Wiping Lead Bullets with Steel Wool

[il.bill]

When loading uncoated lead bullets I always use a paper towel to wipe off the bullet after seating to remove any shaved lead and/or smeared waxy lube with the goal of keeping my crimping die clean. Then after crimping I give the bullet and end of case a quick couple of turns in some 0-0-0-0 steel wool.

I learned the steel wool move from a buddy who gained much of his reloading experience while serving with the Israeli Defense Forces. It makes for a shiny end product and I figured I was being as nice as I could to the inside of my barrels. While doing the final 'wipe' on some .45 Colt today I had a thought out of the blue: am I running the risk of actually leaving steel particles from the wool embedded in my lead bullets and then possibly scratching the bore on the way out the barrel?

Hey - it is the 4th of July weekend and I have nothing else to worry about with my time off work, but am I simply over thinking this issue? Please chime in with your opinions about my new 'concern'. Do I keep 'shining them up' or forget the steel wool treatment and just do my final wipe with a paper towel?

 

[Archie]

Lead oxidizes so quickly the 'shiny' bullets will not stay shiny very long.

I cannot say for certain if the steel wool will leave particles or not. However, try doing the bullet rub with the paper towel. It will serve to remove all the stuff on the bullet and upper part of the case and the bits of paper towel - if any - should not harm your barrel. It may get the bullet as shiny, but it will be clean and neat.

 

[reddog81]

I doubt a tiny shred of steel wool is going to hurt anything. Maybe copper chore boy pads would be better but IDK...

If your getting lead shavings the better option would be to turn down the expanse die another 1/8 to 1/4 turn.

 

[mdi]

Ummm, kind of an aside, but I would eliminate any lead shaving, a relatively easy task, and forget the steel wool. I keep a hand towel on my bench to wipe the finished ammo as I box it up. A light film of lube or case lube is a good thing as it tends to protect the brass and clean lead from tarnish/corrosion. I believe there is a chance of steel threads sticking to the lead bullets (during use, steel wool tends to "shed"), but the amount would be very small and probably cause no harm.

 

[armoredman]

The only time I ever wiped off lead bullets with steel wool was when I was tumble lubing some 40SW for a friend, and they were going into a plastic baggie, which would have put lube everywhere. If they were going in an ammo box I wouldn't have bothered at all, no problem.

 

[entropy]

I did it last night, and will be doing again later tonight, with 100 230 gr. LRN I let SWMBO use for weight in the bottom of flowerpots for our son's grad party. Actually, I found a brass wire brush of the type found in cleaining kits to work well.

 

[Scooter22]

I wouldn't do it. Most of the SW these days is Chinese junk. It breaks and imbeds in everything including fingers. I'd figure every lead bullet you scrub with it would have some stuck to it. Multiply by how many bullets you polish. I wouldn't want them in any good bore. I don't use SW on guns or stocks anymore. jmho

 

[ReloaderFred]

If you're properly belling (flaring) the case mouths, and using properly lubed bullets, there shouldn't be any need for wiping them off at all. Now if you're using those messy tumble lubed bullets, that's another matter entirely.

I personally load between 10,000 and 12,000 rounds of lead bullets per year, and none of them get wiped off, nor do they have anything on them that needs wiping off. These are also bullets that I've cast, sized and lubed myself. The thought of wiping off each and every one of them gives me a headache.........

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[luzyfuerza]

Test it this way: do your steel wool wipedown and then dip a few rounds in water. Let them sit for a few days. Examine for rust. You'll have your answer.

 

[mdi]

Test it this way: do your steel wool wipedown and then dip a few rounds in water. Let them sit for a few days. Examine for rust. You'll have your answer.

Good test/info. The cheaper and finer of the steel wool the more it will "shed", and embed in the soft lead...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I wipe mine or with old terry cloth washcloths and it works just fine.

Be sure to wash your hands well after contacting the lead when wiping with steel wool. Ingesting lead is very bad for your health.

 

[CANNONMAN]

I gotta agree with ReloaderFred. Perhaps a volume thing. I used to be concerned about such things and now believe them to be cosmetic. Careful examination of barrels and any changes in target quality would've changed my mind. I just don't see any. However, I sometimes believe my truck is running better after a good wash. I like to load 'bout 1,000 rounds at a time.

 

[il.bill]

Test it this way: do your steel wool wipedown and then dip a few rounds in water. Let them sit for a few days. Examine for rust. You'll have your answer.

There you go! Thanks for the idea - I will report back the end of the week ...

 

[FROGO207]

So you feel that wiping off any lube on the exterior of a lead bullet is a good idea? Unless there is a bunch of crud on the bullets I will not wipe any. I clean my seating die before each use and adjust for bullet shape after cleaning.

 

[il.bill]

So you feel that wiping off any lube on the exterior of a lead bullet is a good idea? Unless there is a bunch of crud on the bullets I will not wipe any. I clean my seating die before each use and adjust for bullet shape after cleaning.

I use commercially purchased lead bullets that often come with a thick waxy blue lube that sometimes will smear on the bullet / end of the case. I figure the lube in the groove should be sufficient, and the excess is only going to gum up my crimp die and/or attract dirt and crud before it gets chambered. If wiping that off is a bad idea, please explain why, so I can learn.

Thanks!

 

[TfflHndn]

I just use a microfiber cloth. Works great.

 

[jimeast]

Lead slivers

I noticed as I dialed in my belling amount, any slivers or crud that could have been wiped off disappeared and the end product looks very neat. Also the inside surfaces of the dies stay cleaner longer now that everything is dialed in. My bullets are bought and the outside seems to have a waxy or lubed surface as well. I have used steel wool to finish woodworking projects and short steel fibers can be found everywhere after using the steel wool. If you find wiping provides a better end result, I would suggest a microfiber cloth or something different than steel wool. Even an old t-shirt might be worth a try.

 

[FROGO207]

I am just of the opinion that more wax= more lube for the upper sides of the bullet so I just leave it all there, even on the tip. One less step when reloading as well. The bullets that I buy do not seem to have much wax other than in the lube groove though.