metal flakes from a .22?

Graememcivor

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Hello all, so I had just gotten a brand new Pietta PPS-50, put about 300 rounds through it and then took it home to clean it. When I put a bore snake through the barrel it came out caked in metal shavings... when I look down the barrel you can now plainly see a gouge about an inch long starting from the trigger end of the firearm... Anyone have any insight? Thanks
 
Your barrel is leaded.

Those shavings, are lead being pushed out of the grooves in the rifling.

Get a proper scleaning rod and brass brush and you will have a better time getting it clean.

The gouge is the clean spot in the barrel where the lead had been cleaned out most likely.

A good way to clean heavy leading is to take an appropriate sized brush, and wrap it in strands of copper scouring pad to make a real tight.

You will see the lead be pushed out in strands.
 
Your barrel is leaded.

Those shavings, are lead being pushed out of the grooves in the rifling.

Get a proper scleaning rod and brass brush and you will have a better time getting it clean.

^^ This ^^

What ammo are you using? I have found that Blasers although very reliable and reasonably accurate will lead the hell out of my 10-22 after a lot of shooting.

Give your rifle a real good clean with a bore brush. There are also many products available that work great on removing heavy leading.

My 0.02¢
 
your boresnake probably did not get alot of the lead out. Im betting there will still be alot in there. If you want an easy tim cleaning then mix hydrogen peroxide with white vinegar 50/50 and fill the bore with it. Make sure one end is plugged and be careful to not get it on external surfaces. Clean up any spills quickly. It will break the lead down very quickly. Soak 15-20 mins then run a loose patch down the bore followed by a little brushing. Dry patch and refill, repeat until clean. It works amazingly well and will get the worst leading out, trust me.
 
all very sound advice... but my only concern is that when I look at the bore... it doesnt look spiralled where this gouge is. and only in one place does this lead flake off. I'm not denying that there is built up lead in the barrel, but there is definitely something wrong with the first inch or so of the bore. Unfortunately the gun dealer is kind of giving me the run around...
 
...when I look at the bore... it doesn't look spiraled where this gouge is...I'm not denying that there is built up lead in the barrel...

The first inch or so is usually where leading is the heaviest. Could it be possible that rather than a gouge you are seeing a patch of lead, or a clean spot? Since there is fouling, get that taken care of first then try and determine what damage is present.
 
The first inch or so is usually where leading is the heaviest. Could it be possible that rather than a gouge you are seeing a patch of lead, or a clean spot? Since there is fouling, get that taken care of first then try and determine what damage is present.

I agree. If the leading is bad it can be hard to tell what is lead and what is steel. OP: Get the lead out and you will have your answer. Also heat and a rough bore will increase leading quite a bit. Keep the barrel fairly cool and you will have less problems. Because its new there will still be a bit of roughness to the bore so keep an eye on bore condition until leading becomes less of a problem.
 
all very sound advice... but my only concern is that when I look at the bore... it doesnt look spiralled where this gouge is. and only in one place does this lead flake off. I'm not denying that there is built up lead in the barrel, but there is definitely something wrong with the first inch or so of the bore. Unfortunately the gun dealer is kind of giving me the run around...

QUOTE--------"so even with that solid raised ring in the bore you figure it just needs a good scrub?"

You have seven posts to your credit, and you are arguing with guys that have been shooting since you were probably a gleam in your father's eye.

YES. IT NEEDS A GOOD SCRUB!

For the love of Pete, just clean the bore thoroughly as has been suggested.

You have run a soft coated bore snake through the barrel but no brass brush. Bore snakes CLEAN but really DO NOT REMOVE and serious fouling.

You have said "metal flakes" but have not really tried to identify the metal. Is it soft lead as you have been told? You have not, in subsequent posts, told anyone the brand and type of ammunition you used. Some ammunition will foul bores more than others.

What you need to do FIRST is to thoroughly CLEAN and REMOVE ALL THE LEAD FOULING from inside the barrel. Absolutely squeaky clean. After that, then inspect the barrel for POSSIBLE defects. Only then can you determine whether your barrel has a defect.

I do not know who your dealer is, but it is unfair of you accusing him of "giving you the run around" when YOU are not willing to simply do a good thorough cleaning of the barrel as several more experienced people have told you to..

Then, you might try changing the brand of ammunition and try it again. And remember that Bore Snakes will only clean the easy loose crud out of your barrel, but for the serious fouling, you need good brushes and a cleaning kit with solid rods.

Being that you are using a PPS-50, I would be willing to wager a $20 bill that you filled the magazine(s) full and blasted them down the range at a rapid rate. Lots of fun, but heat up the barrel fast, thus allowing the lead to form inside the barrel. I think that part of the problem may have been caused by the operator himself. If so, slow down to a reasonable rate of fire, and leading will decrease. No matter what the rifle looks like, it is still a .22 rimfire, and might look "cool" but it is not, nor has it designed to be, a sub-machine gun.
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Did you examine the bore before shooting it?

thanks for the flame buff dog, but even though all this advice was solid, it was not correct. it was a defective barrel.

And I said pardon?

It was a touch of flame from buffdog. I suspect you, like me cruised the forums before before posting much...you received replies from some of our best! (you know who you are...) Fellas that, not only in "real life", but cyberly too, have contributed much to our community. When my little post went un-answered, it was safe to assume you had inspected the bore before buying, and certainly before shooting. Having had only 7 posts doesn't preclude gun-savvy on your part...but, it does indicate to the 'ol timers/fine contributors that you are at least new here.

Leading does offer up "metal flakes"...so does mis-assembly (boy do you learn that the hard way). Turns out, statistically, that metal flakes are waaaaaay more popular in the leaded crowd than in the defective barrel crowd.

Bit of learning available in every thread, and you've certainly helped on that "front" even with a low post count! I hope the vendor of the rifle fixes things for you. You can also bet we'll be looking forward to your "I love my new..." thread too. Post some pictures of your smatherated targets!
 
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