Just fired cast bullets and wanted to know

[cw308]

What cleaners are you using . I found Ballistol is a good all around cleaner , what works best on cast , now I'm shooting 38,s out of a 357 alittle harder to clean out the cylinders . Will eventually shoot them in my 1911's but for now only revolver. All input is appreciated.

Chris

 

[tominboise]

I use Ballistol, Butches Bore shine and Boretech carbon cleaner on my pistols. Boretech on a brush seems to do about as well as anything.

 

[Cap'n]

Hoppes still works fine on lead and carbon

 

[Longtrain]

If you get leading in the barrel, back in my LEO days, we used a Lewis Lead Remover, which uses a brass screen to remove lead deposits. Worked perfectly.

 

[jsn]

Lewis lead remover is best, at least use a good stiff copper brush after firing, preferably immediately.

 

[cw308]

I have the Lewis screen system that I used on the barrel cone , for my SS revolver to remove the burn marks on the cylinder face , nothing works better then Lead Away , it comes in a sheet form that you cut , it removes the buildup like magic no scrubbing , just wipes off , not recommend for blued guns . I figured a lead and carbon cleaned but thought one product worked best for hard cast. Thanks for answering my post .

Chris

 

[DiffEQ]

Clean using a patch (no bronze jag!) soaked in 10% ammonia solution from the hardware store. Follow immediately with Ed's Red or your favorite carbon solvent, then oil. Some use just Ed's red after the ammonia. I use Hoppes then either Mobil 1, 0w-10, or Chemtronic Penetrating oil. Just picked up my first can of Ballistol to try.

 

[watercam]

FWIW I use Kroil all by itself and it works like a charm (with patience). First use conventional solvent for carbon. Then soak a patch with Kroil and run it through, repeat a couple of times and let the barrel sit for 15-30 minutes. Run a brush through a time or two followed by another patch of Kroil. Should be good to go.

 

[Uncle Ed]

I shoot plated bullets and do not get any leading. I got tired of spending so much time removing lead from revolver cylinders and bores.

 

[rockrat]

I use a mix of 50/50 Marvel Mystery oil and Ballistol. To that mix, I add an equal parts of synthetic ATF and Mobil 0w-20 synthetic engine oil. Soak a patch and run it thru the bore and let it sit for a day. Any leading I have had comes out the next day.

 

[linebaugh]

If your bullets are sized correctly and have any amount of lube at all you should not see leading unless you are standing on the throttle. Bullets need to be bore dia +.001 or cylinder throat dia plus .001.

I have been using tumble lube with lower vel/press loads and no problems. A quick kroil cleans things up nicely. Let it soak a bit for the bulk of the carbon to come off as well.

 

[SSL]

FWIW I use Kroil all by itself and it works like a charm (with patience). First use conventional solvent for carbon. Then soak a patch with Kroil and run it through, repeat a couple of times and let the barrel sit for 15-30 minutes. Run a brush through a time or two followed by another patch of Kroil. Should be good to go.

Very true. If you have a fairly smooth bore, Kroil will lift the lead right out, assuming it isn't caked on. Let it soak for a bit and then run a bronze brush through followed by a couple of tight patches. Works for me. I never use those "specialty" lead cleaners, but I suppose they have their uses.

If your bullets are sized correctly and have any amount of lube at all you should not see leading unless you are standing on the throttle. Bullets need to be bore dia +.001 or cylinder throat dia plus .001.

I have been using tumble lube with lower vel/press loads and no problems. A quick kroil cleans things up nicely. Let it soak a bit for the bulk of the carbon to come off as well.

I also agree with using liquid lubes. I have a tendency to over-apply them and as a result seldom have instances of serious leading.

 

[cw308]

I have mixed Charcoal lighter fluid and Ballistol works great for my 1911's but I only shoot 230 gr.FMJ., full strength Ballistol worked good for cast. When cut with the charcoal lighter fluid it didn't work as well for cast. Guess I stick with Ballistol. Thanks for giving me your input , hope to return the favor in the future.

Chris

 

[wagonman]

copper chore boy strands wound around a worn brush, I quit buying brass screens for my lewis lead remover years ago, that and old #9 hoppies

 

[243winxb]

Just tried this, works well. https://sharpshootr.com/no-lead/

No Lead by Wipe Out.

 

[justpassinthru]

copper chore boy strands wound around a worn brush, I quit buying brass screens for my lewis lead remover years ago, that and old #9 hoppies

It's going to be hard to beat this.

 

[farmerjohn]

It's going to be hard to beat this.

Me three, been doing it since JFK was in the big house... John

 

[JSH]

Be aware all pot scrubber pads are not copper. But the chore boy brand do work well.
As mentioned size is king when using cast.
As to 38’s in 357’s, I get and have heard all the blah blah blah dad and grandpa did it and could shoot flys @50 yards. All 357’s are not created or chambered equally. I have had and have a number of 357’s. Two or three would shoot 38’s as well as they did 357’s. It just got to the point for me the 38’s were the cause of poor accuracy and leading.
YMMV but with the way things are now today, there is no way I would mix the two and think I was saving a darn thing.

 

[Intheshop]

Bronze wool is available,as an alternative to the chore boy scrubbers. Works a little better because it comes in several grades,which is simply "wire size". Get the 0000.

Keeping it dripping wet with ? Is more important than what chemical. Ed's Red and catch the barrel while it's still warm with the bronze wool is what I'd use.

But,gotta say it.... really shouldn't be getting it leaded to begin with. This is a right of passage,not only "early" attempts to lead up through not knowing... but you're gonna keep hearing this statement about, not going there from old hands.

 

[JSH]

I kept a magnet in my pocket for years. I checked some knock off pot scrubbers, they were non magnetic. Got home and cut some up. Right off I knew they were not copper, probably some SS alloy coated to look like copper.
I get lucky and save a few bucks, but I do have plenty of pot scrubbers, lol.