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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Lead sparkles on the patch (Read 5751 times)
Irascible
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Lead sparkles on the patch
Jun 7th, 2014 at 9:46pm
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Working with my new 32 MS. I shot 20 - 1 alloy bullets from my Saeco tapered mould and my Hoch nose pour with no signs of problems. Went out today with my new Darr designed Hoch base pour spitzer and although it is extremely accurate, I'm somewhat worried by the small flakes of lead on the 1st two cleaning patches. Flakes maybe too harsh a word, sparkly bits may be more descriptive. This bullet has, to me at least, VERY small shallow lube grooves. No other bullet has shown anything. The load was 10.5/#9 with a cork wad .100" off the powder. The lube was an Emmerts variation; 6 parts B wax, 4 parts Crisco solid and 1 part Lanolin.
Oh yea, the last group shot today, at 50 yds, was 6 shots with a center to center spread of .052"! 3/8" group less the bullet dia of .323
Should I worry?
« Last Edit: Jun 7th, 2014 at 10:16pm by Irascible »  
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GWarden
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #1 - Jun 7th, 2014 at 10:27pm
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Sometimes what appears to be lead,and looks like the small sparkly bits you mentioned is not lead. Best way to check if it is lead I found is to rub my finger across the patch with the sparkly bits. If the bits disappear, it was not lead, if it remains- lead.
Bob
  

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Jerry_H
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #2 - Jun 7th, 2014 at 11:36pm
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And if it is lead, who cares, as long as it still shoots? A few specs of lead never worry me. 

Jerry_H
  
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40_Rod
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #3 - Jun 8th, 2014 at 8:42am
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If it’s the one I’m thinking of it has 3 shallow lube grooves. I have used this bullet with no trouble and so have others. However one of the shooters I see at Etna Green every year reports that while that bullet shoots fine in Indiana and at home in Ohio, when he goes to Phoenix in the winter it leads like crazy. Hot drier climates require more lube. In my opinion you are on the raggedy edge on lube. As long as it shoots well shoot it, but keep an eye on it. As soon as the groups start to open up clean and then run a patch with lanolin down the bore. Fire a fouler or two and go back to work.

40 Rod
  
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Irascible
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #4 - Jun 8th, 2014 at 12:22pm
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Gee, sounds like a black powder thing. Hotter, Drier, = more lube. At least I don't have to use the blow tube.
Pure Lanolin down the bore hey. I'll try it. Should I leave it in the bore for the 1st shot?
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #5 - Jun 8th, 2014 at 12:32pm
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i have heard tales of guys dipping the nose of a slightly-
leading bullet in a tin of bag-balm just before loading it. Roll Eyes   jus say'n      VBG
  

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SgtDog0311
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #6 - Aug 23rd, 2014 at 10:07pm
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Hadn't heard the Bag Balm thing but that stuff is majic elsewhere.

When I have sparkles on a patch that prove out to be lead I don't have problems... problems usually only surface with shards.   I've got a couple that do the same and the bore does not lead as the atomized particals (for lack of a better term) does not seem to collect or get worse.  So far, for me anyway, these rifles/cast bullets will shoot a couple hundred rounds and still not need cleaning or show accuracy issues.   To be honest I always looked at those as a good thing... no shards!!
  

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CaryT
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #7 - Aug 24th, 2014 at 2:14am
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I agree with Jerry and 40 Rod.  If it is maintaining accuracy, no worries.
But, if accuracy becomes a problem due to "excessive" fouling, solutions to control leading, fouling, are in order.  Learning the controls based on conditions, locations, is just another part of the sport we participate in.  Have fun and keep learning.

Cary.    Wink
  
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Dingelfutz
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #8 - Aug 26th, 2014 at 10:32am
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QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on Jun 8th, 2014 at 12:32pm:
i have heard tales of guys dipping the nose of a slightly-
leading bullet in a tin of bag-balm just before loading it. Roll Eyes   jus say'n      VBG

Lubing bullet noses can cut down on leading. Based on my own experience, however, very often"less is more" with this practice. Most often just a very light film of lube is often all that is required to reduce leading and enhance accuracy. At black powder velocities, a wipe with a paper towel that is moistened with something like olive oil, followed by a wipe with a dry paper towel often suffices. Caution: Make sure that the added lube does not get on case necks. This can cause troublesome-to-dangerous headspace problems, as the "Mobilube" era of military rifle revealed.
  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #9 - Aug 26th, 2014 at 12:37pm
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Sparkly bits are of no concern for accuracy.

Leading is when lead sticks to the barrel and comes out like lead wire or chunks. Now that affects accuracy.

Your rifle lands can shave off a few bits which are collected by your lube and generally do not stick to your barrel. These are of little concern.

If you do get leading and it starts sticking to your barrel: then you may be getting gas cutting around the base of your bullet, you have a poor alloy (too much antimony or hardness issues),  a poor lube, or too narrow a bullet.

Lead speckle mixed with your lube is pushed out of your barrel by your next bullet. Don't worry about it.

When it is hot and dry and I am firing plain base bullets at 1,800 fps I wipe the barrel with Kroil oil so that leading does not start with the first bullet fired. After that the bullet lays down a film of lube for the next shot.

Alberta Schuetzen Lube has lots of lanolin in it like Bag Balm.
« Last Edit: Aug 26th, 2014 at 1:55pm by Schuetzendave »  
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rgchristensen
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #10 - Aug 26th, 2014 at 3:11pm
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Sometimes the bbl will profit from the same kind of break-in procedure that the BR guys do.   Shoot a couple of smokeless loads with jacketed (sic!) bullets, clean thoroughly, shoot a couple more, etc., for maybe 20 shots.

CHRIS
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Irascible
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Re: Lead sparkles on the patch
Reply #11 - Aug 29th, 2014 at 11:44pm
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Actually, I ended up pushing the bullet, nose first, through a .323 Lee sizing die (sized base band only) and mixing up a new batch of lube to the same formula. Between the two there is no sign of leading or even sparkles and it is extremely accurate. I even moved the powder charge up another 1/2 grain! I had a group in the .2s last match. Everything is fine in the neighborhood. Smiley
  
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