Help with heavily leaded barrel

[julesr]

Hi all, I may or may not have cast a bunch of pistol bullets with the wrong alloy. they shot fine, but man I've got 2 loaded barrels. best trick yo clean them out?

 

[LeroyvdH]

Ed's red or kroil. Loose wet patch. Wait.................. Tight patch or brush if real bad.

 

[tjsudbury]

cut up a copper scouring pad and wrap some of it around a bore brush. If that doesn't work, then get a Lewis lead remover. Brownells carries them

 

[hunter64]

Lewis Lead Remover. Set it up, pull the brass mesh thru the barrel once and done.

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

mercury

 

[Rimfire69]

The copper chore boy wrapped on an old brush will cut it out faster than you can wrap it on an old brush. No need for chemical cleaners.

 

[BattleRife]

And once you've got it clean, slug your barrel and find out what size your bullets need to be. Severe leading is usually caused by improper sizing, or by improper lube. Your choice of alloy is probably not the issue.

 

[julesr]

I looked up the Lewis red remover, and thought it was clever. so being the frugal person I am, I looked for a cheaper alternative. sure enough you can buy 3/4" brass screen discs at your local head shop (they are used for bongs or pipe bowls or somtething). they were .50$ for 5. I used a jag tipped with 2 layers of patches, then one of these screens. worked like a hot damn. the lead came out in chunks. 15 mins per barrel, reusing the mesh and replacing the patches every 4 passes with a bit of #9. I used one mesh per barrel before they were getting too stretched.
Highly recommended. I'll always carry these screens with me from now on.

 

[MuthaFunk]

I looked up the Lewis red remover, and thought it was clever. so being the frugal person I am, I looked for a cheaper alternative. sure enough you can buy 3/4" brass screen discs at your local head shop (they are used for bongs or pipe bowls or somtething). they were .50$ for 5. I used a jag tipped with 2 layers of patches, then one of these screens. worked like a hot damn. the lead came out in chunks. 15 mins per barrel, reusing the mesh and replacing the patches every 4 passes with a bit of #9. I used one mesh per barrel before they were getting too stretched.
Highly recommended. I'll always carry these screens with me from now on.

How do you know their copper?

 

[julesr]

uh... whats copper? the screens are brass.

 

[762nato]

50 % vinegar 50% hydrogen peroxide dissolves lead promptly.....

 

[BattleRife]

An oxygenated acid is certainly aggressive towards most metals. I have no trouble believing it attacks lead; steel, probably even more so.

 

[LeroyvdH]

An oxygenated acid is certainly aggressive towards most metals. I have no trouble believing it attacks lead; steel, probably even more so.

Interesting.. Might have to a test on a non gun first.. I was always lead to believe vinegar and steel was bad.. Never know till you try.

 

[45CAT]

mercury

You should have seen the hazardous waste guy when I cleaned out my dads reloading room. 4 quarts of mercury gets a lot of attention.

 

[ryan]

50 % vinegar 50% hydrogen peroxide dissolves lead promptly.....

Yes it does, and steel as well. While you can probably get away with limited use of this mix, I know from experience that a half hour soak is not good. I had a perfectly good barrel end up pitted. never again.

 

[josquin]

mercury

And where can you get mercury these days? (Other than scouring antique shops for 2 years trying to find old thermometers). I could use a very small amount (<5ml) for another project.

 

[mmcintyre1220]

And where can you get mercury these days? (Other than scouring antique shops for 2 years trying to find old thermometers). I could use a very small amount (<5ml) for another project.

Order in the US and have it shipped to a P.O box. Drive across the boarder and pick it up !

 

[josquin]

Order in the US and have it shipped to a P.O box. Drive across the boarder and pick it up !

If I can find it in the US I can have it shipped to my gf's place in Bellingham

 

[mmcintyre1220]

If I can find it in the US I can have it shipped to my gf's place in Bellingham

Amazon, Ebay .. lots of places .

 

[andycal]

I have used vinegar and peroxide mix couple times. I get barrel in for like 10 seconds and it looks like brand new. You have to wear gloves because as soon as the lead is dissolved that mix is poison.