How bad is this leading? (revolver)

[glug]

Today was my first time out shooting my own reloads in a 357 magnum revolver, and maybe I'm just being paranoid but I am concerned about leading. Specifically, how to identify it so that dangerous pressures don't build up.

I only fired one round-- does this look normal or is it excessive? It looked unusual to me so I decided to stop and seek expert advice. You can kind of see the ghost ring around the throat of one chamber. Looks like a pencil factory exploded in there :/



Other than that everything seemed fine. No signs of overpressure on the case and the recoil was extremely mild and the shot was reasonably accurate.

My load (essentially a light 38 special in a 357 magnum case):

Brass-- once-fired Fiocchi 357 Magnum
Bullet-- 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter from Missouri Bullet Company (38 Match BHN 12)
Powder-- 3.4 grains W231 powder
Primer-- CCI 500 small pistol primers

According to my Lee manual BHN 12 should be ideal at around 15,000 PSI, so I am thinking I might have to work up the loads a bit more to get them to fully obturate. That's the theory anyway...

[CalTeacher]

The leading will be in the barrel. That looks like the lube that is burning off and/or the burnt powder residue.

[paul0660]

I only fired one round

I think you should be careful, but I do not see any leading, yet.

[bruce381]

shoot 50 or 100 then LOOK in barrel that laod is light and same I shoot unless boolits are undersize should have no problems

[bruceflinch]

The Forcing Cone (where the bullet enters the barrel) is where you have to watch.
You might want to invest in a "Revolver cleaning kit. " Comes w/ a rubber cone & some brass screen & a rod to clean the forcing cone. Also a Lead Cleaning cloth will speed up cleaning the stainless real quick!

[mjmagee67]

Yes the Forcing Cone is where I get a little leading in my revolver. That gun looks pretty clean. I've never gotten constant leading just streaks of lead. My Marlin rifle will lead up pretty good it is very noticeable on the first 1-1.5 inches of the barrel.

[Revoman]

"You might want to invest in a "Revolver cleaning kit. " Comes w/ a rubber cone & some brass screen & a rod to clean the forcing cone."

That's actually a Lewis Lead Remover Tool, they are about $25-$30 and work well for the forcing cone/barrel IF lead is a problem.

The stuff that's in your pic is no problem, it's simply stuff that happens a little more with reloads than factory. Since there is a gap between the face of the cylinder and the forcing cone, it's gonna leak some stuff out, you can't stop it, it's just the way a revolver functions. There is lube, burnt gunpowder, carbon, etc showing there, nothing to worry about yet....but you've shot too few rounds to be certain.

Shoot a bunch more and take another look/pic and we'll talk then.

[Bill Steele]

Leading is kind of like gold, you will know it when you see it.

Leading looks like dark grey mud streaks. It will likely be worst in the first three inches of the barrel, but also check the muzzle.

Most leading will come out with a piece of copper chore boy wrapped around a bore brush. If it is really bad leading, thye Lewis kit will take care of it, but try the chore boy first.

[Cowboy T]

Yep, looks like burnt powder residue to me.

Just as an FYI, you can get leading just about anywhere the bullet's been, including in the forcing cones of the chambers, the forcing cone of the barrel, mid-way down the barrel, more toward the end of the barrel, etc. Each location is a sign of what might be causing the lead-fouling, if you get it at all.

It is also possible that you might not get *any* detectable lead-fouling. In my guns, that's exactly what happens, since I choose proper sizing, proper lube, and proper hardness for the application.

One other thing. That chart that Lee uses? Add about 7,000 PSI to what they say your alloy can take, and that's about where things really end up. I found this out through experience.

[gunnerstuff]

Looking good. Keep shooting!

[glug]

Thanks for the feedback guys I guess I'll go shoot some more and keep checking.