Barrel Leading

[MoJet Driver]

I recently aquired an old Winchester Model 06 .22 and the barrel has quite a bit of leading in it. Eventually I'd like to get the weapon operational again. Does anyone have some good suggestions for lead removal? I just have the barrel soaking in some solvents now and have tried running the bore brushes through. It's slow going and I am basically lazy, looking for the easy way out.

[brshooter]

Have you tried Shooter's Choice Lead Remover? If you can't find it locally, get in touch with Russ Hayden up in Gig Harbor. He can ship it to you. Russ is a great guy and full of knowledge.
http://www.s*******-supply.com/

[Rauly]

S******* Choice works great. Also some elbow grease helps. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[SureSet]

MJD,

You can use a good solvent like sh-ooters choice to remove Copper fouling. I believe it's ammonia that removes(oxidizes) the copper. If it's actually lead fouling from shooting non-jacketed bullets, one thing I know of is the Outers Foul Out that uses either lead or copper acetate solutions to electrically remove the fouling similar to reverse electroplating (I've enver tried sh-ooters choice lead remover, but if Bill says it works I'm sure it does). I use one of them on my rifles, the only problem being that the unit gets the barrels so clean that I have to re-foul them a little to get the accuracy back. My .243 for instance takes exactly 6 shots after electronic cleaning to work 3-4 inches across a target to a point it remains consistant. Took me a few months to figure that out......

Steve

[ 10-28-2001: Message edited by: SureSet ]

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

MoJet,

If you have a .22 rimfire that leads, then you have an interesting problem.

If it was a .38 or a .44, I'd recommend a brass screen that's pulled thru the barrel to scrape out the lead.... don't think they make one for a .22 as .22's aren't supposed to lead.

I suppose you've cleaned the rifle now and verified it wasn't just a huge build up of powder fouling. I bought a .308 one time that I couldn't see the rifling in.. it was a bunch of crud in the barrel that cleaned right out. Guy said his rifle wouldn't shoot.. shot all over the whole target.. I cleaned it real good and it ended up shooting .8" groups at 100 yards. I still think of sending him Christmas cards.

So, do you really have lead fouling in your .22? Russ might be a good person to talk to about it. He used to shoot lots of league .22 as years ago I shot on the same team with him. He's good!!!

Also, once you get your barrel clean, you might investigate why it fouls, you may have a rough barrel that needs barrel lapping.

[MoJet Driver]

Thanks for the replies.

I am soaking the barrel with solvents advertised to remove lead and copper. Sounds like the stuff from Russ might be the magic potion. I have also tried one of those fancy stainless steel heavy duty bore brushes. I figure this may take some time. If all fails I'll have someone who does this stuff for a living help me out.

For Bill: This is close to what you described. I can barely make out the rifling. Especially for the entire length of the barrel. The closer to the chamber, the better I can see it.

I did find some of those brass screens, but I need a different attachment for the end of the cleaning rod to run them through. Plus I couldn't swear it leaded up but that is what the previous owner told me and he is somewhat saavy when it comes to firearms. I don't know how long he owned it but I'm sure it was a hand me down.

Dave

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

there's no copper in .22 rimfire bullets, lead only.

After you cleaned the barrel, was the rifling hard to see? I'm curious as one of my thoughts is maybe the old .22 ammo was corrosive and that's what's wrong with your barrel. I don't have the answer about old .22 ammo.

A wire brass bore brush might be the only way to get the lead out of a .22 barrel, short of really spending some $$. I had a pistol I bought through the mail (as an 18 year old) that leaded real bad. I scrubbed and scrubbed for the better part of a day to get all that lead out.

[MoJet Driver]

Zen,

The rifling is visible but the deposits were uneven throughout the length of the barrel. I thought this may have been due to me scrubbing harder in that section. I have no decent history on the weapon so, if and when I get the bugger clean, I'll be able to further acertain the condition.

Sounds like I'll be scrubbing away for awhile. Hopefully everything will turn out fine. I really like the feel of the weapon and I sure hope it shoots as well.

Dave

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

I've always enjoyed looking at the older firearms as I always thought the workmanship was better. Maybe I just appreciated the hand work over machine work.

Good luck in your cleaning job. Hope it ends up as a sh ooter for you.

Bill

[SeanD]

No stainless steel bore brushes! Stainless bad! Try putting a foam earplug in the muzzle and then filling the barrel with solvent of your choice, then letting it soak overnight (or is that what you already did when you said soaking?) Then if you must, brass brush only! I dont even use the brass brushes in my guns, except maybe once in a while. And i only clean then from the breech. which is impossible to do using a brush on a 22. Ever ehar anyone say more damage is done to rifles from cleaning then shooting? If nothing any of us suggested works, try asking here http://www.rimfirecentral.com/
Good luck!

[Zen Leecher aka Bill W]

Sean's comment is a good one. Stainless brushes are harder than barrel steel and will scratch lands and grooves... and scratches lead to more leading, fouling and accuracy problems.

I mentioned brass brushes, but never said why brass.

Brass brushes will scrape out leading, but it's slow.

Here's another website for smallbore s*******. I'd guess someone on either this board or the one Sean mentioned might help in easy ways to remove leading, and might provide some insight on why the leading even started.
http://benchrest.com/rimfire_board/