Removing Lead from SAA Barrel?

[dapster]

I can't seem to get rid of what appears to be a smudge of lead toward the forcing cone end of the barrel. The ammunition fired was 30 rounds of Magtech Cowboy Action Loads, 250 grain lead flat nose.

I've used both Hoppe's #9 and Shooter's Choice Lead Remover, apparently incorrectly.

I'd appreciate suggestions. Thanks.

 

[CSA 357]

Try Shooting Some Jacked Ammo, Good Luck

 

[scrat]

head down to your grocery store. go to the cleaning aisle. pick up a box of Chore Boy. its a small box that contains copper brillo pad. Cut it up into strips and wrap it tight around a bronze scrub brush. Make sure the barrel is dry of any and all lubricants and cleaners. May need to clean and wait 24 hours as it works very good dry. then scrub the barrel dry. you will see a lot of the fouling and lead deposits come out.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Scrat has it...Actually any bronze scrup pad cut and rapped around a bronze bore brush will work.

Absolutely do not shoot a jacketed bullet down that barrel until you remove the lead. There two stories on this procedure and I really didn't like the second one...

 

[Sport45]

A lot of the "copper" scouring pads that are sold in the clear cellophane bags are steel that has been copper plated. They still work well, used as mentioned in the post above. I figure if it won't scratch a cheap pot it won't scratch my barrel. I haven't tried the name brand Chore Boy sold in a box.

 

[Bezoar]

what happened to just soaking a bore brush in a good oil and scrubbing on it? if it works on a 22 it should work on a big bore cartridge.

 

[Sport45]

A .22 bore brush has very short, stiff bristles that do a much better job of removing lead than the long bristles on a .45 brush.

 

[scrat]

what happened to just soaking a bore brush in a good oil and scrubbing on it? if it works on a 22 it should work on a big bore cartridge

.the bore brush being lubricated with the oil kind works against you. The lubrications lubricates the outside of the lead so the bore brush just bends and slydes over it. If you clean it, clean it dry. then let it completely dry. then use that dry bronze brush with some chore boy on it. It will scrape right off. the lead and fouling will come right on out. Lubricating a leaded barrel does not work. Heck i once used lighter fluid down the barrel and then put a match to it. Then waited waited all day long. Till the barrel was good and dry. Then take out that bronze brush wrap the chore boy tight in between. all the lead will come right on out.

 

[owlhoot]

A Lewis lead remover has always done the trick for me without fuss or bother.

 

[KI.W.]

Reload Hornady HP XTP backwards and shoot them every now and then.

 

[dagger dog]

A tool called Lewis Lead remover is available from Brownells. It employs a "patch" of brass screen and a tapered plug and a threaded handle. It is made for the specific purpose of removing lead from the forcing cone of revolvers.

It's on page 291 of the #58 catalog, product # 516-100-045, for .45 caliber.

If you shoot much lead revolver bullets it will pay for itself in no time.

 

[s4s4u]

I use aluminum window screen, you can buy for pennies a foot at ACE, cut in to squares like cleaning patches. Just put over a cleaning jag and run down the bore like you would a patch. The lead gets trapped in the little square gaps in the screen.

 

[dapster]

Thanks for the Suggestions

I finally found some Chore Boy Copper Scrubbers in San Diego at Ace Hardware. They were not carried at Vons, Ralphs and Home Depot.

Anyway, while the barrel looks a lot better, nevertheless, there appears to be a smudge that I can't eliminate.

I did go ahead and order a Lewis Lead Remover from Brownells.

 

[scrat]

not good on the chore boy. sounds like i need to build up my stock myself. by the time that kit comes in you keep working with the chore boy and it will be gone.

 

[jjohnson]

Lewis Lead Remover

Yep. +1 on THAT one. I've used mine for a few years after decades (and I mean decades) of trying everything else :banghead:

There are other things that will sort of work - but the Lewis (from Brownell's) was designed specifically for this chore, and it is very well worth the money.

God only knows we can use more tools that do exactly what they were made to do.

 

[Coyote3855]

I agree on the Lewis Lead Remover, and with Bushmaster on the fallacy of jacketed bullets "cleaning out the lead." I posted on another thread that I once shot several thousand rounds a month of lead SWC through a 1911. I finally purchased an electronic bore cleaner that removed an amazing amount of lead residue and other gunk even after cleaning with the Lewis. After an argument with a friend over the effectiveness of the "jacketed bullet" technique, we did the following experiment. Shot about 500 rounds through the 1911 in practice. Observed visable leading ahead of the chamber. Fired five jacked bullets. Less leading was visable. Used the electroic bore cleaner. About the same amount of residue as was present after 500 rounds and no jacketed bullets.

I don't think it works. For minor leading the OP describes, Lewis for sure.

 

[JNewell]

Haved tried the Chore-Boy - got much more thorough cleaning with the Lewis tool (Hoppe's sells a copy, btw).

Solvents and brushes don't work on lead. Even the lead solvent solutions I've tried really aren't very effective. Standard bore cleaner doesn't work at all.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I have a Lewis tool and used it over 20 years. They work, but the copper Chore Boy trick plain works better. I also use cleaning solution - Shooter's Choice, or just plain synthetic oil when I do it because for me at least, it works even better that way.

Wrap a good deal of Chore Boy around the brush, don't be shy, it works best when tight.