I read somewhere (I think it might have been in my Stoeger Cougar manual) that you should always clean the bore thoroughly after shooting non-jacketed lead bullets before switching to copper jacketed ones. In some way the copper jacket will cause the lead from the non-jacketed bullet to do damage to the barrel. Is this true? I've never had to think about it before I've owned a .357 magnum where I might be switching between .38 special wadcutters without a jacket to some .357 magnum load with a jacketed bullet.
Shooting jacketed bullets after non-jacketed
- Thread starter James H
- Start date
Ideal Tool
Moderator
Cleaning after Lead Before Jacketed?
Hello, James H. As Xfire68 posted..if there is severe leading, clean. However, during my IHMSA shooting, I was using a S&W Mod. 27 & S&W Mod.57. For the chickens and pigs, I used cast-bullets. Out on the turkeys and rams, I switched to jacketed. The only thing I did was run a bronze brush through a few passes..but their really wasn,t any lead in there. On the few occasions I forgot, bullet impact remained where it was supposed to..so I probably didn,t even need to do it..force of habit I guess. But again, these cast-bullet loads left NO leading.
Hello, James H. As Xfire68 posted..if there is severe leading, clean. However, during my IHMSA shooting, I was using a S&W Mod. 27 & S&W Mod.57. For the chickens and pigs, I used cast-bullets. Out on the turkeys and rams, I switched to jacketed. The only thing I did was run a bronze brush through a few passes..but their really wasn,t any lead in there. On the few occasions I forgot, bullet impact remained where it was supposed to..so I probably didn,t even need to do it..force of habit I guess. But again, these cast-bullet loads left NO leading.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
I've been mixing and matching 40 years without once encountering a problem. Is it remotely possible lead deposits could slow down a jacketed bullet enough to increase pressure measurably? Sure. Are all hypothetic pressure increases created equal? I'll believe it when I see it.
The bigger concern w/ going from lead to jacketed IMO is that the jacket can 'iron' any residual lead into your rifling, and this can affect your gun's accuracy. But not all loads are going to lead your bore. Wadcutters at standard pressures shouldn't be a problem. Just inspect the bore beforehand to determine if cleaning is worth the trouble.
And yes, a copper jacketed 22lr could do the same, but it's not likely that you're going to get a lot of leading from 22lr lead rounds.
The purported danger condition is when so much lead has built up that it's forced ahead of a jacketed bullet until the resistance creates a pressure spike in the bore.
And yes, a copper jacketed 22lr could do the same, but it's not likely that you're going to get a lot of leading from 22lr lead rounds.
The purported danger condition is when so much lead has built up that it's forced ahead of a jacketed bullet until the resistance creates a pressure spike in the bore.
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Bill DeShivs
New member
The .22lr bullets are plated, not jacketed-so it's not a concern.
Beretta puts a warning against the practice in all their pistol manuals.
Allan Jones of Speer recommends against the practice and states that: "In extreme cases, this can cause irreparable damage. I've seen revolver barrel throats deformed and thin-walled barrels bulged."
Obviously if you have a gun that doesn't lead much you can probably get away with it indefinitely. But that doesn't mean it's safe in any gun. I've seen at least one post, some years back, from a person who claimed to have shot 50 rounds of lead reloads followed by a factory jacketed round to "clean out the lead". It blew up his pistol instead.
Allan Jones of Speer recommends against the practice and states that: "In extreme cases, this can cause irreparable damage. I've seen revolver barrel throats deformed and thin-walled barrels bulged."
Obviously if you have a gun that doesn't lead much you can probably get away with it indefinitely. But that doesn't mean it's safe in any gun. I've seen at least one post, some years back, from a person who claimed to have shot 50 rounds of lead reloads followed by a factory jacketed round to "clean out the lead". It blew up his pistol instead.
Anyone who has read old gun magazines through the 70s and early 80s can attest to the fact that most gun writers used to recommend the practice to help clean the lead out before bringing the gun home.
I don't do it and specifically plan any jacketed or plated to be shot before I begin shooting with cast lead.
I don't do it and specifically plan any jacketed or plated to be shot before I begin shooting with cast lead.
billnourse
New member
When I was shooting PPC with a revolver and lead bullets, I always shot a few jacketed bullets after shooting the lead to wipe any lead from the barrel. I could then just clean the copper from the bore with a copper solvent. Never had a problem in 10,000's of 1,000's of rounds.
Bill
Bill
WANT A LCR 22LR
New member
Going from lead to jacketed can be a issue.
While experimenting with minimum 38 loads I worked up a reliable minimum jacketed and lead loads. ( got one stuck in the bore during the experiment so I know these loads are OK )
Ran about 20 lead then loaded up a cylinder of previously reliable jacketed. Pulled the trigger and promptly had one stick in the bore. Shooting lead got the bore dirty enough to increase friction.
While experimenting with minimum 38 loads I worked up a reliable minimum jacketed and lead loads. ( got one stuck in the bore during the experiment so I know these loads are OK )
Ran about 20 lead then loaded up a cylinder of previously reliable jacketed. Pulled the trigger and promptly had one stick in the bore. Shooting lead got the bore dirty enough to increase friction.
Stevie-Ray
New member
Same here with the 2 guns I shoot a lot of lead out of. Always followed with a few jacketed. Always changed the amount of cleaning required drastically.
WANT A LCR 22LR
New member
Only if you fire a second shot. Since I was working up very light loads I took care to only fire one round at a time and checked the bore after.
A revolver sounds much different when the bullet sticks in the bore. ( much quieter )
I've been firing jacketed bullets, after having fired lead bullets, for close to 40 years and haven't encountered a problem yet. On the contrary, the practice makes it possible to clean the barrel.
Here's a thread discussing the issue.
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=302172
Pay attention to 1911Tuner's comments. Tuner is a pistolsmith and is possibly the most knowledgeable person re guns on either the HighRoad or the Firingline.
Again, those of us who fire jacketed after lead have yet to see any adverse effects. If firing jacketed after lead creates pressure spikes, then so will firing lead after lead.
Here's a thread discussing the issue.
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=302172
Pay attention to 1911Tuner's comments. Tuner is a pistolsmith and is possibly the most knowledgeable person re guns on either the HighRoad or the Firingline.
Again, those of us who fire jacketed after lead have yet to see any adverse effects. If firing jacketed after lead creates pressure spikes, then so will firing lead after lead.
Although I have read the same; not to fire jacketed bullets after lead, I find that the jacketed bullets do not iron the lead, but tend to clean it to some extent.
I have not done this with a badly leaded barrel, but normally load a mag with one jacketed round. I find that makes it easier to clean.
Regards,
Jerry
I have not done this with a badly leaded barrel, but normally load a mag with one jacketed round. I find that makes it easier to clean.
Regards,
Jerry