I was not sure if I should put this in the rimfire or the full size hand-gun category but I suppose that it could apply to either so here goes.

I have been having trouble with my Smith and Wesson model 22A with leading in the barrels, it is bad enough that when I go to clean it I will run a boresnake through (I usually cant get it through until I've use some other form of brush to get part of the leading out) and long strands of lead will come spiraling out. I went today and shot 200 rounds over the course of several hours, I started out dinging inch metal spinners at 25 yards and ended it not even being able to put a round on paper at 6 ft (presumably because the bullets were being deformed and fragmenting?) I am looking for any ideas here on how to fix this, with some ammo it does not seem to be so severe, but it should never be that severe to begin with on any ammo. firelapping has been suggested and i'm considering it.

Thank you,

Marineman

Moved this into the Rimfire Handgun forum.

Question: Have you tried the plated bullets? Sounds like you're shooting the pure lead ones. Might not experience such problems with the plated ones.

Now - to lead a .22LR bore with standard velocity lead bullets the bore has to be in pretty rough shape. After you clean it, does it look pitted and rough inside? Lapping a bore will certainly smooth out tool marks and sharp edges on the lands, but you'd have to do a lot of lapping to get rid of pits. Probably remove all the rifling trying to get to the pits.

I'd try the plated bullets first, then determine if you need to do something different.

Sounds bad for a .22. The bullets havent had all the wax melted off them or something.

I have tried plated bullets and that does deal with the problem, there does not seem to be leading like with the non-plated ones. however, I do seem have a bright shiny bore (I checked for pitting and rust yesterday after I cleaned it) I suppose there could be some roughness I am unable to see. I clean it every time I shoot it and it is only 10 months old. I'll have to check and see if the bullets have had all of the wax melted off of them, I was unaware that could be a problem. thanks

marineman

This sounds like a lube problem or a barrel that is to small ! I have only had lead fouling like what you are discirbing when the lube failed or the load was to hot for the alloy ! Slug your bore but clean it with JB bore cleaner to start with ! I have never heard of this happening in a 22 rf ! Keep us posted as to what you do or find !JAGG

I'd wager that just putting a couple-dozen firelapping loads through the little gun will cure the problem! I've seen some really amazing transformations in problem firearms, including .22's through simply firelapping them.

God bless,

This thread is a couple of months old, but I wanted to put in my two cents worth. I had problems with severe leading in my stainless bull barrel on a Ruger Mk II. I was rapid firing Remington Thunderbolts and before long, the bullets were tumbling through the target. I had to literally pound out chunks of lead from the barrel. I initially suspected galling from poor lubricants on the Thunderbolts (stickiness of lead on stainless steel) but could never get anyone else to confirm my theory. I've since used Remingtons Golden Bullets (copper plated) without any problems. I've also come to suspect the Thunderbolts and won't shoot them in any of my 22's. I use the Golden Bullets in everything now with no fouling problems.