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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Cast Bullets

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mauserand9mm
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Reged: 03/09/09
Posts: 1039
Loc: Queensland, Australia
getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol)
      #205666 - 21/03/12 02:38 PM

(Hopefully not too untoward for this site.)

I've been using hard cast, synthetic coated, off-the-shelf projectiles in my 9mm semi-auto for many years now. They are rated up to 1700fps without any fouling of the barrel. They are probably only doing 1000fps. Of late, about 1/3 go sideways through the target even at 8 yards. They are the correct size (not a bad batch) and the barrel require more patches to clean out afterwards. The first couple of patches are very dark grey aka lead-coloured.

The last couple of patches come out with minimal muck but I think it may still be lead coated (or maybe the synthetic coatong?). Looking down the inside of barrel it is super shiny (a little bit too shiny for bare steel I think) and the rifling is evident from the breech end, but looking down the barrel from the muzzle end it is much harder to see the rifling. Looking into the muzzle at an angle the rifling grooves appear very dark and the lands almost look slightly copper fouled in contrast (but they aren't).

I've never seen this type of fouling before. I had used a batch of un-marked brand projectiles (ie dodgy) in this pistol before that left streaks of lead in the barrel. This was very evident and was eventually removed. I've had similar streak fouling when using cast in rifles.

I'm going to try using copper jacketed projectiles through the 9mm to see if that makes a difference and to confirm that they don't go sideways. It's been a while since I shot copper through it but have projectiles and a load that didn't go sideways previously.

Anyone have thought/ideas on this one? Has the Hoppes fumes finally gotten to me?


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Viking338
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Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: mauserand9mm]
      #205678 - 21/03/12 06:46 PM

You could try "Leadaway Cloth" i have had success with that for bad fouling. It is just like lapping paste on a cloth which you just cut to size.

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: Viking338]
      #205688 - 21/03/12 10:36 PM

Don't shoot jacketed bullets on top of lead fouling if you care about your barrel. Get the fouling out clean down to bare steel first.

A good way to get lead out is to use patches made from a copper pot scrubber. Here in the U.S. they call it a "Chore Boy". Don't know where they come up with the "Boy" part!! You can "disassemble" the Chore Boy pad and cut strips to wrap around a patch. This will quickly and harmlessly remove all lead fouling if used with good solvent or penetrating oil.

Another solution is to use some steel wool. Yes steel wool. It is much softer than barrel steel and won't hurt a thing. You can unroll it from a pad and cut into strips or patches, then drape them over a patch on a jag. Use good solvent or penetrating oil. I have used 0000 grade most often, but with heavy fouling you may want to use a coarser grade, which I have done also.

Using either method, be sure to get all particles of copper or steel our of the barrel and chamber afterward.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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FATBOY404
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Reged: 14/11/09
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Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: CptCurl]
      #205689 - 21/03/12 10:58 PM

Quote:

Don't shoot jacketed bullets on top of lead fouling if you care about your barrel. Get the fouling out clean down to bare steel first.

A good way to get lead out is to use patches made from a copper pot scrubber. Here in the U.S. they call it a "Chore Boy". Don't know where they come up with the "Boy" part!! You can "disassemble" the Chore Boy pad and cut strips to wrap around a patch. This will quickly and harmlessly remove all lead fouling if used with good solvent or penetrating oil.

Another solution is to use some steel wool. Yes steel wool. It is much softer than barrel steel and won't hurt a thing. You can unroll it from a pad and cut into strips or patches, then drape them over a patch on a jag. Use good solvent or penetrating oil. I have used 0000 grade most often, but with heavy fouling you may want to use a coarser grade, which I have done also.

Using either method, be sure to get all particles of copper or steel our of the barrel and chamber afterward.

Curl




I know one gunsmith and one very good competition shooter that both use lead bullets to clean copper fouling and jacketed bullets to clean lead fouling.

I questioned it as well but they have done it for years.

--------------------
"WHATEVER BLOWS YOUR HAIR BACK"


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mauserand9mm
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Reged: 03/09/09
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Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: FATBOY404]
      #205719 - 22/03/12 09:57 AM

Yes, everything I've been told over the years says that you shouldn't shoot with any obstruction in the barrel, including oil, lead etc, but I wonder to what extent this applies. I too have heard of people shooting the lead fouling out of rifles with copper projectiles, but I don't know how bad the fouling was. (I also have seen and heard of people shooting the oil out of their barrel, I wouldn't try this, without damage but less that ideal accuracy for this shot, if fact a 6.5x55 projectile hit the target completely sideways in one instance.)

Some say that shooting the oil out will "ring" the barrel and it probably has done, as will a patch left in the barrel (actually, I've got a copy of Hatcher's Notebook at home and I recall he did some barrel obstruction experiments - I'll have to have a look at it on the weekend).

The only "ringed" barrel I've seen was in a 22 semi-auto that must have had a projectile stuck there from a previous mis-fire (ruptured case event, somehow went off before the bolt was fully home). The next round blew the stuck projectile out and created the ring. It wasn't evident until later when we noticed the new external profile of the barrel. It didn't affect accuracy after that - lucky I guess, nice symetrical ring.

I've seen stainless steel bore brushes for sale but would be nervous about using one of these and damaging the barrel.

I was hoping to avoid manual labour - lazy but also want to minimise the risk of causing any damage while doing so. I've got an ex-mil Mauser that had the muzzle end of the rifling removed by over-zealous and incorrect use of a pull-through (apparantly). Carbon on cloth is a killer.

On the other hand, mercury is supposed to dissolve lead - anyone willing to "lend" me a recoil reducer for a little while, I'll give it back when I'm finished


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mauserand9mm
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Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: Viking338]
      #224106 - 22/01/13 02:15 PM

Quote:

You could try "Leadaway Cloth" i have had success with that for bad fouling. It is just like lapping paste on a cloth which you just cut to size.




Ended up going down this path. Used on my 458WM lead fouling too. At the most two patches and the fouling is all gone.

On another forum (US based), strong recommendation was made for brass wool ("chore-boys") but I can't find these over here in the supermarkets.


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chuckT
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Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: mauserand9mm]
      #224108 - 22/01/13 02:40 PM

I can recommend the copper " Chore Boy " pot scrubbers also . I cut strips of them and wrap them around a worn out bore brush until they are a tight fit down the barrel. The last few years I've been using bronze wool ( a bronze version of steel wool ) it works even better than chore boy. A half dozen or so passes back and forth followed by a few patches with bore cleaner and the bores like new. chuck.

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gatsby
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Reged: 05/09/05
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Loc: inland valley CA USA
Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: mauserand9mm]
      #224113 - 22/01/13 05:53 PM

I believe they still make the Lewis lead remover tool. You would need one for .38. check Brownells. Gets the lead out quickly.

--------------------
"Recoil is insignificant when there is a tiger on the head of your elephant" The Maharaja of Cooch Behar



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DarylSModerator
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Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: gatsby]
      #224138 - 23/01/13 02:38 AM

As Viking indicated, this stuff is nothing short of miraculous. The various solvents and wires - 0000 and Kurly Kate Kitchen scrubber strands on brushes all work, but they are work. The leadaway cloth removes lead with a single pass or wipe. It is not abrasive - but do not ask what the chemicals involved are - it's magic- smoke and mirrors- it works. It is also available in small blister packs of pre-cut patches.



--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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Viking338
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Loc: Queensland Australia
Re: getting the lead out of a 9mm (pistol) [Re: DarylS]
      #224165 - 23/01/13 12:27 PM

Quote:

As Viking indicated, this stuff is nothing short of miraculous. The various solvents and wires - 0000 and Kurly Kate Kitchen scrubber strands on brushes all work, but they are work. The leadaway cloth removes lead with a single pass or wipe. It is not abrasive - but do not ask what the chemicals involved are - it's magic- smoke and mirrors- it works. It is also available in small blister packs of pre-cut patches.






That's the stuff, "good magic"


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