why i'm sticking with FMJ

linux_author · April-11-19 14:04

hey folks - just came back from a foray to an outdoor range (i'm a new member, and the range has 25-, 50- and 100-yard sections, and is only 10 minutes from the casa - whoo hoo!) ...

but today i went to the schtumpy pistol section and ran 100 rounds of PPU 158gr semi-wadcutter through an old Smith snubby I had on hand... the stuff generates so much smoke that it's almost like shooting black powder, and i find it inconsiderate to use at my indoor range...

got home and went to the bench to do a cleanup, took one look and decided to let the bore soak in some Ed's Red for several hours...

here is just a small sample of what subsequently came out:

i've only been shooting FMJ since getting back into to shooting the last couple years, and forgot about leading...

the good news is that the old Smith Schnubster is sparkly clean again - the better news is that i'm gonna stick with FMJ from now on..

willie
on the Gulf of Mexico

OV-1D · April-11-19 15:04

Wadcutters are sure prone to leaving lots of lead behind being so soft , cheap but messy . That's what I've found anyhow , now you .

Dinadan · April-11-19 19:04

I like semi jacketed hollow points for my centerfire revolvers. That way the lead is not touching the bore. Some lead ammo is a lot worse than others when it come to fouling a bore. It seems that way to me, anyway.

Warthog · April-11-19 22:04

Lead bullets pushed too fast or made with an alloy that is too soft, or both will lead a barrel. Properly loaded and/or cast will not leave a lot of lead in the rifling. There will be leading, but not that much. Copper jackets leave copper in the rifling, so either way you will get metal deposits. I shoot my own castings often and haven't been troubled by it. I clean my guns after each range trip. Either way, cast or jacketed bullets you are going to have metal left in the barrel.

jennflip · April-12-19 08:04

Nawww this must be a joke---you actually cleaned this out of a barrel of a pistol?? Not a cannon or 16 inch battleship barrel???

RogueTS1 · April-12-19 08:04

Holy cow! That is a lot of leading for a snubby. He!!................ that is a lot of leading for anything.

bearcatter · April-12-19 09:04

With short barrels, FMJ is best for SD anyway. Does better penetration than HP. HP is likely to just leave a nasty shallow wound, which hurts like hell but doesn't shut down the bad guy.

Canoeal · April-12-19 09:04

A .357 shooting .38 special?

OV-1D · April-12-19 12:04

Quote from: RogueTS1 on April-12-19 08:04
Holy cow! That is a lot of leading for a snubby. He!!................ that is a lot of leading for anything.

You know I was thinking that same thing , it amazes me it didn't create a bigger problem . Must have been spitting like a dragons breath .

linux_author · April-13-19 08:04

Quote from: Canoeal on April-12-19 09:04
A .357 shooting .38 special?

nope, Smith And Wesson Pre- Model 10 .38 special schnubster...

good thing i didn't buy a whole lot of the ammo!

willie
on the Gulf of Mexico

Oddball · May-28-19 09:05

I have never seen that much detritus removed from a barrel. Is the cylinder locking up properly? It almost looks like the bullets are being shaved and then just rattling around in the barrel. I'm not sure a mechanical issue would cause that amount of lead deposit in a barrel but I'd definitely check it just to be safe.
I run cheap Magtech full wadcutter through my revolvers regularly and have never had that much leading.