Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

mumbolia · Post by **mumbolia** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:34 am

I just picked up an a neat Whitney Kennedy large frame,(another one) in 45-60. The bore looks like it might clean up to exc. but is heavily leaded and deposited with crud. What the best way to get this crud out from the old timers? My first pass with usual cleaning techniques only touched the surface of the junk. When I examine it clsely with magnification, it looks like crud deposited with nice rifling underneith.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:52 am

mumbolia,

Wrap a bronze bristle brush in ChorBoy or some other brand of copper scrub pads so that it's a tight fit, and run that through the barrel. The copper scrubbers will literally peal the lead out.

ChoreBoyresults.JPG

Here is a pic of the results I got with the copper scrubbers and my Old Model Ruger BH. I could not get the lead out with normal brushes and solvent. A couple passes like this and it was CLEAN.
I've found that if you use the scrubber dry it works better. Hoppes acts like a lubricant and scrubber just slides over the lead.

Again, make sure the scrubber is copper. They do make them in steel that are copper colored. I take a magnet with me and check them before I buy.

Joe

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:12 am

Half and Half white vineager and hydrogen peroxide. Plug one end, pour in, let set for awhile. Eats lead like no one's business. Rinse well to stop reaction. Won't work on copper.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:25 am

A patch soaked in pure gum spirits of turpentine , shoved thru the bore on a tight fitting jag will pull more lead than you can imagine, even from supposedly "clean" barrels.

markinalpine · Post by **markinalpine** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:56 am

Run a patch dripping with Kroil through, and let it sit overnight.
Follow up with the Chore Boy method mentioned above, and just buy a genuine Chore Boy, don't waste your time with the chinese counterfeit junk. They cost more, but one will last you a long time time you only need a little to wrap the bore brush.
Mark

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:16 pm

If heavily leaded I use a foul out system. A buddy bought a 73 with a worn bore but we thought we'd try anyway. I got enough lead out of that thing to make a large fishing sinker. Worked pretty well but you gotta follow the directions. Tom

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:45 pm

This is why this forum is interesting. Five responses and five different methods to do the same thing.

Great info.

Joe

markinalpine · Post by **markinalpine** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:45 pm

J Miller wrote:This is why this forum is interesting. Five responses and five different methods to do the same thing.

Great info.

Joe

Just use all 5 methods. You'll be sure to have a clean barrel. Or a smooth bore!

Mark

Chas. · Post by **Chas.** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:52 pm

I second the Chore Boy method. Works for me. But there is a Lewis Lead Remover system sold by most firearm vendors that has a pretty good rep for success.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:20 pm

The thing about the turpentine, besides it working so well, is there's no abrasive, no chance of damaging an old soft iron bp steel barrel.
The Proshot lead cloth works well also, but its hard on metal finish.

mikld · Post by **mikld** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:39 pm

BlaineG wrote:Half and Half white vineager and hydrogen peroxide. Plug one end, pour in, let set for awhile. Eats lead like no one's business. Rinse well to stop reaction. Won't work on copper.

Yep, this works, BUT, don't leave it in the barrel longer than 1/2 hour or so. I used this mix in my Dan Weson .44, but I left it in for about 5 hours (I got busy with other things). It left small pits in the barrel. Soak for 10 minutes or so, drain, rinse, oil, and check the bore. Repeat as necessary...

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 10:58 am

mikld wrote:
BlaineG wrote:Half and Half white vineager and hydrogen peroxide. Plug one end, pour in, let set for awhile. Eats lead like no one's business. Rinse well to stop reaction. Won't work on copper.

Yep, this works, BUT, don't leave it in the barrel longer than 1/2 hour or so. I used this mix in my Dan Weson .44, but I left it in for about 5 hours (I got busy with other things). It left small pits in the barrel. Soak for 10 minutes or so, drain, rinse, oil, and check the bore. Repeat as necessary...

+1 this is a method where you do only this and nothing else while you're doing it. It works well but needs to be hands on because it works pretty quick and can be overdone. A bronze brush speeds up the process. Water mixed with baking soda, to neutralize the acidity of this concoction, doesn't hurt either before your final rinse.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:10 pm

Been there and done 'em every way mentioned above. They all work but...........my favorite is the Outers Foul Out system. Gets out everything---lead--copper--powder--rust--cobwebs

It does such a good job, it usually takes 10 or 15 shots just to get it shootin' right again.-------Sixgun

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 3:50 pm

I use J Miller's method, except I use extra fine steel wool. I also use extra fine steel wool with a drop of oil to take rust spots off my more valuable antique Winchesters. I've used extra fine steel wool for years and have yet to observe the faintest damage to 100-year old blueing. If it can't hurt the blueing, it certainly will not harm the bore.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:11 am

Sixgun wrote:Been there and done 'em every way mentioned above. They all work but...........my favorite is the Outers Foul Out system. Gets out everything---lead--copper--powder--rust--cobwebs

It does such a good job, it usually takes 10 or 15 shots just to get it shootin' right again.-------Sixgun

+1. In my experience, the only way to be certain the bore is free of all fouling. 1886.

Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

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Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

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Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????

Re: Best way to clean an old leaded barrel??????