getting the lead out

[zoid52]

I have about 10 9mm's that I regularly shoot and I basically just wipe them down and maybe run a bore snake thru the barrel and stick them away in the safe. Today I thought I'd break them down and do a thorough cleaning. I shoot hardcast lead bullets thru these guns and after five or six times of using solvents,brushes and patches I still have lead in the barrel. Ive even used a "tornado" brush to no avail. Any suggestions? How do you clean?

[hawk1]

Chore Boy wrapped around a 9mm brass brush and your favorite solvent. Works like a charm. Found this tidbit on the 1911 forum.

[zoid52]

No damage to the barrel?

[Waingro]

Made in Mexico? The Kempo guy is gonna get mad...

[smle-man]

Outer's 'foul out' gets lead and copper crud out with no effort on the shooter's part. It is an electro-chemical system. I've had mine for years.

[chickenfried]

Lewis lead remover

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/productdetail.aspx?p=21587

[apbrian112]

Made in Mexico? The Kempo guy is gonna get mad...

hahaha!!! rofl!!

[mike100]

lead remover mixes + ammonia combined with an oversized brush. 40-45 cal with sort of act like the chore-boy copper mesh. If you do get the copper mesh,bring a magnet, because the store branded ones are copper plated steel mesh.

The oversized brush method will basically destroy the brush in two cleanings, but just add that to the cost of your lead vs. jacketed calculations. I have the most trouble with 44 mags/spls leading up the forcing cone so I always have 2 or 3 50 cal pistol brushed hanging on the wall like gun-store inventory.

[xrMike]

Chore Boy wrapped around a 9mm brass brush and your favorite solvent. Works like a charm. Found this tidbit on the 1911 forum.

This has been the best, most time-saving solution for me too. I shoot mostly lead SWCs.

I cut out a piece of the chore-boy pad about the size of a quarter, wrap it around an old, worn-out .45 brush, dip in Hoppes, and run that through the barrel a few times. The lead just falls right out the end of the barrel in slivers.

Everything I've read on the 1911 forums says it's impossible for Choreboy to scratch a barrel because it is made of a much softer metal than all barrels are made from. I've been doing it a long time now, and my 1911 barrel has no obvious evidence of scratching (that I can see).

[DrjonesUSA]

I have about 10 9mm's that I regularly shoot and I basically just wipe them down and maybe run a bore snake thru the barrel and stick them away in the safe. Today I thought I'd break them down and do a thorough cleaning. I shoot hardcast lead bullets thru these guns and after five or six times of using solvents,brushes and patches I still have lead in the barrel. Ive even used a "tornado" brush to no avail. Any suggestions? How do you clean?

I hope none of those 9mms are Glocks - it is specifically stated that you should NOT shoot cast lead through Glocks.

[Turbinator]

Couple thoughts that no one's mentioned yet -

1) I have a boresnake. I've used it, oh, a couple times. I find it does NOT get the barrel clean enough for my standards, and I don't think I have necessarily high "white glove" standards by any means. The boresnake is great for a quick clean if you can't do anything else, but to regularly clean with a boresnake just isn't going to cut it, IMHO. If you are able, switch to a regular cleaning regimen and get that crud out of there early and often.

2) I was told to shoot copper or jacketed rounds through the barrel after shooting lead to help clean it out. I tried this and it works, but it doesn't get ALL the lead out - just enough to keep the cleaning from being a major chore.. but it is still going to be a chore, if you shoot lead.

3) Be very careful about that lead buildup. Lead lining the barrel can increase the pressures of your ammo substantially. I'd caution against letting it build up for how long it appears you've let it build up. Again per my comment above, I would implement a regular cleaning routine, along with shooting a few jacketed rounds at the end of your shooting session to help clean out the lead before you get home. Once you get enough leading going, with pressures going higher, you could be headed for a catastrophic outcome.

Good luck, and for what it's worth, I use a product called "Wipe Out" - a foaming bore cleaner from Midway USA - it seems to be working pretty well for me thus far. I have yet to try an Outers, but I hear they work great.

Turby

[c good]

I'm with Chickenfried! Lewis Lead Remover or the Hoppes version. Same thing. In either case. Buy it and don't look back. c good

[trago]

trago

Hi, check the copper wool with a magnet, ChoreBoy isn't magnetic and therefore is copper. I've bought other copper wool products that look the same (not branded as ChoreBoy) and they are magnetic and therefore have ferris (read steel) content and could and most likely would scratch a barrel in short order.

[ar15barrels]

I hope none of those 9mms are Glocks - it is specifically stated that you should NOT shoot cast lead through Glocks.

This only applies to the stock polygonal barrels.
No problem to shoot lead through glocks with replacement barrels using conventional rifling.



Note the stainless muzzle sticking out of the slide?

[1911su16b870]

Kleen Bore Lead Away products are really good at de-leading.

http://secure.armorholdings.com/kleen-bore/chemicalcloths.html