Does this mean my barrel is finished?

This is why I never shoot bare lead in any of my guns, not worth it in the end. Hope you get it cleaned up. I had a 22 that did this and I used wipe out. Worked great but the foam is messy. Makes a mirror shine in the end.

North
 
What was the gun and what was the ammo? That sounds like typical performance for Remington Thunderbolts in my experience.

.22LR should have very little lead fouling whether or not you are using plated bullets. There is something wrong with either the barrel or the ammunition if you are getting more fouling than can be removed with a few passes of a bronze brush.
 
tjhaile said:
What was the gun and what was the ammo? That sounds like typical performance for Remington Thunderbolts in my experience.

.22LR should have very little lead fouling whether or not you are using plated bullets. There is something wrong with either the barrel or the ammunition if you are getting more fouling than can be removed with a few passes of a bronze brush.
Click to expand...

Lol.
You got the ammo right on. The gun was a Ruger SR22. When I followed the links on here I found a youtube video about a guy with the same problem. Lots of comments about using lead in the SR22. Lesson learned no more Thunderbolts for me. I have some copper jacketed I'm going to try tomorrow or Saturday depending on the weather. Not selling the gun. I got it cleaned up and it looks good, Ill post a review after I shoot it again.
I've never seen lead foul up anything that quick. After 20 or 30 shots things went right to hell, so I'll know if I have a problem pretty quick. I suspect with better ammo things will be fine.
 
You are sure the barrel is not ringed? I had a Vostok Margolin russian pistol that had a slight ring inside the barrel. (This happens when a bullet gets lodged in the barrel from a squib load, then another bullet drives the stuck bullet out. The pressure and compressed material drive the barrel metal outwards forming a ring and sometimes a visible bulge in the barrels exterior. ) Anyhow, the ring was terrible for collecting lead, causing bad accuracy, keyholing my shots). Just a possibility. Rapid firing of a pistol often doesnt allow time to hear a squib and react before inadvertantly pulling the trigger again. 22's can occasionally get rounds with just primer compound but no powder. The primer compound has enough power to pop the bullet a few inches into the barrel. Oftentimes, even when the pistol malfunctions and doesnt cycle properly , most people just clear the empty brass, reload a new round and shoot again without checking for an obstruction. New shooters unfamiliar with a gun and proper shot report will often be guilty of doing this. Thats why I am often hesitant to allow new shooters to shoot my semi pistols other than in slow-fire.
 
I don't think it's ringed. Looks good outside and in. I'll find out when I shoot it in the next couple days.
 
vagrantviking said:
Before using any chemical that will possibly attack steel use a worn brush wrapped with bronze wool or copper pot scrubber strands. These are softer than the barrel metal and won't do any damage.
Make sure that the pot scrubber is really copper. There's some cheap ones that look copper but are plated steel.
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Indeed! Even though the package may say “copper” , trust no one. Test it with a magnet .
 
Years ago there was a product called the Lewis Lead Remover; don't know if it's still available or not.

Great product for removing lead.

It consisted of a cleaning rod, a hard rubber jag, and copper mesh screens.

You simply put the rod through the barrel, attached to jag with the mesh screen on it , and pulled it through the barrel a couple of times. The copper mesh scrapped off the lead without damaging the barrel.

If it's not still available, it shouldn't be too difficult to make up something similar.
 
Brownells sells the Lewis Lead Remover, but the smallest calibre is .32. Bronze wool or copper scouring pad on a brush is an acceptable alternative.
 
highlander said:
Years ago there was a product called the Lewis Lead Remover; don't know if it's still available or not.

Great product for removing lead.

It consisted of a cleaning rod, a hard rubber jag, and copper mesh screens.

You simply put the rod through the barrel, attached to jag with the mesh screen on it , and pulled it through the barrel a couple of times. The copper mesh scrapped off the lead without damaging the barrel.

If it's not still available, it shouldn't be too difficult to make up something similar.
Click to expand...

Saw a video of this on youtube. Seemed to work good. Was a 9mm they were cleaning though.
 
My experience with the Lewis lead remover is that it's pretty much useless. Tried it in my S&W Victory .38 S&W revolver, especially in the cylinder chambers, and gave up.

A small dental pick, purchased at London drugs, was much more effective.
 
Hi All

Update for everybody. Got out to the range today with my wife and both boys. First time in as long as any of us to remember getting out with just the four of us, no girlfriends or some one at work. So that was a treat. When we got to the range no one was there!! Beautiful sunny day and we had the place to ourselves. This was nice because my wife just started shooting and is nervous if people are around and quite often won't shoot. The fact the gun shot perfectly with the copper jacketed shells was a bonus.
We shot between 150 to 200 rounds and the barrel was as shiny at the end as it was at the beginning. Accuracy was good from start to finish as well. So thanks to everyone for their advice. Happy with the gun and it's working perfectly now. No more Thunderbolts for me, only problem is I still have 500 left!!
Thanks again everyone.
 
Maybe find a 50.oo cooey and shoot the ammo though it, but on second thought, Most of those old guns shoot good, still. LOL
BTW I hate that stuff, I don't understand Remington. Guess some people must like it, everyone stocks the crap. Years ago Winch. had wild cats like that, that we ended up as They could not sell it in the U.S.
I have a 22 derringer so full of lead on one barrel , you can't hardly push a rod though it, got to get at that one of these days.
 
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