Posted: 2/6/2006 9:38:36 PM EDT
| I shot some LRN from my 45's on super bowl sunday. This has left a rather amazing amount of lead in the bores of both pistols. I usually only shoot FMJ and bought this stuff by mistake. I've not had to clean a lot of lead out before so I would like to hear your favorite lead solvents/cleaning methods. I'm pretty meticulous about clean firearms so this is driving me nuts!! |
| It was a Colt 1911 and an HK USP. The Colt was the worst. Never heard of Kroil. I will be looking for it. Plan on shooting some on Wed. and will shoot a good deal of standard jacketed ammo before I clean. Maybe that will clean some of it out. When I say a rather amazing amount of lead I mean it's visible in the bore. Like I stated I usually dont shoot lead so Im not used to seeing it at all. |
Kroil is an EXTREMELY fine penetrating oil than can actually seep between the fouling and the surface of the bore. You can also mix it with JB Bore Paste and create a very nice cleaning compound. I used to run a mix of Kroil, JB Bore Paste and Shooter's Choice Lead Remover on a nice new brush to tear though heavy lead fouling. I have since given up lead rounds after finally tiring of the practice. |
| Be careful, you will never ruin a barrel faster than using mechanical (brass scouring pad, lead remover screen or tool) cleaning technique. Mercurey is the best, foul out is the safest. I have also used a Birchwood Casey lead removing cloth cut into patches. I wrap it around an old, worn (or smaller caliber) brass brush to hold it still but the brush never touches the bore. Scrub it back and forth a dozen times or so. Works like a charm on stainless barrels. It will rub off bluing however. |
Brass is about the same hardness as copper. The mesh just has surface area to bite into the softer lead. I'v also used the lead remover cloth, it does ok, but for tough buildup you need something with more bite, like the lewis tool. Sounds like you either had some rounds with soft lead or too much fps. |
This gizmo will remove 100% of the lead, right down to the base metal without any muscle power, and part of the ad hype is that it won't out your barrel. This if you can use your arm to wear out a gun barrel, I think your arm will wear out way before the barrel. |
Midway USA carries it if you can't find it anywhere. Kano Kroil |
| I guess I'm talking about my Kart match barrels in my .45's. Brass/bronze will scratch if not used properly. Try reversing a bronze brush in your match bore and see if it won't scratch. I don't know what a Lewis tool is, but if its that gizmo that pushes a brass screen through the barrel, ouch. The smith that built my .45's told me not even to run a bronze brush through the barrel. He said he never saw a barrel damaged by shooting, only by cleaning. I've talked to Jim Clarke himself about this and he advised me not to clean a pistol barrel at all! No shit! He runs a couple jackets down the barrel and goes back to the lead. I know there are a million opinions on this, this is just mine. |