Lead streaks :(

[MikePaiN]

I've always fired jacketed rounds and used Hoppe's #9 to clean, the bores look pristine. I've been running some cast bullets lately and #9 doesn't seem to be able to fully remove the lead from my SR9c barrel. I've let it sit over an hour, brass and/or nylon brushed it to death, still there is lead streaking in the rifling :banghead: (I had some CLP on hand but it didn't seem to do much better)
Before I go trying this, that and the other.....What bore cleaner is a good lead remover? Thanks

 

[kyhunter]

chore boy pads or boiling in water then brushing (barrel only)

 

[Josh45]

Get a tornado brush while your at it.
They help a lot. Also, Shoot some jacketed rounds thru it. I had the same issue and ran some jacketed rounds after using lead and it actually help clear the lead up.

 

[Sam1911]

What's your load? A little streaking isn't anything to worry about, but if you're getting actual "leading" you probably don't have your load and bullet combination set up right.

I shoot almost nothing but cast lead and often put 1,000 rounds (or way more) through a barrel between bore cleanings -- in fact, I rarely bother to scrub bores when cleaning the soot and gunk out of my pistols -- so it usually isn't a real problem.

 

[ku4hx]

...What bore cleaner is a good lead remover? ...

Elbow grease. Essentially, either you prevent it or you scrub it out. Letting a leaded bore soak in Kroil helps a bit, but just a bit at best.

Basically, it's mechanically deposited and it takes mechanical action to get it out. There are no safe lead dissolving solutions. There are electro-chemical devices, but they are sloooow and rather expensive.

If you're interested in cast bullets and leading, here is a superior source; chapter 7:http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm

 

[brickeyee]

Shoot some jacketed rounds thru it.

Then you can have burnished and polished lead in your barrel.

It will look nice and shiny for a while till the lead oxidizes to dull grey.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm with Sam, it's better to tweak the load until it doesn't lead. If you are unsure how to do this, pop into the reloading section and the folks there will help. Beats cleaning lead no matter what method one uses.

 

[SDGlock23]

I swab the barrel in Kroil and let that sit for a few hours. Then I spay some RemOil and/or Hoppes #9 and/or Breakfree CLP and scrub away with a Chore Boy wrapped brush, works well...even in Glocks.

 

[M-Cameron]

Kroil and jb bore paste on a felt pad should take the lead right off....

 

[481]

Clean your barrel thoroughly then give these a try, Mike.

http://store.safariland.com/kleen-bore/product213.html

I've had the best results with them. You can also get a large cloth and cut that into smaller or larger squares.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Kroil and jb bore paste on a felt pad should take the lead right off....

That'll work, but JB Bore Paste can be pretty abrasive and if used a lot, start to wear the barrel. Use it judiciously.

Brownells has special "mesh" devices that is good for getting out lead that can be attached to a cleaning rod (like a wire brush), and as suggested above, there are chemically-treated cloths, that when cut into small squares and used with a jag, can do a great job of removing lead...

 

[MikePaiN]

Thanks, the cast bullets are not my load, I got 500 from a friend as part of a trade....He is a VERY meticulous loader and swears the load was developed to not over heat the bullets.
Its a one time thing anyway, after this batch I'll go back to my factory FMJs.
I found a small can of Ballistal in my stuff, I'll give that a try with some more elbow grease.......

 

[Jed Carter]

Remington 40X bore cleaner uses a solvent free liquid abrasive that should remove any deposits safely.

 

[Sam1911]

The bullets may not fit your bore. His load's pressure may exceed what's appropriate for the hardness of that bullet. Other factors may be in play.

If you aren't going to shoot any more lead, yeah just scrub it out and don't worry about it again.

(Ugh...factory loads? How does anybody ever afford that stuff! )

 

[98Redline]

Take a copper chore boy pad, cut off a strip of the copper and wrap it tightly around a bronze bore brush (it should be a tight fit in the bore).

Use it dry and just scrub the bejezzus out of the bore, all of the lead will come out.

There is also a kit called the Lewis Lead Remover that uses a rubber plug and a bronze mesh screen that takes lead out in a similar fashion.

 

[hariph creek]

Some of that "chore boy" stuff wrapped around the cleaning brush, and elbow grease (allot of elbow grease). Works great on shotgun bores, too.

You need to address the leading problem, though. Fine tune the load, diameter, pressure, etc...

I really like Bear Creek Supply's moly bullets. Cheap and no fowling.

 

[Bill4282]

I even read about chore boy around a bore bush mounted a rod. Then the rod chucked into a drill. Run on low speed. Shotgunners swear this works.

 

[Thompsoncustom]

When I first started reloading I found the easiest thing there is and that's

50% vinegar and 50% hydrogen peroxide.

Just plug one end of the barrel and fill it up and let it sit 10 mins and the lead will just pour out.

Some things to know: This mixture makes a mild acid and it will remove a lot of other things to like bluing and probably paint so if you don't have a plain steel barrel it might not be a good idea. If I remember right it changes the lead to a lead acetate which can be absorbed through the skin.

So all in all it works great but handle with care.

 

[MikePaiN]

Thanks again for all the advice.
Like I said above my buddy is very meticulous(obsessively so) about his loads....So he is on the war path to figure out what changed.

 

[Sam1911]

...So he is on the war path to figure out what changed.

The gun! Not all barrels are the same and like the same stuff. If you are SUPER curious, slug your bore and see what diameter you get.

I even read about chore boy around a bore bush mounted a rod. Then the rod chucked into a drill. Run on low speed. Shotgunners swear this works.

Shotgunners don't have to worry about rifling. But the chore-boy pad still works, just doesn't help to spin it in a rifled barrel. Of course, shotgunners these days don't have too much trouble with leading, as just about everyone uses plastic shot cups in their loads.

 

[Cherokee]

Chore-boy pad, make sure it is copper, not copper coated steel. This will clean the lead out. Then, tweak your load as already suggested. Bore cleaners wil not do it. Bullet fit is king, your CB's may be too small in diameter for your barrel.

 

[snakeman]

I would think that sweets 7.62 solvent would probably work.

 

[greyling22]

+1 chore boy.

also I hear you can plug one end of the barrel and then fill it up with mercury, leave it overnight, and the lead will be gone. Don't know if it's true, and I don't have any mercury, but it's a neat concept.