Lead removal

[VEARL]

Been reading previous posts and wondering about lead build up in my barrel.
I shoot the lubed 300 gr. REAL bullet, in my 54 Cal. TC Renegade.
Since I don't have a bore light, I was wondering what everyone uses to get the lead out of their barrels.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[ebiggs1]

I don't use those bullets in muzzle loaders but in the CF world I use Hoppe's Lead Solvent.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Even with a good drop-in bore light it is not always easy to see lead in a rifle bore, you really have to know what to look for.
I have tried several products which claim to remove lead but I've never observed any spectacular results even when left to soak overnight. IOSSO Bore Cleaner is a creamy paste which seems rather like a polishing compound and when applied to a cloth patch on a tight jag will sometimes pull out strips of lead. I think it works by just making the cloth adhere to the lead so that it pulls free of the rifle bore. However, it does seem that removing lead from a heavily fouled bore is pretty much a manual labor operation, nothing will just dissolve the lead. Lots of scrubbing with a bronze bore brush will pull out tiny flakes of lead but for a heavily leaded bore you may need to go with something more aggressive like strips of a copper Chore Boy scrubbing pad wrapped around an old bore brush. But be careful with brushes. It sometimes will happen that the threaded end of the brush will pull off and leave the body of the brush stuck in the bore. Giving the brush a clockwise twist at the bottom of the bore will help the bristles to reverse direction so that it starts back up more easily.

 

[brubincam]

I shot lead bullits in my 44mag rossi--leaded very bad--used a scotch brite scrub pad --cut a piece big or small enough to fit cleaning jag snuggly--run it up and down barrel several times--change use another piece --in a few minutes your barrel will sparkle again--

 

[wattlebuster]

I've never had the problem in any of my roundball guns but I've had excellent results in a 45 LC with JB bore cleaner. Just put it on a patch an it seems to clean out fairly easy. You can get it from TOTW or lots of other supply houses. :thumbsup:

 

[necchi]

Shooters Choice, Lead Remover

 

[majg1234]

Shooters Choice :thumbsup:

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I agree, J&B Bore Restore is great, and also works wonders on modern barrels with copper fouling. I have seen many rifles come into the local shop where I once worked part-time, and the owner complained about loss of accuracy. In one case the bore was a bright green due to the copper fouling. About an hour's worth of work with the J&B and voila, clean bore; accuracy restored. Shooter's Choice works very well too.

LD

 

[curator]

If you have been shooting real black powder you probably don't have much leading if any. However, lead is very easy to remove without resorting to solvents. Simply wrap a generous pinch of coarse "bronze wool" around a good bore brush and scrub the bore. Any leading will be quickly scrubbed away. Bronze wool is harder than lead but softer than steel. It is available at most hardware stores and will not scratch iron or steel like steel wool will. It is also the preferred way to remove rust from steel and will not take off bluing.

 

[Blackpowdersmoke]

If you have been shooting real black powder you probably don't have much leading if any. However, lead is very easy to remove without resorting to solvents. Simply wrap a generous pinch of coarse "bronze wool" around a good bore brush and scrub the bore. Any leading will be quickly scrubbed away. Bronze wool is harder than lead but softer than steel. It is available at most hardware stores and will not scratch iron or steel like steel wool will. It is also the preferred way to remove rust from steel and will not take off bluing.

First, saturate a patch with Kroil penetrating oil and run it up and the bore a few times and leave it set for a few hrs. Then use the bronze wool. Kroil is the penetrating oil that a lot of benchrest shooters swear by. JB paste is good too if the gun is leaded up badly, but it takes some elbow grease. I shy away from scotch-brite as I feel it's too abrasive.

BPS
:wink:

 

[tomme boy]

I use a all copper Chore Boy scrubing pad. The lead comes right out! Works better than the bronze wool.

 

[curator]

Tommeboy is correct but all copper chore-boy scrubbers are getting really hard to find. (beware the copper-plated steel replacements) The large, flat strips of copper chore-boy work a bit better than the coarse-grade bronze wool, but both work well and better dry (no oil or solvent) If you can't find either, the Kroil method will work with an ordinary bore brush with more scrubbing.

 

[longcruise]

I use a all copper Chore Boy scrubing pad. The lead comes right out! Works better than the bronze wool.

Steel wool on a jag will pull it all out. Tried and true tested on large bore BPC rifles. About a medium coarse works. It is too soft to damage your bore.

Also, one of the electronic bore cleaners either commercial or home made will do it nicely.

 

[Sinner]

I happen to have several pounds of mercury still hanging around. If you can find some, plug the nipple, pour some in the barrel, plug the muzzle, then slowly tilt the barrel up and down while rotating it. The lead will amalgamate to the mercury and it will all pour out. Just make sure you don't heat the mercury or get it in open wounds or ingest it.