Leading in new Ruger .22s

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boomer1911a1

boomer1911a1

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I've done a search on this topic, and I think I'm sensing a trend, but I want to solicit some more testimony.

I've owned two Ruger MkIIs and now a MkIII Hunter. The Mark Twos never leaded up, but the Hunter does so about every 200 rounds, regardless of ammo, regardless of cooling periods. As some other posters have noted, after shooting for a while, the bullets start keyholing the paper and a light down the bore reveals big patches of caked-on fouling -- mostly lead.

What is the culprit, here?

At first I was afraid it might have had something to do with my removal of the LCI, but nobody else mentioned it.

Some would say cheap, bulk ammo, but the earlier pistols digested it with no problems. And the MKIII leads up with CCI anythings.

Could it be a slightly tighter bore? Slightly looser? What about the rifling? The MKIII appears to have microgrooves, whereas the IIs have standard 6-groovers.

Should I send it back to the company? Any ideas?
 
You might try slugging the bore of both models. My guess would be you have an oversize bore in the MKIII. Use a good mic to measure the slugs or take it to a gunsmith that can check it for you. I had the same thing with a 45 ACP a few years back. Ended up changing the barrel. Problem solved.
 
I second the suggestion to slug the bore. I have a MarkIII and it has 1000's of rounds [a lot of them cheap stuff or anything I could find] thru it and no leading.
 
Nomad said:
You might try slugging the bore of both models. My guess would be you have an oversize bore in the MKIII. Use a good mic to measure the slugs or take it to a gunsmith that can check it for you. I had the same thing with a 45 ACP a few years back. Ended up changing the barrel. Problem solved.
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I think you mean undersized bore...
 
I think you mean undersized bore...
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Nope its over sized bores (or undersized bullets) that generally causes leading. Gas blow-by melts bits of lead which then sticks to the barrel.

Serious cast bullet reloaders slug their bores and size the cast bullets at least +.001 larger so a 0.355" 9mm would want to use at least a 0.356" cast bullet.

Only times I've ever had leading in any .22lr pistol was using Remington Thunderbolt, different ammo solves the problem.

If it leads with multiple brands of ammo I'd be talking to Ruger about it.
 
Are you sure it isn't just fouling? I've got several Ruger semi-autos and have never seen leading even with the different types of ammo I shoot.
 
Are you sure it isn't just fouling?
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I can't speak for the OP, but if anything "shiny" comes out when cleaning, odds are its lead.

Fouling is generally black or greenish if you shoot a lot of copper plated rounds and clean with a solvent containing ammonia (Hoppe's #9 for example)
 
The first time it happened, I had to use a plastic mallet to tap a patch down the pipe, and when it exited, it drove out a curlicue of silvery lead the size of a fingernail clipping. I have no reason to suspect the most recent culprit is anything different, but I'll double check anyway. And I do plan to get the barrel slugged as several have suggested.

Are there any actual Ruger auto owners out there with the same experience? Especially those who could compare a current generation gun with older models?
 
I have four Ruger MK II's that I have been shooting for many years. No leading. It sounds like you have an out of spec barrel.
 
wally said:
I can't speak for the OP, but if anything "shiny" comes out when cleaning, odds are its lead.

Fouling is generally black or greenish if you shoot a lot of copper plated rounds and clean with a solvent containing ammonia (Hoppe's #9 for example)
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I'm familiar with leading in larger bore guns. The original post did not indicate he'd cleaned the gun, merely looked down the barrel.
 
The OP said:
The Mark Twos never leaded up, but the Hunter does so about every 200 rounds, regardless of ammo, regardless of cooling periods.
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Which implied to me he'd cleaned it multiple times. If he's not cleaned it, changing ammo once its leaded won't fix anything, so if he's leaded it up with Remington Thunderbolt and then tried different ammo, he's learned nothing about if its a gun or ammo problem. As I said, my only experience with leading in a .22lr was shooting Remington Thunderbolt and using different ammo after cleaning it was the solution.
 
I wasn't aware that Hoppe's #9 contained ammonia. Learn something new every day. Never have seen a patch come out green, using the stuff.
 
I wasn't aware that Hoppe's #9 contained ammonia. Learn something new every day. Never have seen a patch come out green, using the stuff.
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MSDS (availability required by law) is your friend. :)
http://www.hoppes.com/Hoppes/media/Files/MSDS/Hoppes9/msds-no9gunborecleaner.pdf
Ammonium Hydroxide is Ammonia in an aqueous solution. These things tend to be a bit on the "scare mongering" side (some where, some one, is allergic to just about anything), Google the MSDS for isopropyl alcohol and look at the "skin irritation" section -- the stuff in 70% solution is sold in about every drug and grocery store as "rubbing alcohol".

I'd wager you clean your guns more often than I do mine :)

Doesn't come out totally green just a greenish tint where there otherwise would only be black or deep grey.
 
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