So, I've been shooting Jacketed .22 out of the AA .22lr Conversion kit on the G23 AND hard-cast (lead) reloads through the LWD barrel through the "Dao" G23 (i'll post pics eventually). Anyway, I clean them each time I shoot with Hoppes #9. Things seem to be going well. Earlier this week, the .22 was ALL over the paper. Took a look at it, there were lead bits hanging out of the end of the barrel. Broke the pistol down, looked in the barrel and looks like I don't have any rifling left. It's a slight exaggeration, but you get the idea. Decided to look in the LWD barrel (fired 50 rounds of plated lead reloads), as well, and there are lead deposits throughout. Those of you who have lots of experience shooting plain "lead"/hard-castlead bullets, what do you use to "get the lead out" as it where? I'm trying the Birchwood Casey stuff (in the white can), but it's taking a LONG time. I've been at it for several hours. D
Yeah. Been working a brass brush through both barrels with the lead remover left in for the prescribed 15 min... Not really effective. I mean it's working, but hoping for some top or trick that makes it just "fall out". Wah!!! I'm tired of brushing.... D
Hey D, I don't have something to get the "lead out" per sey, but maybe start cleaning with Ballistol? I've heard numerous people say that over time it almost leaves a teflon type coating on the metal. I've never tried the stuff but I've heard wonderful things. On a side note, I DID use Hoppes #9 solvent on my mosin barrel with a bronze brush and I managed to get several patches through it to the point they came out clean. Good luck!
Thanks. As soon as the lead comes out, i'll start doing the ballitsol or tufoil thing in the barrel. As for the mosin... this winter, I may take it to a shop to have the barrel ultrasonically cleaned. I am convinced I could run a whole pack of patches through the barrel without it coming clean. This brass brush is rather old. You know what, I"m going to go buy another brush tomorrow and see how that works. Maybe it's just "worn out" enough to not work as well, but doesn't "feel" worn out. thanks for the suggestion. D
I don't think there is anything out there that works any better than anything else. I have some "Shooters Choice" lead remover solvent, the label say's it "Quickly" removes lead deposits, but the directions say "Several Dozens of Strokes", soak & repeat. Which is far from quick. Repeatedly soaking, punching with a fresh copper/brass brush, and clean patching, will eventually get it done though. I have noticed that after I've used lead remover the barrels tend to be less prone to leading afterwards. Brownell's sells the Lewis lead remover tool/bore punch, but they don't make it in .22 cal. The Lewis system does work well though, using a small brass screen that affixes to the end of a bore punch, and drapes over a rubber section. The brass screen skirted over the rubber gets down into the lands & grooves, doing a great job with any solvent. Brownell's has a vid of the Lewis tool, which might give you some ideas, like brass faucet screens as bore patches? Sadly, nothing in .22 though.
Old man I shoot with that shoots lead out of his stock barrel cleans it with mercury. Don't know where he gets it.
People still use it, mostly to refine gold. Mining supply shops sell it out here. You need quite a bit of it though. Lot's of olds thermometers, and thermostat switches. There is a stigma about it being ultra toxic, but if take precautions it's safe enough. Getting the lead back out of it after you create an amalgam requires a retort though.
Not posting this as a suggestion for the OP, just putting this forward as another question that may or may not be a good idea. That being said, would it be possible/beneficial/efficient to heat the barrel so that any lead buildup would melt and roll out of the barrel? Or would this potentially damage the barrel? Lead's melting point is fairly low compared to steel so maybe it's possible to do this with no danger of damaging the barrel?
Believe me, the thought crossed my mind for a fleeting moment. As for chore boy pad, Is that a regional thing? I don't recall ever seeing those out this way. D
Well, at least I'm not the only person to think it might not be a bad idea But seriously, if the leading is to the point where the rifling is pretty much gone, it may take days to get it all out with just cleaner. Compared to 10 minutes of heating that sucker up and pouring it out.
I recently came across some "copper mesh" scourers (kinda like copper-colored, loosely woven steel wool). Then on the back it said "copper coated." I had some thought about using the stuff in my Mosins. Any idea if that's a good idea? Or dangerous ignorance on my part?
It's an unrelated issue, but the "Chore Boy" potscrubbers may be in short supply due to the insanity of the ATF. It's an older story, here's a link. I'd stick to running good quality brass bore brushes in & out, lot's of work, but safe on the bore. http://www.examiner.com/article/atf-classifies-chore-boy-pot-scrubber-pads-nfa-firearms
