Cleaning/lead/steel wool?

L

LASER

Guest
My buddy and I are rookie rfbr shooters, having spent a while in cf. Today we went to the (indoor) range with an acknowledged rfbr veteran who has won on occasion. His views are contrary to many that I have heard. This individual is also a sweethart and I wish NOT to offend him. We were shooting at our local indoor range at 100'. He was there with various lots of ammo to help us out. While I am not the greatest shooter in the world, my buddy is right good and our mentor is damn good; I still question several of his views. He is very skeptical of tuners. My guess is that he has enough of a given batch of ammo for his non-tuner equipped gun to last him till.... Having said this there is a burning question in my mind. He mentioned that he uses steel wool to get the lead out of his bbls. He used a borescope on seven bbls one time, three he would have sworn there was no lead and they were absolutely clean. Significantly leaded up he claimed. I did not question or pursue the matter further. The matter came up when one gun quit shooting after it had been shooting the same stuff pretty well. I guess I need guidance and I am not sure what questions to ask. I daresay I recognise that this is a rather subjective arena, but ALL views will be appreciated. Thank you all very much.
LASER
 
#0000 steel wool will not hurt the bore. It does a fine job of removing carbon and lead.
A Bore Scope will prove it. One of the best GunSmiths uses it.
Shoot I'll duck !!
Fred K
 
Consider the source

Laser,

Don't believe all you hear.

Your experienced rimfire shooter friend has a most unconventional way to clean his rifle if he really uses 0000 steel wool. We have found that using a patch and rimfire blend or even lighter fluid will clean the grease and powder and lead from the bore. I know of no one using steel wool for the bore of a rifle. Someone may tell you that they use sand paper on their bore but I wouldn't do it to mine.

Most if not all of the top shooters in this game use tuners because they work. If you have a rifle that shoots good without a tuner, odds are that it will shoot better with one properly adjusted.

Concho Bill
 
There is at least one good gunsmith that uses this but to my knowledge only to do the throat and frankly it still scares me and if you use it for the lenght of the barrel you are going to round off the edges of your lands. There are great solvents and compounds that work well and are less severe, why tempt fate?
 
Bill
You know one !!! Me. There are others also. I use only in the first 2 or 3 inches.
It's used only when there is a build up of carbon or lead. There is no solvent that can remove lead.

Fred K
 
Fred K said:
Bill
You know one !!! Me. There are others also. I use only in the first 2 or 3 inches.
It's used only when there is a build up of carbon or lead. There is no solvent that can remove lead.

Fred K
Click to expand...

Sorry Fred, you are right. I now know that I know at least one person.

Let me ask you Fred, How do use the steel wool? I can see wrapping it around a wire brush.

Concho Bill
 
Sure Bill
Wrapped around a nylon brush. It is kindy like fine hair. You can barely see it on the brush.
Fred K
 
Fred K said:
Bill
You know one !!! Me. There are others also. I use only in the first 2 or 3 inches.
It's used only when there is a build up of carbon or lead. There is no solvent that can remove lead.

Fred K
Click to expand...

Wanna bet?
 
GOOGLE -- Results 1 - 10 of about 2,630,000 for lead solvents. (0.18 seconds)

#
Gun Cleaning Solvents Manufacturers
Manufacturers of chemicals for cleaning firearms, such as bore cleaner, copper solvents, lead removing solutions, nitro solvent, rust removers, ...
hunting.about.com/od/solvents/Gun_Cleaning_Solvents_Manufacturers.htm - 21k - Cached - Similar pages
#
Lead Solvents | Cleaning Fluids | Cleaning & Maintenance | 10ring ...
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www.10ring.com/cleaning-maintenance/cleaning-fluids/lead-solvents.php - 36k - Cached - Similar pages
 
Bronze Wool

Some use this also.Who knows what all is used ??
The Foodservice Folks also have some "just great carbon removers"
 
Geo.OR said:
GOOGLE -- Results 1 - 10 of about 2,630,000 for lead solvents. (0.18 seconds)

#
Gun Cleaning Solvents Manufacturers
Manufacturers of chemicals for cleaning firearms, such as bore cleaner, copper solvents, lead removing solutions, nitro solvent, rust removers, ...
hunting.about.com/od/solvents/Gun_Cleaning_Solvents_Manufacturers.htm - 21k - Cached - Similar pages
#
Lead Solvents | Cleaning Fluids | Cleaning & Maintenance | 10ring ...
At the Range In the Field Cleaning & Maintenance Cleaning Fluids Copper Solvents Lead Solvents Bore Solvents Black Powder Solvents Universal Cleaners ...
www.10ring.com/cleaning-maintenance/cleaning-fluids/lead-solvents.php - 36k - Cached - Similar pages
Click to expand...

Constructive post Geo.

Concho Bill
 
Shooter's Choice Lead Remover does not remove all the lead. I tried it for awhile.
Fred K
 
Fred: I respect your opinion and over the time I have been here on this fourm I have learned a great deal from your post. The question I have now is (Is there anything that will remove lead) It really bothers me to run steel wool down my barrels. Please enlighten me"". garrisone.
 
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Mercury will amalgamate or combine with lead. You can then sweep the amalgam out with fine steel wool or a good tight patch. I've used this on large bore centerfires simply because these are the only ones that accumulate much lead in the bore. Not to say it can't happen but never seen any lead deposited on any of my high quality barrels, especially low velocity lubricated rim fires. Mercury is not the safest of materials to handle but it may be the only thing that will "dissolve" lead and not attack steel.
 
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Mercury will amalgamate or combine with lead. You can then sweep the amalgam out with fine steel wool or a good tight patch. I've used this on large bore centerfires simply because these are the only ones that accumulate much lead in the bore. Not to say it can't happen but never seen any lead deposited on any of my high quality barrels. Mercury is not the safest of materials to handle but it may be the only thing that will "dissolve" lead and not attack steel.
 
garrisone
Yes, Remington Bore Cleaner, J-B Product. There other abrasive rifle products.
It will take a little elbow effort with abrasive products.
Rem Bore Cleaner and J-B will not harm the bore, both will also remove the carbon ring with a few strokes.

pacecil
I agree, however I have seen lead in the first 3 to 4 inches of high quality rimfire barrels. Easy to remove with steel wool (#0000) on a nylon brush, about 3 strokes.
Fred K
 
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