Can somebody advise me how to tell if a rifle barrel is leading. I know that accuracy is a factor, but visually down the barrel is it noticable? Bought a slightly used BLR 450 Marlin and as usual load right up to the top (just me). Shot it about 15 rounds using several bullets weights and now looks very grey at the muzzle, is that leading? Anyway plan to clean it up and go back to the range Sat. Also-fire lapped my 444 years ago and made a world of difference accuracy wise with cast. Now can't get supplies through Beartooth, anybody here in Canada supply firelapping supplies? Thanks-Karl
Cast bullet leading
- Thread starter hermie
- Start date
Clean it and check for lead on the patches It will be evident if it's there. Tiny shards of lead some shiny some dark. If you are using jacketed bullets you won't have a leading problem. What are you using?? There is a comman belief that you shouldn't shoot cast after a barrel has been used with jacketed as the copper left inside from firing the jacketed will allow the lead to weld or stick easier. Best to clean with copper remover first . Not as much of a problem to go the other way and shoot jacketed after lead so popular belief goes . FWIT
blacksmithden
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
First, visually look down the barrel. Can you see nice sharp rifling ?? If not, it's leaded.
Can you see anything that looks out of place ?? A little ridge of something that looks like it shouldn't be there ??? If yes, it's leaded.
If you're cleaning it and you just keep getting endless amounts of grey/black on the patches and it just never seems to end !!!! You've been cleaning it for 2 hours and it's STILL dirty. There's a pile of patches beside you a foot deep and 2 feet across and they're all dirty.....it's leaded
(been there....bought the shirt)
3 things to help you cut down on leading
1. Harder bullets/lead
2. Better lube
3. Lower your charges/velocities
Some leading is going to hapen with cast bullets. It's unavoidable. If your accuracy goes for a big dive after 3 shots and your rifled barrel turns into a smooth bore....you had better change something or you're in for a LOT of extra cleaning time and accuracy is going out the window.
Can you see anything that looks out of place ?? A little ridge of something that looks like it shouldn't be there ??? If yes, it's leaded.
If you're cleaning it and you just keep getting endless amounts of grey/black on the patches and it just never seems to end !!!! You've been cleaning it for 2 hours and it's STILL dirty. There's a pile of patches beside you a foot deep and 2 feet across and they're all dirty.....it's leaded
(been there....bought the shirt)3 things to help you cut down on leading
1. Harder bullets/lead
2. Better lube
3. Lower your charges/velocities
Some leading is going to hapen with cast bullets. It's unavoidable. If your accuracy goes for a big dive after 3 shots and your rifled barrel turns into a smooth bore....you had better change something or you're in for a LOT of extra cleaning time and accuracy is going out the window.
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
shoot some copper through it after cleaning, also look at the first few inches of the bore, and close to the crown also.
Depending on the lead, if gas check, velocity etc, will effect how it leads up, google , there must be more detail on that, it just don't come to mind right now....
Depending on the lead, if gas check, velocity etc, will effect how it leads up, google , there must be more detail on that, it just don't come to mind right now....
Cast
Well, here's an update. After cleaning the barrel with Wipe-Out several times over a couple days, finally I started to get evidence of heavy copper fouling, must have been underneath. I had earlier (before using cast) followed the Wipe-Out intructions i.e., when the patch comes clean etc. Well this time I went to work with a copper brush after soaking overnight and after about twenty cleanings was only getting a bit of blue. This is from a rifle that supposedly fired only 10 times with Hornady Ammo. Is this probable? I am thinking the fouling of the cast was due to the copper fouling. Any ideas? Thanks-Karl
Well, here's an update. After cleaning the barrel with Wipe-Out several times over a couple days, finally I started to get evidence of heavy copper fouling, must have been underneath. I had earlier (before using cast) followed the Wipe-Out intructions i.e., when the patch comes clean etc. Well this time I went to work with a copper brush after soaking overnight and after about twenty cleanings was only getting a bit of blue. This is from a rifle that supposedly fired only 10 times with Hornady Ammo. Is this probable? I am thinking the fouling of the cast was due to the copper fouling. Any ideas? Thanks-Karl
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I think whomever told you that they shot it 10 times either:
a) Bought it used from someone that shot it a bunch, or
b) lied to you
When shooting cast you shoudl always start with a clean bore. I would keep cleaning with the Wipe Out if you're getting any gunk on your patches an dkeep going until it's showing as clean. My buddy cleaned his jerk-o-matic and went through 3 treatments fo Wipe Out (2 with Accellerator and a 1 hour soak and one overnight) before the rifle came clean. If there's nothing after a long Wipe Out soak you should put a patch of Sweets 7.62, Barnes CR-10 or other copper cutting agent though the barrel. Wait a few minutes and push a dry patch through. If there's no blue then you're good to go.
Once she's right clean I would go to work with JB Clean on a patch and use that to polish the barrel up. I wouldn't firelap a barrel, but that's me.
a) Bought it used from someone that shot it a bunch, or
b) lied to you
When shooting cast you shoudl always start with a clean bore. I would keep cleaning with the Wipe Out if you're getting any gunk on your patches an dkeep going until it's showing as clean. My buddy cleaned his jerk-o-matic and went through 3 treatments fo Wipe Out (2 with Accellerator and a 1 hour soak and one overnight) before the rifle came clean. If there's nothing after a long Wipe Out soak you should put a patch of Sweets 7.62, Barnes CR-10 or other copper cutting agent though the barrel. Wait a few minutes and push a dry patch through. If there's no blue then you're good to go.
Once she's right clean I would go to work with JB Clean on a patch and use that to polish the barrel up. I wouldn't firelap a barrel, but that's me.
cast
Did just as you suggested before your reply, patched with CR10 and the "blue has all but gone. Bought the rifle from another member so hoping the "10" shots was not B.S. Hoping to retry the 300 gr Cast in the hope they will give me a new grouping that is more reliable. Thanks for the info-Karl
Did just as you suggested before your reply, patched with CR10 and the "blue has all but gone. Bought the rifle from another member so hoping the "10" shots was not B.S. Hoping to retry the 300 gr Cast in the hope they will give me a new grouping that is more reliable. Thanks for the info-Karl
