humidity and leading

skizzums · July 23, 2013, 11:57 PM

hey guys, the last 7-8 times ive went out and shot my pitols, i only used my lead cast reloads and havent had any leading. a couple days ago, i was using the same ammo ive been using, no changes in size, cast, powder or oal, and i only got about 40 shots out before it started raining. i got home and im fouled to all hell. and other times i shot hundreds of rounds with no issues. so any correlation with it being 100 degrees wth 95%-100% humidity and leading?

WESHOOT2 · July 24, 2013, 05:16 AM

How about the bore condition?

mehavey · July 24, 2013, 05:28 AM

Quote:

....any correlation with it being 100 degrees wth 95%-100% humidity and leading?

Absolutely. Sometimes modern guns are smarter than modern people.

_________________________
only Mad Dogs and Englishmen... go out in the mid day sun.

Daffy · July 24, 2013, 06:00 AM

Could be your lube not doing its job due to temp?

jaguarxk120 · July 24, 2013, 06:43 AM

After 7-8 times out, isn't it about time to clean the gun?

Mike / Tx · July 24, 2013, 02:01 PM

The heat probably had more to do with it than anything. Some lubes hold up to it some don't.

Are you casting your own, if so what are you using for lube?

Paul B. · July 24, 2013, 02:12 PM

I'm not sure.

I know high humidity can cause problems casting bullets but I've never heard of it's being a causitive of leading. I'm inclined to think bullet size or lube failure to be more likely rather than the rain or humidity.
Were these store bought cast bullets or your own home made? What were they sized to? Are they of the proper hardnes for your load? I'm afraid I have more questions that answers.
I have a friend that competes in cast bullet matches up in vancouver WA. Probably 80 percent of the time it's in the rain, snow or fog. We E-mail back and forth quite a bit and discuss cast bullet shooting as a matter of course. AFAIK, he's never complained about excessive leading under those weather conditions. He does gripe about having to shoot prone on that wet ground.
I'd be more incline to think an inproperly sized bullet left some lead in the barrel and the subsequent shot just added more to the barrel. Either that or lube failure.
Paul B.

adrians · July 24, 2013, 02:20 PM

I'll put my pennies on lube brakedown..

skizzums · July 24, 2013, 09:02 PM

could be a lube issue since this box was in my car for a good bit of the day. its the batch of lead ive been using for months, so theres no difference between it and any other day except for temp variance. i will take the rest of that box with me and a box that has been stored properly and see if i see any difference, thanks for the pointer on lube breakdown, that didnt cross my mind.

yes, these are store bought, but i bought one large batch of 2k, and havent had any problems except for that day. i clean my guns after every shoot, no matter how small.

mehavey · July 25, 2013, 12:06 PM

While black powder lube effectiveness is definitely affected by Temp/Humidity
(high temp/low humidity is bad) for keeping fouling soft, I've never heard
of smokeless lube being similarly affected in being unable to form a gas
cocoon around the bullet in it's travel.

July 23, 2013, 11:57 PM	#1
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	humidity and leading hey guys, the last 7-8 times ive went out and shot my pitols, i only used my lead cast reloads and havent had any leading. a couple days ago, i was using the same ammo ive been using, no changes in size, cast, powder or oal, and i only got about 40 shots out before it started raining. i got home and im fouled to all hell. and other times i shot hundreds of rounds with no issues. so any correlation with it being 100 degrees wth 95%-100% humidity and leading?

July 24, 2013, 05:16 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	dew doo How about the bore condition? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

July 24, 2013, 02:01 PM	#6
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	The heat probably had more to do with it than anything. Some lubes hold up to it some don't. Are you casting your own, if so what are you using for lube? __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

July 24, 2013, 02:12 PM	#7
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	I'm not sure. I know high humidity can cause problems casting bullets but I've never heard of it's being a causitive of leading. I'm inclined to think bullet size or lube failure to be more likely rather than the rain or humidity. Were these store bought cast bullets or your own home made? What were they sized to? Are they of the proper hardnes for your load? I'm afraid I have more questions that answers. I have a friend that competes in cast bullet matches up in vancouver WA. Probably 80 percent of the time it's in the rain, snow or fog. We E-mail back and forth quite a bit and discuss cast bullet shooting as a matter of course. AFAIK, he's never complained about excessive leading under those weather conditions. He does gripe about having to shoot prone on that wet ground. I'd be more incline to think an inproperly sized bullet left some lead in the barrel and the subsequent shot just added more to the barrel. Either that or lube failure. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

July 24, 2013, 06:00 AM	#4
Daffy Member Join Date: December 24, 2012 Posts: 63	Could be your lube not doing its job due to temp?

July 24, 2013, 06:43 AM	#5
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	After 7-8 times out, isn't it about time to clean the gun?

July 24, 2013, 02:20 PM	#8
adrians Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2010 Location: mountain view ,ar. Posts: 184	I'll put my pennies on lube brakedown..

July 24, 2013, 09:02 PM	#9
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	could be a lube issue since this box was in my car for a good bit of the day. its the batch of lead ive been using for months, so theres no difference between it and any other day except for temp variance. i will take the rest of that box with me and a box that has been stored properly and see if i see any difference, thanks for the pointer on lube breakdown, that didnt cross my mind. yes, these are store bought, but i bought one large batch of 2k, and havent had any problems except for that day. i clean my guns after every shoot, no matter how small.

July 25, 2013, 12:06 PM	#10
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,897	While black powder lube effectiveness is definitely affected by Temp/Humidity (high temp/low humidity is bad) for keeping fouling soft, I've never heard of smokeless lube being similarly affected in being unable to form a gas cocoon around the bullet in it's travel.