about, but considering everything on the market today you did well. It's a great gun, the more you shoot it you will really appreciate how well it's made .

 

[gearchecker]

Oh yeah, almost forgot
Try some CCI Mini mags. Super clean ammo, rare to have a mis-fire or hang up.
Super consistant in power and accuracy.
A bit more expensive, but worth every penny in the end.