Lead Semi-Wadcutter removing Bluing?

S.F.S · June 2, 2001, 11:22 PM

I was at the range earlier today and bought some Semi-wadcutter (which I have never used before) reloads from them to shoot out of my .357 GP100. I came in this evening to clean the revolver up with some Hoppe's #9 which I have used in the past. And to my suprise and ANGER the bluing is gone off the front of the cylinder and the forcing cone. Did the lead eat away at it or what? The gun sat for about 8 hrs before I cleaned it, which I have done before. Now I am wondering if the lead ate away at it in that time frame. Please help here guys...

zot · June 3, 2001, 12:41 AM

I think your looking at lead melted on blued steel?use a
brush with some more Hoppes #9 and let it sit. its a illusion, some lead alloys tend to have more tin and are harder to remove. scared me a few times. if your blueing is really GONE then I'd say some corrisive primers were used
in reloads, just a thought, hope its just needs more cleaning.

S.F.S · June 3, 2001, 01:12 AM

Hey Zot,
What type of brushes would I need? Im using an oid toothbrush at the present time and that is not cutting it, it always did before but I have never used this type of ammo either I have always used either jacketed or soft point never a lead semi-wadcutter..
Also why is the wadcutter so much dirtier than the soft points?
I would appreciate any help you can give me...
Scott

Dfariswheel · June 3, 2001, 01:14 AM

I second Zot, you're seeing a thin "flash" plating of lead deposited on the cylinder. DON'T use a lead removal cloth. These are great for stainless, but really will remove the blue. Use a brass tooth-type brush and bore solvent to remove.
Unless it builds up and interferes with cylinder rotation, you can just leave it.

zot · June 3, 2001, 01:24 AM

right on Dfariswhee, use a brass brush, the plastic brushes don't cut it,and if it works don't worry, be happy!

Dfariswheel · June 3, 2001, 10:20 PM

A couple of years ago, somebody was selling a liguid that was supossed to clean the cylinder face. I can't remember if it was only for stainlees, and I haven't seen it for a while.

S.F.S · June 3, 2001, 10:43 PM

Hey guys thanks for you replys, I went and bought a bronze tooth style brush and will clean her up tomorrow and will let you know what happens.
Why are the semi-wadcutter so much dirtier than then soft points?
It left so much lead in my barrel I had to use a my .40 cal. bronze bore brush to clean it, the .357 bore brush was just not cutting through the lead in the barrel or the cylinders.
Thanks
Scott

Dfariswheel · June 4, 2001, 10:58 PM

Since wadcutters have a square shoulder, they tend to shed lead worse than the round shoulderless bullets.
To make it easy to clean the lead out of the barrel and forcing cone, buy a Lewis remover kit.

S.F.S · June 5, 2001, 04:02 PM

Hey guys Thanks alot,
I went and got myself a brass brush, put some hoppe's on it and it came off, appreciate the advive.
Scott

June 2, 2001, 11:22 PM	#1
S.F.S Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2001 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 469	I was at the range earlier today and bought some Semi-wadcutter (which I have never used before) reloads from them to shoot out of my .357 GP100. I came in this evening to clean the revolver up with some Hoppe's #9 which I have used in the past. And to my suprise and ANGER the bluing is gone off the front of the cylinder and the forcing cone. Did the lead eat away at it or what? The gun sat for about 8 hrs before I cleaned it, which I have done before. Now I am wondering if the lead ate away at it in that time frame. Please help here guys...

June 3, 2001, 12:41 AM	#2
zot Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 1999 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 566	I think your looking at lead melted on blued steel?use a brush with some more Hoppes #9 and let it sit. its a illusion, some lead alloys tend to have more tin and are harder to remove. scared me a few times. if your blueing is really GONE then I'd say some corrisive primers were used in reloads, just a thought, hope its just needs more cleaning.

June 3, 2001, 01:12 AM	#3
S.F.S Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2001 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 469	Hey Zot, What type of brushes would I need? Im using an oid toothbrush at the present time and that is not cutting it, it always did before but I have never used this type of ammo either I have always used either jacketed or soft point never a lead semi-wadcutter.. Also why is the wadcutter so much dirtier than the soft points? I would appreciate any help you can give me... Scott

June 3, 2001, 01:14 AM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	I second Zot, you're seeing a thin "flash" plating of lead deposited on the cylinder. DON'T use a lead removal cloth. These are great for stainless, but really will remove the blue. Use a brass tooth-type brush and bore solvent to remove. Unless it builds up and interferes with cylinder rotation, you can just leave it.

June 3, 2001, 01:24 AM	#5
zot Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 1999 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 566	right on Dfariswhee, use a brass brush, the plastic brushes don't cut it,and if it works don't worry, be happy!

June 3, 2001, 10:20 PM	#6
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	A couple of years ago, somebody was selling a liguid that was supossed to clean the cylinder face. I can't remember if it was only for stainlees, and I haven't seen it for a while.

June 3, 2001, 10:43 PM	#7
S.F.S Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2001 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 469	Hey guys thanks for you replys, I went and bought a bronze tooth style brush and will clean her up tomorrow and will let you know what happens. Why are the semi-wadcutter so much dirtier than then soft points? It left so much lead in my barrel I had to use a my .40 cal. bronze bore brush to clean it, the .357 bore brush was just not cutting through the lead in the barrel or the cylinders. Thanks Scott

June 4, 2001, 10:58 PM	#8
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Since wadcutters have a square shoulder, they tend to shed lead worse than the round shoulderless bullets. To make it easy to clean the lead out of the barrel and forcing cone, buy a Lewis remover kit.

June 5, 2001, 04:02 PM	#9
S.F.S Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2001 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 469	Hey guys Thanks alot, I went and got myself a brass brush, put some hoppe's on it and it came off, appreciate the advive. Scott