Leading in a 45 ACP

phinton81

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
65   0   0
Location
Toronto
I have a Colt Gold Cup and I replaced the barrel recently with a Wilson Match Grade. I have put about 1000 rounds through the new barrel, all lead cast 200gr and I have noticed the accuracy has diminished significantly. I bought some Outers Foam Bore Cleaner and will give it a try, any other suggestions for getting the lead out? Thanks,

Patrick
 
PHINTON81;
What are you using for a lead alloy and how hot are you loading ?
For some reason stainless barrels seem to lead worse than conventional ones, which do you have ?

With a hard alloy you should have very little leading, I have shot tens of thousands lead bullets in my .45s never an issue.... That said once you allow the barrel to start leading it will continue to do so until you remove any trace of the offending lead....

Try one of the electronic units, greatest thing since sliced bread....
John
 
The easiest way to get lead out of your gun is to buy some 100% Copper Chor Boy kitchen cleaning pads. Take some strands and wrap them around an old cleaning brush. A few strokes and all the lead will be out. Forget the chemical crap, just a waste of time. Just make sure they are 100% copper and not copper coated.

Hardness has little to with leading in your barrel. Gas cutting is the major cause either from undersized bullets or hard lube. Softer bullets actually, often lead less as the base of the bullet obuterates to seal the bore. Hard lube is what commercial casters use as it is less messy when shipping bullets in bulk. The hard lube is not as efficient as soft lube and most fail to seal the bore properly hence you get gas cutting and leading. If you don't cast then you are going to have to live with the leading in your barrel.

I am willing to bet most is in the first inch or so from the chamber.

In any event use the above method to remove the lead after every shoot.

Take Care

Bob
 
I have a Colt Gold Cup .....all lead cast 200gr.....noticed the accuracy has diminished significantly. .....Patrick

+1 on C44's advise. He gave me the same last year since I started casting my own lead bullets and his method beats all solvents for removing lead.
Am molding .45 acp, .40 S&W & 9mm, all using Lee 6-cavity tumble lube molds. My leading problem was due to my excessive stingyness in applying the Alox tumble lube. Accuracy is first notch on both .45's and .40's (200 gr. SWC & 175 gr. SWC). Have the 9mm's just about figured out. Leading in my barrels is now a non-issue. Happy shooting!!!
 
I also agree with C44 on the copper scouring pad. It has made a breeze outta cleaning my new .44 magnum :). Just use a magnet to be sure it is 100 percent copper. And in my opinion you are probably pushing the loads too hot. I have put thousands of all different kinds of LSWC through my 1911's and have experienced next to no leading. I am using lighter loads for the most part. I generally stick to light loads for lead and buy some jacketed bullets for the occasional batch of hot/fun loads.
 
Back
Top Bottom