lead solvent?

[GoodOlBoy]

I read through the whol copper solvent discussion and was wondering if anybody had a recipe for a good lead solvent. Is it the same as a good copper solvent or is it diffferent?

I shoot ALOT of lead and was just curious.

GoodOlBoy

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Elbow grease........and a wire brush.

[GoodOlBoy]

oh I have played that game thats why I was REALLY hoping somebody had a formula

GoodOlBoy

[PJgunner]

Probably the best method which is a tad hazardous is to plug the bore tightly and fill it with mercury. Let stand for 5 or 10 minutes and remove the plug. The mercury will amalgamate witht he lead and when you remove the plug what residue that it left in the barrel is easily wiped out. However, due to EPA regulations about mercury, it's not too feasible any more, although I can attest that it really worked quite well.
Probably the best method now it a good stiff (new) brush with some strands of a Chore Boy scouring pad wrapped around the brush. There is a lead solvent by I think, Shooter's Choice, but the smell absolutely nauseates me. I suppose you could plug the bore (and your nose) and fill it up and let it soak for a while, like maybe over night and then use the brush with the strands of scouring pad. Me? I just use the pad and brush. Even heavy leading comes out fairly easy with the scouring pad material and stiff brush. Light leading takes maybe 8 to 10 strokes to clean out, heavy leading maybe 20 to 30 strokes. At least that's how it's been in my guns.
Paul B.

[Dale]

I just received my Lewis Lead Remover from Brownells. I am going to try it this evening or tomorrow to see how it does. I think it is kind of like the chore boy method.

[Joe Boleo]

Place a piece around a brush, run it through the bore and it really does a job. Take care...
Joe

[Jack]

There are a bunch of solvents that chemically dissolve jacket fouling, as you referred to in the other thread.
I don't know of any bore solvent that dissolves lead, in a similar manner to the way copper solvents work. Except for the aforementioned mercury, which has some well known draw backs.
The abrasive methods do work on lead- and often on copper, too. Things like JB or Iosso bore paste with mild abrasive in them, the Lewis Lead Remover, or the scrub pad that PJ mentioned. The scrub pad works the same way as a Lewis Lead remover, just not in a nice neat package.
Using a chunk of a Lead Wipe Away cloth as a patch works, too- and that's as close as I'm aware of as a chemical means of removing lead.
The other option is an Outers Foul Out set up- electrolysis. That works quite well, but it's not a quick process- takes some setting up and then letting it work.
If there's a magic trick to get rid of lead fouling in a bore, I haven't found it yet.

[Rocky Raab]

Before somebody suggests it, let me say that I think the "shoot a few jacketed bullets through it" idea is hazardous, and may even make the leading harder to remove.

My opinion is based on the fact that a badly leaded bore amounts to a partial restriction. Shooting a hard bullet through it could raise pressures dangerously. If it did push lead out, the lead would pile up ahead of the bullet in a "snowplow" effect, except that it cannot get out of the way. That can't be good, and the bullet would in effect be gaining weight as it went.

Plus, the curved surface of the jacketed bullet is more likely to "iron in" any lead, forcing it deep into the grooves almost like hammer welding it in place. What's rammed deep into the grooves would be much harder to get out.

[Ol` Joe]

I can`t say how well this works, but if it does 1/2 as well as Wipeout it works well IMO
http://www.sharpshootr.com/no-lead.htm

I believe Shooters Choice has a lead remover also but may be mistaken.

[Ol` Joe]

Originally Posted by Rocky Raab

Before somebody suggests it, let me say that I think the "shoot a few jacketed bullets through it" idea is hazardous, and may even make the leading harder to remove.

My opinion is based on the fact that a badly leaded bore amounts to a partial restriction. Shooting a hard bullet through it could raise pressures dangerously. If it did push lead out, the lead would pile up ahead of the bullet in a "snowplow" effect, except that it cannot get out of the way. That can't be good, and the bullet would in effect be gaining weight as it went.

Plus, the curved surface of the jacketed bullet is more likely to "iron in" any lead, forcing it deep into the grooves almost like hammer welding it in place. What's rammed deep into the grooves would be much harder to get out.

Rocky I think shooting copper over lead isn`t much of a problem but the reverse could be. Copper fouling tends to be rougher from what I`ve heard and cause very heavy leading to accumulate on top of it. This can be trouble.
Just hearsay that I`ve tended to trust.

[Rocky Raab]

Joe, I'm not talking about additional leading, or copper buildup. Shooting jacketed bullets through a leaded bore to "clean out the lead" is a very bad idea because the lead acts like a partial bore obstruction.

I wanted to say that before somebody suggested it.

[PJgunner]

Rocky is absolutely right on not trying to clean lead out by shooting jacketed bullets. With mild leading, all you're going to do is iron the lead into the pores of the steel making it very difficult to remove, if at all possible now that having mercury is a no-no.
Second, if really heavy leading is present, you can damage a bore or even ruin a gun by trying to shoot the lead out with a jacketed bullet. early .357 mag lead bulleted ammo leaded like crazy and a friend buldged the barrel of he Colt Python trying to "get the lead out" using jacketed bullets.
I still have a box of Winchester .357 Mag. ammo from the mid 1960s and those lead bullet will smear all over a barrel and be badly leaded in less than a dozen shots. Time to find some mercury if you shoot those.
Paul B.

[shooterjon]

If my memory serves me right I remember using HYDROGEN PEROXIDE to remove lead from my 45 ACP barrel ,I use to shoot lots of IDPA matches seemed to work great and is inexpensive.Run a brush through and follow up with a patch.
Hope this works for you!

[GoodOlBoy]

yeah I wasn't about to try shooting a jacketed bullet through to clear the lead. Last time I used hoppes #9 and ALOT of elbow grease. luckily we fixed the main problem which was with the cylinder throats being WAY under spec. BUT I still get a little lead fouling now and then when I shoot ALOT (read 500+) in one day. I think I may need to polish the barrel throat as well. Who knows.

GoodOlBoy

[Rocky Raab]

The only way to absolutely, positively get it all out down to the last lead atom is with the Outers Foul-Out reverse electroplating tool. Effortless, too!

It comes with chemicals for lead and copper and will "plate" a rod with the fouling. You may have to run it several times if the fouling is horrible or if bullet fouling is layered with powder fouling (which the Outers system doesn't touch), but it will clean right down to absolute pure steel.