best way to remove lead from 9mm bore?

B

bamaranger

New member
I helped load 1000 rds of 9mm lead bullets for a pal on my Dillon press. Used a minimum charge of Unique, shot a mag or two to confirm the pistol would run/cylcle, then loaded the bunch.

He's called, his bore is badly leaded and he's having trouble getting the lead out.
Bristle brush and foaming bore cleaners (he says) are not touching it.

Somebody recommend a good "get the lead out" cleaning method. In the old days we used a Lewis Lead Remover tool.
 
A patch and jag, a copper brush, along with with a solvent that removes lead/carbon fouling.

I would have to think he either has the wrong solvent, or is not using a brush while also not running enough patches through.

If you don't have a solvent meant for lead, it won't remove it very well.

Some are meant for lead, some for copper, some for both, and some for neither. Depends on what you use.
 
Tell your buddy to try outers lead out. It electronally removes lead from a barrel, w/o elbow grease. It might cost a few $$$ but in the long run I believe it is worth it. JMHO. I think Midway or Cabelas has it. Good luck in your quest.
 
This is really dead simple and will not require any special solvents or gadgets. Just go to the supermarket and purchase a copper chore boy pot and pan cleaning pad. COPPER. They also come in other brand names, makes not a whit of difference. It is a kind of woven thing. Use scissors and cut a piece off. Use a worn out, or even a new bore brush and kind of wrap the strands around it. Insert from the breach and comence removing lead. Works like a charm for literally pennies. It may take some trial and error to determine just how much to wrap around the brush, that part is easier for you to do and discover, than for me to try and convey in print. Someone is bound to trot along and tell you to shoot some jacketed stuff through it to blast out the lead. Ignore that advice.
 
I use SHOOTERS CHOICE lead remover

Hi,
I shoot lead bullets in all my handguns (0.45,0357,0.357 Sig,9m and 0.40)
On average I shoot at least 400 rounds a month (every month) with each of them.
When I am back form the range a quick scrub with a bronze brush dipped in Shooter's Choice lead remover takes care of the fouling very easily.

After this a couple of patches to dry the bore and the barrel is thoroughly clean.

It does not harm the blueing either.


Brgds,
Danny
 
If you have a cast lead bullet load that causes leading. After firing two mags or so of the offending load, fire 3 or so rounds of jacketed bullet ammo. It will remove the lead. Note: "Correct" loads do not lead. If you are getting leading, something in the load should be changed.
If you are going to cast your own bullets for a 9mm, consider the 125 grain RCBS 9mm mould that drops a gas check bullet. It will avoid most leading problems in 9mm.
 
I second the idea of wrapping Chore Boy around a bore brush. Works like a charm. As an alternative, plain bronze wool (available in most hardware stores) wrapped around a brush works equally well. The idea is to increase the diameter of the brushing surface enough to produce significantly greater friction than would be obtained just by using the brush. Determining how much to wrap is a matter of trial and error. Start with a small quantity and slowly build it up until the brush fits tightly in the bore but not so tightly that you have to force it in. Another possibility is to run a brush down the bore that is slightly larger in diameter than the 9mm round. For example, I often use a .223 brush to give a really good cleaning to the chambers of my .22 caliber revolvers. The brush will not go in easily but that's the point. I'll work the brush in slowly, then rotate it a few times and back it out. That technique renders the chambers spotless.
 
well......

I did not realize the Lewis tool was still on the market.

The cleaner is break free's copper remover, and is not touching the lead.

He likely shot a bunch of the stuff before cleaning which has made the prob worse.

The prob with the load, I think, is commercial lead bullets that are to soft.
We do anymore, I'll reduce the load further, to reduce velocity.

I'm intrigued by the pot scrubber idea and will pass it along. Shooting jacketed bullets only seems to iron the lead out, not remove it.

Did I miss it, is there a recommended lead solvent. Recall Shooters Choice mentioned.
 
Used a minimum charge of Unique, shot a mag or two to confirm the pistol would run/cylcle, then loaded the bunch.
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A minimum charge for what? Lead? Plated? Jacketed?

"Correct" loads do not lead. If you are getting leading, something in the load should be changed.
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I agree, except for extremely soft bullets. (But, those soft alloys should probably only be going down the barrel of a muzzle loader, so the bullet would be the wrong part of the load.)


As far as removal -
My dad prefers the Lewis Tool.
I, personally, never let the leading get bad. All of my loads are tuned for almost zero lead deposition. When I do have to scrub it, I just go for a stiff bronze brush.
 
checked my notes......he got it clean

checked my notes, the load was 4.3 grs unique, from the Speer #13 manual for 125 gr lead. I cannot advise who made the lead RN's we loaded.

Talked to the guy again tonight. He soaked the bbl 24 hrs in a jar filled w/ hoppe's #9, then went to bristle brush, .40 cal size, Thinks he got it all.

This weekend, I'm taking some JB paste over and we're gonna JB the snot out of it and call it done.
 
checked my notes, the load was 4.3 grs unique, from the Speer #13 manual for 125 gr lead. I cannot advise who made the lead RN's we loaded.
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You were right: bad bullets.

Most of my 122-125gr loads (average hardness for commercial "hard-cast") are pushed by 4.6gr of Unique, which is extremely tame in my family's 9x19s. I was able to test up to 5.1gr before leading was apparent. (but still not bad)
 
Way easier (effortless) than anything else I've seen:

Plug the bore and fill it with 1/2 brown bottle hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 vinegar. Let it sit for 20-30 minues and rinse the lead out. It turns lead into a liquid goop. Don't drink it or rub it in your eye or use without ventilation. As long as it bubbles, you have lead in the barrel. When the bubbles stop, you're done.

9MM note: I used lead only 9MM rounds once and leaded my Star up like crazy. Jacketed only for me from now on. 9MM seems to go a bit too quickly for lead-only bullets.
 
Plug the bore and fill it with 1/2 brown bottle hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 vinegar. Let it sit for 20-30 minues and rinse the lead out. It turns lead into a liquid goop. Don't drink it or rub it in your eye or use without ventilation.
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...or get it on your skin. It is a poison that can be absorbed through the skin.
 
Quote:
checked my notes, the load was 4.3 grs unique, from the Speer #13 manual for 125 gr lead. I cannot advise who made the lead RN's we loaded.

You were right: bad bullets.

Most of my 122-125gr loads (average hardness for commercial "hard-cast") are pushed by 4.6gr of Unique, which is extremely tame in my family's 9x19s. I was able to test up to 5.1gr before leading was apparent. (but still not bad)
Click to expand...

Maybe not bad bullets, could be the load.

I had some problems trying to work up a load for .45acp LRN bullets. You have to have enough preasure for a lead bullet to obturate the bore. You want the bullet to slightly expand sealing the bore so there is no leading caused by the bullet skimming across the bore. If the bullet doesn't seal with the bore, hot gas will get between the lead projectile, and the bore, causing leading. This was the issue I was having, and after I went up in my powder charge, the leading all but disappeared. If he's having leading at 4.3 gns of Unique, and your not at 4.6, then he might want to bump his loads up a bit.

It worked for me, but it took a few hundred rounds to get the right load.

As far as removing lead goes, you might want to soak your barrel for 6 or 7 hours with Kroil. Kroil is a penetrating oil that gets under the lead, and allows you to get it out. You also want to make sure your barrel is free of any copper, or lead before shooting lead. It helps, trust me.
 
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