Can you see lead fouling in your barrel?

evodude · March 09, 2009, 08:52:40 AM

Hey pards! If you shine a light in your breech end and look down the muzzle, can you actually see the leading if its occurring? Ive noticed a change in accuracy at the range even after a generous scrubbing with Pro 7 and a bronze brush at 100 yds. Has anyone ever used a bronze brush wrapped in 0000 steelwool for scrubbing out lead? Ive read its used by several of the Schuitzen (?) clan. Ive been dropping my cast Lyman .50's from the mold into a bucket of water, bringing the hardness to 19-21 BPH. I did add some tin to SOME of the lead, and was thinking that perhaps that made them too hard, but dont know for sure. This is with 48 grains of Triple Seven as my load, I have the base of the bullet just compressing the powder ever so slightly. But now Im rambling! Gosh, I love the .50-95!!!

Joe Lansing · March 09, 2009, 09:17:09 AM

Unless you want to wear out your barrel long before its time, keep ANY steel wool out of your barrel.

J.L.

ndnchf · March 09, 2009, 10:13:04 AM

I haven't really SEEN any lead in my .50-95 barrel. But last week after my normal thorough cleaning, I went back and cleaned it with with J-B Bore cleaning compound. I was surprised how much more dark schmutz came out of the barrel. There were a few lead flakes in it. I'm using Goex FG, Lyman 515139 about 20:1 and the first version of Dastardly Pearl lube.

evodude · March 09, 2009, 11:39:37 AM

You dont REALLY wear suspenders AND a belt, do you? What kinda groups is that cannon producing for you? Done any chronographing yet?

evodude · March 09, 2009, 01:44:49 PM

Joe Lansing- do you really think 0000 steelwool would hurt rifling? I know if I lube it with WD40 it wont even remove bluing. Im curious if you know of anybody that hurt a bore with it. Ill betcha it is less abrasive than a stainless steel bore brush. Id like for you to try it on your rifle bore and let me know if it damages it, because if it does I wont use it!!

ndnchf · March 09, 2009, 08:18:28 PM

I'm a suspender man. Only on rare occaisions do I resort to a belt, but NEVER both. Belts are bad for digestion

My groups are nothing to brag about. To me, the front sight seems as big as a 2x4 so its hard to get a real precise sight picture. The best I've got s far is just under 1-3/4" group at 50 yards using 77gr. (by weight) of Swiss 1.5, a lyman 515139 with Dastardly lube, a .030" veggy wad. Very similar results using Goex Fg also.

I don't normally shoot subs, but I had a can of APP FFG so I loaded up 88gr (by volume), a Mt Baldy 300gr bullet with SPG and a .030" veggy wad. This shot pretty well too, a little over 2" at 50 yards. The lack of fouling build up with APP surely helps.

I haven't tried 100 yards yet, but I will next time out.

It sure is fun to shoot and draws a crowd of looky-loos

john boy · March 09, 2009, 11:48:17 PM

evodude: Sometimes you can see lead fouling and most of the time no. It will show when there is lead near the chamber of the bore. Down the bore it is usually not readily see able with the naked eye because the lead is coated in the grooves.

Clean the bore normally to the point that you believe it to be clean . Then if you have concerns that you have leading, go to a good paint store and buy a can of pure gum turpentine - not the distilled stuff. With a loose patch, soak the bore and let it sit for a couple of hours. Then 10x's with a bronze bore brush. Then 10x with a tight patch. If you have leading in the barrel, it will be evident on the patch ... any slivers and a dark black/gray residue. Hold the patch to a bright light to see the slivers.

Repeat the bronze brush/patch cleaning until your patches are clean

August · March 10, 2009, 08:12:50 AM

Copper wool is available for the lead removal task. Steel wool will immediately cut the sharp edge at the edge of the lands. Not a good idea in my book either.

evodude · March 10, 2009, 08:22:48 AM

Thanks for all the input, pards!I have some pure Turp and will give that a try. As for the steelwool removing the sharp edges off the lands, isnt that what you want? I would think that is the starting place for leading build-up. When you scrub the bore with J-B Compound during break in, I think itll soften that very edge. Cant find copper steel wool, did find bronze, though, is that what you meant?

Joe Lansing · March 10, 2009, 02:23:45 PM

Evodude,anything is good in its place and in moderation. The trouble is knowing its place and how you define moderation. Try looking at a metal surface under a microscope after rubbing it with any steel wool and tell me what you see. True, the harder the surface the more resistant to wear, but the wear still occurs.

J.L.

john boy · March 12, 2009, 09:54:03 PM

evodude - Do what you want to but I would leave the steel wool in the paint drawer with your brushes. Gum turpentine will do the trick. Let it soak for day - bronze bristle brush and a tight patch. The cleaning process is not Instantaneous - may take several days