Slugs buliding up lead in the barrel. How do you Deal?

mellow_c · November 25, 2014, 04:58 AM

When I started cleaning my Stevens 320 after shooting a bunch of bird shot and 25 slugs, I noticed there was a lot of lead build up in the first 1/4-1/3 of the barrel. I ran a brush through more times than I can remember following with patches, slip 2000, and working forever, over and over. Finally I started going back and forth changing directions inside the barrel (an apparent no no) in the areas with the heaviest leading with the brush. That scrubbing effect worked a lot better but it still took some time.

I haven't shot very many slugs from my shotguns. Should I expect this kind of lead build up with all my shotguns any time I shoot a bunch of slugs?

If so, what do you all recommend as the best way to remove it?

riflemen · November 25, 2014, 06:00 AM

get some copper chore boys, wrap some pieces around a smaller brush and run it through a few times, you will be amazed...

mellow_c · November 25, 2014, 06:37 PM

I checked around the net and the copper chore boy looks like some pretty good stuff for this use, with other people claiming they use it for the same thing.

Thanks riflemen

Bake · November 26, 2014, 04:15 PM

0000 steel wool, on a jag...

tango1niner · November 26, 2014, 07:55 PM

I use a bronze brush and Hoppes on a shotgun rod chucked in a 3/8" variable speed drill and slowly run it in and out until it is clean. You may also have a plastic build up from the wad.

edfrompa · November 26, 2014, 08:13 PM

That is a great idea!

gedenke · November 27, 2014, 01:28 AM

A note of caution on the chore boys...

The COPPER ones are hard to find. (Well, in my town they are.) Be careful that the ones you buy aren't copper PLATED steel. Most are.

FrankenMauser · November 27, 2014, 01:52 AM

Quote:

A note of caution on the chore boys...

The COPPER ones are hard to find. (Well, in my town they are.) Be careful that the ones you buy aren't copper PLATED steel. Most are.

Chore Boy brand scrubbers are copper.

It's the cheap off-brand crap that's plated steel.

Buy quality and don't worry about it.
Every grocery store and hardware store that I've frequented in the last 5 years has carried the Chore Boy scrubbers.
Hell, I was at a tack store earlier (you know... saddles, chaps, horse feed, etc), and even they had the Chore Boy brand copper scrubbers.

Yes, they're more expensive. That's because they're made from a better material.

You have to pay to play....

drcook · November 27, 2014, 06:16 PM

Pure Gum Turpentine, the real stuff, not the imitation stuff will help lift lead out also.

Folks in the BPCR crowd use turpentine when cleaning. It seems to get under the lead as I will get little flakes when cleaning my guns.

It won't hurt your gun (don't get it on the wood) and it won't hurt you, but it stinks. I wear rubber gloves when cleaning.

You can also make a "Bubba Hone" with a 3/8 dowel and some scotch brite. I have been polishing a barrel that had some reamer marks, and while it absolutely does not work as good as a real hone, it is smoothing my barrel up. Of course I am using a real coarse grade of scotch brite.

If you smooth the barrel out, it will reduce the tendency to lead. In the BPCR world, after shooting 100's (if not 1000's of rounds) barrels a being lapped by use. I also have some hand lapped barrels that don't lead as bad as a freshly machined one, simply because there is less "tooth" to grab the lead.

MarkCO · November 28, 2014, 02:51 PM

I use a flex hone to polish the bore and reduce the leading. Especially in less expensive shotguns, the bores will be rougher and the hone/polish improves accuracy and reduces the amount of cleaning needed. In most cases, a well polished bore does not even need to be cleaned anymore. A set of forcing cone hones from Brush Research with some oil is going to be under $100. Or you can take it to the gunsmith who will charge you $100 to do the work.

November 25, 2014, 04:58 AM	#1
mellow_c Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,862	Slugs buliding up lead in the barrel. How do you Deal? When I started cleaning my Stevens 320 after shooting a bunch of bird shot and 25 slugs, I noticed there was a lot of lead build up in the first 1/4-1/3 of the barrel. I ran a brush through more times than I can remember following with patches, slip 2000, and working forever, over and over. Finally I started going back and forth changing directions inside the barrel (an apparent no no) in the areas with the heaviest leading with the brush. That scrubbing effect worked a lot better but it still took some time. I haven't shot very many slugs from my shotguns. Should I expect this kind of lead build up with all my shotguns any time I shoot a bunch of slugs? If so, what do you all recommend as the best way to remove it?

November 26, 2014, 04:15 PM	#4
Bake Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2012 Location: San Joaquin Valley, Calif. Posts: 482	0000 steel wool, on a jag... __________________ 1. The pattern board is your friend, use the Dam thing!!! 2. The maximum range of a firearm and/or cartridge, is usually measured in miles, and means nothing. 2a. The effective range of a firearm and/or cartridge, is usually (the ability of the shooter) measured in yards, and means everything.

November 27, 2014, 01:28 AM	#7
gedenke Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2007 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 381	A note of caution on the chore boys... The COPPER ones are hard to find. (Well, in my town they are.) Be careful that the ones you buy aren't copper PLATED steel. Most are. __________________ There's an art...to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss!

November 27, 2014, 06:16 PM	#9
drcook Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2009 Posts: 285	Pure Gum Turpentine, the real stuff, not the imitation stuff will help lift lead out also. Folks in the BPCR crowd use turpentine when cleaning. It seems to get under the lead as I will get little flakes when cleaning my guns. It won't hurt your gun (don't get it on the wood) and it won't hurt you, but it stinks. I wear rubber gloves when cleaning. You can also make a "Bubba Hone" with a 3/8 dowel and some scotch brite. I have been polishing a barrel that had some reamer marks, and while it absolutely does not work as good as a real hone, it is smoothing my barrel up. Of course I am using a real coarse grade of scotch brite. If you smooth the barrel out, it will reduce the tendency to lead. In the BPCR world, after shooting 100's (if not 1000's of rounds) barrels a being lapped by use. I also have some hand lapped barrels that don't lead as bad as a freshly machined one, simply because there is less "tooth" to grab the lead. __________________ dr = david r. not Doctor, but thanks for the compliment, most folks just call me dave

November 28, 2014, 02:51 PM	#10
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,308	I use a flex hone to polish the bore and reduce the leading. Especially in less expensive shotguns, the bores will be rougher and the hone/polish improves accuracy and reduces the amount of cleaning needed. In most cases, a well polished bore does not even need to be cleaned anymore. A set of forcing cone hones from Brush Research with some oil is going to be under $100. Or you can take it to the gunsmith who will charge you $100 to do the work. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

November 25, 2014, 06:00 AM	#2
riflemen Junior member Join Date: November 18, 2014 Posts: 259	get some copper chore boys, wrap some pieces around a smaller brush and run it through a few times, you will be amazed...

November 25, 2014, 06:37 PM	#3
mellow_c Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,862	I checked around the net and the copper chore boy looks like some pretty good stuff for this use, with other people claiming they use it for the same thing. Thanks riflemen

November 26, 2014, 07:55 PM	#5
tango1niner Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2009 Location: NY Posts: 317	I use a bronze brush and Hoppes on a shotgun rod chucked in a 3/8" variable speed drill and slowly run it in and out until it is clean. You may also have a plastic build up from the wad.

November 26, 2014, 08:13 PM	#6
edfrompa Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 1999 Posts: 335	That is a great idea!