Tired of crud in my gun!

chris in va · November 8, 2012, 09:47 AM

Fire 100 factory FMJ, my gun looks fine. Put the same LRN with Universal, PB, 231 or Unique through it and I have to break out the picks and scrape off the buildup around the bolt face. The feed ramp looks like a skunk's back.

Any powders out there that burn cleaner?

Stressfire · November 8, 2012, 09:52 AM

IMO, Unique is a bit on the dirty side.

I've been using Bullseye for 9mm - burns fast and fairly easy cleanup

What caliber are you loading and what bullets are you using?

floydster · November 8, 2012, 11:55 AM

I could never get away from the crude buildup shooting cast bullets no matter what gun or powder I use--I think it's just a part of shooting cast.

jimbob86 · November 8, 2012, 11:59 AM

Power Pistol burns cleaner than any of those you mentioned that I have used .... never used PB ..... and I have NEVER had a dirtier bore than when I shot 50 LRN bullets (factory) after shooting jacketed. I swore off lead. Plated are not that much more expensive.

moxie · November 8, 2012, 01:00 PM

The culprit is the lube on the cast bullets. Not very hard to get out with Hoppes.

Strafer Gott · November 8, 2012, 02:31 PM

+1 Moxie's got it. It's the generous shot of lube in the ring that make shooting cast a viable proposition. Those alox coated rounds might be less messy. I've only tried .38 HBWC lubed that way. The problem with Unique is it doesn't burn clean in light charges. So light target loads are positively smokey. When I load 148gr DEWC with a charge of unique at 5 grains and up, the gun runs much cleaner. These rounds need to upset a little, so the load works out.

FrankenMauser · November 8, 2012, 07:35 PM

If ALL of those powders gave you incredibly nasty buildup in your firearm(s), I would suspect one or more of the following:

1. It's the bullet (and/or its lube), not the powder.
2. You're running insanely light loads, and need to step it up a bit.
3. The lubricant you're using for the firearm(s) is collecting far too much crap, and should be changed.

You shouldn't have to scrape your pistols clean, after running lead bullets.

dahermit · November 8, 2012, 09:57 PM

Quote:

The culprit is the lube on the cast bullets. Not very hard to get out with Hoppes.

Not only does the bullet lube on the cast bullets leave waxy carbon deposits (which hurt nothing), it makes for noticeable (compared to jacketed bullets), smoke when firing. You can have clean (jacketed bullets) or you can have dirty (cast bullets), but low-cost.

joneb · November 8, 2012, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Any powders out there that burn cleaner?

What cartridge are you loading ?

mmb713 · November 8, 2012, 10:37 PM

Switch to plated bullets if the crud is bugging you. In my experience Universal is far cleaner than anything loaded in factory ammo. If factory ammo isn't fouling your gun like your reloads its the lead bullets/lube, not the powder. Universal and plated bullets in my guns = clean shooting.

chris in va · November 8, 2012, 10:54 PM

9mm, Lee 125 RN, JPW/mineral spirits tumble lubed.

So all that black crap in my gun is from the lube? I may try Power pistol just for the heck of it.

FrankenMauser · November 8, 2012, 11:04 PM

If you're tumble-lubing with JPW, I would say the lube is definitely a big contributor. The additional carbon residue just happens to stick to it very easily.

joneb · November 8, 2012, 11:08 PM

Well you have had some good responses here. To light of a load produces powder residue, and some powders smoke the lube worst than others. And some bullet lubes are just a mess regardless the charge.
As far as powder goes VV n330 and WSF are very clean but the bullet lube maybe the deciding factor here.

warningshot · November 9, 2012, 03:06 AM

If w231 or Bullseye is too dirty a powder in any loading for a .38 special, 9mm or .45acp, then I'd recommend a career move into air guns.

unclekuster · November 10, 2012, 11:36 AM

LMAO, I started out loading my 45 with Unique, Have since heard this powder referred to as "Flammable Dirt", and I would agree. since switched to Clay's, much cleaner, Enjoy you shoot !

chris in va · November 10, 2012, 07:35 PM

I may switch back to Universal. Any powders known for burning cleaner at lower charge weights?

joneb · November 10, 2012, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Any powders known for burning cleaner at lower charge weights?

VV N310.

PA-Joe · November 10, 2012, 08:48 PM

As noted it is the lead bullets and lube. Switch to a plated lead bullet. These are much cheaper then jacketed bullets.

jepp2 · November 10, 2012, 08:55 PM

Quote:

As noted it is the lead bullets and lube. Switch to a plated lead bullet. These are much cheaper then jacketed bullets.

Plated or jacketed will result in a cleaner handgun.

I find I can buy 115 gr. Jacketed for less than any plated bullets. YMMV

mumbo719 · November 11, 2012, 06:18 PM

Switch to a plated bullet and try AA #5

tkglazie · November 12, 2012, 10:46 AM

+1 on the VV powders

To be honest, unless you are casting your own lead bullets I agree with those that say just shoot plated or jacketed. For .380/9mm it is easy to stay in the 7-8cent range for plated, and 9 cents for jacketed. The lead that I shoot I do so for accuracy reasons, not cost. My SR1911 and my wife's SP101 prefer lead so lead they get. I am phasing out the lead in my .380s/9mms because I am seeing the same or better results with plated.

November 8, 2012, 09:47 AM	#1
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Tired of crud in my gun! Fire 100 factory FMJ, my gun looks fine. Put the same LRN with Universal, PB, 231 or Unique through it and I have to break out the picks and scrape off the buildup around the bolt face. The feed ramp looks like a skunk's back. Any powders out there that burn cleaner?

November 8, 2012, 09:52 AM	#2
Stressfire Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,497	IMO, Unique is a bit on the dirty side. I've been using Bullseye for 9mm - burns fast and fairly easy cleanup What caliber are you loading and what bullets are you using? __________________ "The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank" - Montgomery Scott

November 8, 2012, 07:35 PM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	If ALL of those powders gave you incredibly nasty buildup in your firearm(s), I would suspect one or more of the following: 1. It's the bullet (and/or its lube), not the powder. 2. You're running insanely light loads, and need to step it up a bit. 3. The lubricant you're using for the firearm(s) is collecting far too much crap, and should be changed. You shouldn't have to scrape your pistols clean, after running lead bullets. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

November 8, 2012, 11:04 PM	#12
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	If you're tumble-lubing with JPW, I would say the lube is definitely a big contributor. The additional carbon residue just happens to stick to it very easily. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

November 10, 2012, 11:36 AM	#15
unclekuster Member Join Date: May 12, 2012 Posts: 29	Unique ? LMAO, I started out loading my 45 with Unique, Have since heard this powder referred to as "Flammable Dirt", and I would agree. since switched to Clay's, much cleaner, Enjoy you shoot !

November 8, 2012, 11:55 AM	#3
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	I could never get away from the crude buildup shooting cast bullets no matter what gun or powder I use--I think it's just a part of shooting cast.

November 8, 2012, 11:59 AM	#4
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	Power Pistol burns cleaner than any of those you mentioned that I have used .... never used PB ..... and I have NEVER had a dirtier bore than when I shot 50 LRN bullets (factory) after shooting jacketed. I swore off lead. Plated are not that much more expensive.

November 8, 2012, 01:00 PM	#5
moxie Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2006 Location: TX Posts: 513	The culprit is the lube on the cast bullets. Not very hard to get out with Hoppes. __________________ If you want to shoot...shoot...don't talk! Tuco USAF Munitions 1969-1992 RVN 1972-1973

November 8, 2012, 02:31 PM	#6
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	+1 Moxie's got it. It's the generous shot of lube in the ring that make shooting cast a viable proposition. Those alox coated rounds might be less messy. I've only tried .38 HBWC lubed that way. The problem with Unique is it doesn't burn clean in light charges. So light target loads are positively smokey. When I load 148gr DEWC with a charge of unique at 5 grains and up, the gun runs much cleaner. These rounds need to upset a little, so the load works out.

November 8, 2012, 10:37 PM	#10
mmb713 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 421	Switch to plated bullets if the crud is bugging you. In my experience Universal is far cleaner than anything loaded in factory ammo. If factory ammo isn't fouling your gun like your reloads its the lead bullets/lube, not the powder. Universal and plated bullets in my guns = clean shooting.

November 8, 2012, 10:54 PM	#11
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	9mm, Lee 125 RN, JPW/mineral spirits tumble lubed. So all that black crap in my gun is from the lube? I may try Power pistol just for the heck of it.

November 8, 2012, 11:08 PM	#13
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	Well you have had some good responses here. To light of a load produces powder residue, and some powders smoke the lube worst than others. And some bullet lubes are just a mess regardless the charge. As far as powder goes VV n330 and WSF are very clean but the bullet lube maybe the deciding factor here.

November 9, 2012, 03:06 AM	#14
warningshot Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2009 Posts: 995	If w231 or Bullseye is too dirty a powder in any loading for a .38 special, 9mm or .45acp, then I'd recommend a career move into air guns.

November 10, 2012, 07:35 PM	#16
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I may switch back to Universal. Any powders known for burning cleaner at lower charge weights?

November 10, 2012, 08:48 PM	#18
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	As noted it is the lead bullets and lube. Switch to a plated lead bullet. These are much cheaper then jacketed bullets.

November 11, 2012, 06:18 PM	#20
mumbo719 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Tampa Bay, FL. Posts: 346	Switch to a plated bullet and try AA #5 __________________ CZ 75 P-01 . CZ-75B . CZ 912 . CZ 920 . Glock 26 Gen 3 . Kimber Pro Crimson Carry . XDm 45 3.8 Compact . Ruger 22/45 MKIII

November 12, 2012, 10:46 AM	#21
tkglazie Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2011 Posts: 558	+1 on the VV powders To be honest, unless you are casting your own lead bullets I agree with those that say just shoot plated or jacketed. For .380/9mm it is easy to stay in the 7-8cent range for plated, and 9 cents for jacketed. The lead that I shoot I do so for accuracy reasons, not cost. My SR1911 and my wife's SP101 prefer lead so lead they get. I am phasing out the lead in my .380s/9mms because I am seeing the same or better results with plated.