Major leading problem

[Scott-ak]

I got a new Sig P320 Spectre Comp that has a threaded barrel/compensator with a straight up port. After 200 rounds of my usual load, 3.8gr Win 231 & 135gr powder coated BBI bullets, the compensator had a HUGE amount of lead build up. It took an hour with dental picks to get it cleaned out.

This is my first compensated pistol and all my others have never had barrel leading problems with this load. There is no way I can continue with this load as is. I switched to these bullets because they are 3-4 cents each cheaper than the jacketed I used to run.

Is there anyway to reduce or eliminate this leading problem by changing powders?

For now I am going to order some jacketed bullets BUT many of them have exposed lead bases. I am wondering if they will have the same problem or do I need to run bullets that are completely jacketed?

 

[K22]

231 is my powder of choice but I only shoot revolvers. It's not the cleanest powder. Bullseye is cleaner in my experience, but it seems powder choice is not the problem here, it's lead build up.

You might want to try Berry's Bullets which are copper plated and no exposed lead. They are not as expensive as jacket bullets, at least the last time I checked which was a while ago. Worth checking out.

 

[WayneShaw]

I don't know what BBI bullets are, but if they were powder coated properly, you wouldn't have leading if everything is proper. Are you saying the compensator has leading and none in the barrel itself?

 

[Rsadams]

Another vote here for Berry's or extream etc copper coated bullets.... The berry bullets are alot thicker coating than you would think , I have picked up a few after they hit a rock and cracked open and the coating was thick enough I hard a hard time bending it with a finger nail not wanting to cut myself... Plus back when I was loading.38 spl I was actually putting a good roll crimp on them like a lead bullet and never cut one with a lee FCD... This is why I like the lee FCD you can put a bit of crimp then pull the bullet and see what's going on....

I just want to add this........

I went to the extream coated bullets over the Hornady FMJ because of cost in 10mm but when I loaded my first test bullets I was at 10.5 gr of blue dot with the Hornady FMJs and decided to drop to 10.2gr for the plated extream bullets and they were way faster than the FMJs so start your load development over if you switch bullets....

 

[RegionRat]

I'm not at all familiar with powder coated BBI bullets, are they open base?

I don't understand where the lead is coming from or if what you are cleaning out is really carbon and burnt polymer from the bullet coating? Either way, I believe you since the cleaning was a chore so it doesn't matter.

I am having a hard time guessing what is causing that build up, so it is hard to recommend a fix. In theory, the coating should prevent the leading regardless of what powder we recommend, but we learn something new sometimes....

Maybe give the thick plate Berry's bullets a try and see if the issue subsides?

 

[243winxb]

Take just a bullet, not a loaded round. Hit with hammer. Does coating flake? It should not.
Coating should cover bullets 100%. No exposed lead.

 

[Scott-ak]

BBI = Black Bullet International. They are completely coated. I've run thousands thru my glocks and PCCs with no signs of leading. I will try smacking one with a hammer.

I had an idea to load them longer thinking the chamber has a long throat and is allowing too much gas to pass before engaging the rifling but they are already at 1.150. Might play with that tonight to find out how long before they fail the plunk test.

I know the different between lead, carbon and burnt polymer... Yeah I could have taken a picture. It was shocking how much lead was built up in the comp. There was a small amount of leading in the barrel.

I shoot about 1000 rounds a month during summer. Unless there is someone that has great shipping Berry's are a no go due to additional shipping cost. If you think you know of a supplier please share it. Or punch in 99654 and see what they charge for shipping. BBI cost about 6c each. Before them I ran RMRs at about 10c each and those prices include shipping.

 

[RegionRat]

I know the different between lead, carbon and burnt polymer... Yeah I could have taken a picture. It was shocking how much lead was built up in the comp. There was a small amount of leading in the barrel.

Something is going on then for sure since in theory the polymer coating should prevent it.

I forgot to notice you are up in AK. I can imagine that means the shipping and availability makes getting hold of things more difficult so I feel your pain.

If the smash test passes then I have no idea what to suggest. In for the report on what happens when you smash one. Good Luck.

 

[tommeboy]

Use a powder coat not hi tek and your issues should go away

 

[Webster]

I got a new Sig P320 Spectre Comp that has a threaded barrel/compensator with a straight up port. After 200 rounds of my usual load, 3.8gr Win 231 & 135gr powder coated BBI bullets, the compensator had a HUGE amount of lead build up. It took an hour with dental picks to get it cleaned out.

This is my first compensated pistol and all my others have never had barrel leading problems with this load. There is no way I can continue with this load as is. I switched to these bullets because they are 3-4 cents each cheaper than the jacketed I used to run.

Is there anyway to reduce or eliminate this leading problem by changing powders?

For now I am going to order some jacketed bullets BUT many of them have exposed lead bases. I am wondering if they will have the same problem or do I need to run bullets that are completely jacketed?

Sounds like the compensator bore is a tiny bit smaller than the bullet diameter? Could it be misaligned a few thou with the bore. Crappy threading job?

 

[DHD]

I was thinking along similar lines as Webster. You mentioned you have leading down the barrel also. Not quite what coated bullets are supposed to do obviously. 2 separate issues.

 

[Webster]

I got a new Sig P320 Spectre Comp that has a threaded barrel/compensator with a straight up port. After 200 rounds of my usual load, 3.8gr Win 231 & 135gr powder coated BBI bullets, the compensator had a HUGE amount of lead build up. It took an hour with dental picks to get it cleaned out.

This is my first compensated pistol and all my others have never had barrel leading problems with this load. There is no way I can continue with this load as is. I switched to these bullets because they are 3-4 cents each cheaper than the jacketed I used to run.

Is there anyway to reduce or eliminate this leading problem by changing powders?

For now I am going to order some jacketed bullets BUT many of them have exposed lead bases. I am wondering if they will have the same problem or do I need to run bullets that are completely jacketed?

Compare the diameter of a brass jacketed bullet to a cast. Are the cast bullets as cast without sizing and then coated. I used to cast a lot of bullets years ago. After casting you have to run them thru a sizing lubricating die. Even if they are sized they could be the wrong diameter for your barrel? Is the leading mostly on one side of the compensator? Would increasing the compensator bore a little damage it. Would it still work? If the bulllets are not sized you should still see a hint of the line between the two mold halves. If you can get the powder off you can see swagging smearing of the lead from reducing the diameter. Maybe the powder coat is just a cheap way to eliminate making bullets without grease all over them. To lead the bore or compensator the coating would have to be rubbed off exposing bare lead to the bore. If the coating rubs of you have unlubricated bullets. I assume the bullet is not supposed to even touch the compensator bore, it should pass thru with a litte clearance?

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Have you tried the gun without the comp? No way the comp should cause leading in the barrel. Are you crimping the bullet? if so how much? Show us a closeup side view of a loaded round.

Frank

 

[Iowa Fox]

Hard to comment when you haven't seen things in person.

To me this sounds like a bullet issue to me. There is no substitute for casting your own . Less than 50 bucks will get you into powder coating your own also. Smokes is the best powder.

 

[Webster]

The lead may be getting torn off the bullet in the barrel and blown into the compensator. Take the compensator off and shoot at a target about ten feet away and see if lead particles are sprayed onto the target. I used to fill the grease grooves on my bullets with Alox grease. They make a messy bullet but it's well lubed. That's how they did it for a hundred years. I used to have a really old 45-70 bullet loaded with black powder. The bullet was bare lead???

 

[Webster]

I was thinking along similar lines as Webster. You mentioned you have leading down the barrel also. Not quite what coated bullets are supposed to do obviously. 2 separate issues.

May not matter , but do the bullets have a gas check on the back end?