Leading ???

[Cemetery]

Just took a peek in the barrels of my New Vaqueros that I've been shootin' black with exclusively for over a year.

Noticed leading in grooves.

I thought shootin' black wouldn't cause leading.  Never got this with smokeless.

What's the deal?

[Wolfgang]

How often have you been cleaning the barrels ? . . . after every time you've been shooting them ?  What have you been swabbing them with ?   Are the bullets the same that you were using with smokeless ? . . . the same diameter ?   

[Cemetery]

How often have you been cleaning the barrels ? . . . after every time you've been shooting them ?  What have you been swabbing them with ?   Are the bullets the same that you were using with smokeless ? . . . the same diameter ?   

been cleaning the barrels after each use.  HOT water, windex with vinegar, then Ballistol.   They're the .38spl snakebite big lube boolits, I don't reload smokeless.  But the most recent batch of boolits are a softer lead mix then previously.

[Dick Dastardly]

Howdy Cemetery,

Leading usually comes from bullets that are too small for the bores.  Gas leaks around and cuts them and leaves melted lead in the barrel.  Big Lube®LLC bullets carry enough lube and just which one you use isn't all that fussy if you are filling the groves.  Were it me, I'd slug the barrels and mike some of your lube sized bullets.  If the bullets are undersize, that may be your problem.  Your cylinder throats should match the bore diameter.  Sometimes Ruger makes cylinder throats that don't match the bore.  Check this also.

Actual bullet hardness is less critical as long as the bullets aren't too hard, as in hard cast.

Also, check the bores and make sure they aren't rough.  Ruger usually has fine tubes but stranger things have happened.

If you ask Ruger, they'll tell you that the guns weren't made for black powder.  It's a standard answer.

Good luck,

DD-DLoS

[Wolfgang]

been cleaning the barrels after each use.  HOT water, windex with vinegar, then Ballistol.   They're the .38spl snakebite big lube boolits, I don't reload smokeless.  But the most recent batch of boolits are a softer lead mix then previously.

I don't know how you'd have lead in the grooves if  you've been cleaning like that.  But all of what Dick Says applies.  I had bad leading from shooting .451 balls thru a barrel that was .454  when I started shooting black powder.   Once I found out whut waz rong . . . I used vinigar and scrubbing with a bronze brush to get it out . . . went to .457 balls and haven't had any leading problem since.  I clean with "Weazil Piss"  ie.  equal mix of Murphys Oil Soap, Rubbing Alcohol, and Hydrogen Pyroxide.   Working good for me.

[john boy]

Cemetery, bore leading is caused by 4 factors:  lube starvation, undersized bullets that are not obturating into the grooves, smokeless lube on a BP powder charge bullet and excessive pressure for the alloy of the bullet 
Rule out:
Lube starvation of the Snakebites - smokeless lube if they are purchased bullets and excessive pressure because BP is a weak powder

So, take a Snakebite and insert it into the muzzle.  Tap it into the bore with a dowel rod and then drive it through the bore.  Then measure the groove diameter on the bullet.  If the base of an unfired bullet is not equal to or 0.003 greater than the measured groove ... the bullet is not obturating, 'bumping up'.  Instead it is wobbling down the bore causing leading

Now, to further determine the problem, where in the bore do you see the leading?  At or in front the forcing cone only - at the muzzle only or in the complete length of the bore?  And I presume the RV's are indexing exactly?  If not, there be a problem

[Cemetery]

[quote author=john boy link=topic=35139.msg451388#msg451388 date=1289149193
Now, to further determine the problem, where in the bore do you see the leading?  At or in front the forcing cone only - at the muzzle only or in the complete length of the bore?  And I presume the RV's are indexing exactly?  If not, there be a problem
[/quote]

I'm getting the leading in the first 1/3rd of the barrel, after the forcing cone.

I'll take apart one of the cartridges that I got loaded and try and slug the bore with the boolit.

[john boy]

I'm getting the leading in the first 1/3rd of the barrel, after the forcing cone.

Cemetery, that usually is an indication of gas stripping ... bullet base too small or ... one or more throats in the cylinder are not indexed correctly.  When the bullet leaves the cylinder, it is hitting the forcing cone and lead is splattering in the bore ... or the forcing cones need to be reamed open and polished.  Take a look at your forcing cones.  Also, take a fresh Snakebite and 'mate' it up to the forcing cone see how much excess ogive there is compared to the initial diameter of the forcing cone opening
It's all trial and error!