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Post by TMan on Feb 2, 2005 8:59:23 GMT -5
Has anyone had any experience using the "Lewis Lead Remover"? It works by pulling a tight fitting piece of brass screen through the barrel/cylinder. I'm wondering if it would work for getting out the baked on powder in the cylinders of a .357 revolver after shooting .38 Specials in it. (I just won't let this .38 Special thing die).
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Post by MLB on Feb 2, 2005 9:20:19 GMT -5
I hadn't heard of it before, but I do like the fact that the screen is brass (softer than the steel barrel/cylinder).
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Post by 5ontarget on Feb 2, 2005 12:26:20 GMT -5
Like MLB, never heard of it before, but sounds good. Looked it up in brownell's, looks like it would work well. Kinda looks like a combo of a jag and brass brush. It gives the scrubbing power of brass and the tight fit of a jag, without ruining the cylinder.
I think it'd be worth a try.
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Post by "DoubleAction" on Feb 2, 2005 16:22:07 GMT -5
TMan; I'm glad to see your still determined to make half the fun of shooting revolvers a little better. I've seen this system in adds before but I've never used it. I once had a difficult time cleaning a build up of lead out of my 1911 barrels and tried wrapping copper mesh scouring pad material around a brush and using it.
What about the idea of pulling a .40 caliber bore snake through the cylinder chambers ?
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Post by TMan on Feb 3, 2005 9:20:24 GMT -5
... What about the idea of pulling a .40 caliber bore snake through the cylinder chambers ? Oh, hadn't thought of that. I bought .40 cal bronze brushes, as you suggested, but so far the best thing I found is the lead remover cloth that you suggested. However, it is time consuming and I'd like something that would work a little faster. I've wondered about cutting the handle off a rod and then putting the rod into my recprocating (sp?) saw. The only thing is: the saw is rather large and hard to control. If I had a piece of junk to experment with... I'll pick up a bore snake today, but I won't be shooting revolvers this week. I did some work on the H&K and I want to see if it improves the ejection any. I have a Ruger Blackhawk convertible on order. If it ever comes in, I experiment with its .357 magnum barrel. I mainly bought it to shoot the 9mm cylinder. So if it ever gets here, I'll try some things with it. (It is the BN36X model) |
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Post by "DoubleAction" on Feb 3, 2005 19:04:31 GMT -5
TMan; Keep me updated on your progress. By the way; What type of 38 Special cartridges were you using that is giving you the most problems ?
I was once a strong believer in using a cartridge which would place the bullet closest to the forcing cone of the barrel, and it was for this reason that I discontinued using the 38 Specials in the .357 magnum revolvers for almost a decade. Not until using the 38 specials in the S&W 27 did I rediscover half the fun I had been missing out on.
In the meantime I have cleaned many revolvers for others that had fired the 38 specials in the .357 magnums. It's the same with the 44 special when fired through the 44 magnum cylinders.
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Post by TMan on Feb 3, 2005 20:48:18 GMT -5
... What type of 38 Special cartridges were you using that is giving you the most problems ? ...  Okay, this is embrassing, I have only used one type: S&B FMJ hardball. Incidentally, I also use the S&B .357 Magnum exclusively too because it is a true FMJ i.e. there isn't any lead exposed. My dealer thinks the Ruger will be in next week, so I'll use the .357 cylinder exclusively with .38 Special. I bought it to use the 9mm in it. I know, I know, stop thinking like my wife. ;D Where I shot today didn't have the bore snake in .40 caliber, but I did get the Lewis Lead Remover. Its kind of cool. It has two parts: one exclusively to clean the cone, and the other for the cylinder and bore. It will be a couple of weeks before I use it though: after the Ruger comes in and I put a couple of hundred rounds through it, I should have a good build-up, and we will see what it does. You mentioned the .44 Magnum and .44 Special have the same problem. According to the ammoguide.com website's nominal performance figures, the .357 Magnum/.38 Special cases have a difference of .135". The .44 Magnum/.44 Special difference is .125". On revolvers chambered for the .454 Casull you can shoot .44 Long Colt, which is only a difference of .100. I think you know where I'm going with this: the bigger the difference the more space there is to fill up with carbon. Interesting numbers if you look at the percentage of muzzle energy with the lighter loads: .38 Special is 37% of the .357 Magnum; the .44 Special is 32% of the .44 Magnum, and the .45 Long Colt is a mere 22% of the .454 Casull. Again this was using their muzzle energy figures for nominal loadings. They show the .454 Casull having a muzzle energy of 2085 ft-lbs. Good grief, that is 81% of the energy in the S&W .500 Magnum (2580ft-lbs) By the way, did I ever mention that I was a math major in college? ;D |
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Post by "DoubleAction" on Feb 3, 2005 22:31:00 GMT -5
TMan; Good work on the math and the OAL variances. I traded some grips for a supply of S&B cartridges in .45 acp last summer. Seems like it shoots alot hotter than the American manufactured ammunition in the same 230 grain fmj cartridge design. I followed up with some of my American ammo and it resulted in smoother recoil, faster follow ups, and better groupings. I now lean away from the S&B and IMI ammunition, although I do shoot the Aquila, from Mexico, in my 38 super with good results.
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Post by TMan on Feb 4, 2005 8:49:24 GMT -5
Your observation on the S&B is interesting because I was told the same thing by the gunsmith yesterday: the S&B is a hotter load. He therefore recommended that I shoot it in the H&K vs. the Winchester White Box.
When I bought the Wilson CQB there was a list of manufacturers' ammo that was recommended. Well, S&B was not on the list. I called Wilson and talked to a rep who told me that it was fine to use.
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Post by "DoubleAction" on Feb 4, 2005 17:26:12 GMT -5
TMan; I've been shooting the S&B in my CQB also, and notice a big improvement when switching over to something else. I'm not saying this because I own stock in georgia arms( not really) but their 230 gr. fmj factory loaded .45 acp shoots better than anything else I've tried, except the high end defensive cartridges, in my CQB.
Patrick Sweeney did a review on the CQB in his book, " The Gun Digest Book of The 1911", using different grades of ammo, from various manufacturers, he even set up the 460 Rowland conversion and used the CQB for the pistol. The CQB is a very sturdy pistol; I think Wilson might have responded in regards to the strength of the pistol more than performance.
I've shot PMC in the 230 gr. fmj .45 acp, and it too is excellent in the 1911s. Sweeney even gave mention from his own tests of the PMC as having an average of 2.1" groups @ 25 yds., with the Oregon Trail and the Black Hills Blue being at the top of a three favorite cartridge list for the CQB.
I like the georgia arms factory loaded ammo because it is loaded to almost a perfect match with most of the calibers I shoot, but the .45 acp is just too good to be true. The CQB, the Sig 220, and the Colts, are ideal for the georgia arms factory loaded canned heat bulk.
I shoot mostly the JHP georgia arms in my revolvers and they do have some 38 specials in a plated semi-wadcutter and a round nose flat point.
I also have some Winchester white box USA, 130 gr. ball, 38 Special with the fmj in my cabinet, though I haven't bought any recently.
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Post by NeilCasper on Feb 19, 2005 6:43:06 GMT -5
Stainless Steel Sponge from Brownell's is my current favorite barrel/chamber cleaning tool. Scott Mulkerin of SDM Fabricating put me on to it. It work pretty darn good. I haven't touched my Lewis Lead Remover since trying some of his. www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=21175 |
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Post by 5ontarget on Feb 19, 2005 7:30:39 GMT -5
They show the .454 Casull having a muzzle energy of 2085 ft-lbs. Good grief, that is 81% of the energy in the S&W .500 Magnum (2580ft-lbs) And Ruger has a .454 or a .480 with a 2.5 inch barrel. People complain about the recoil of a .357 snubbie... |
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Post by TMan on Mar 9, 2005 11:57:53 GMT -5
Well, after 200 rounds of S&B .38 Special through the Ruger Blackhawk with the .357 Magnum cylinder (haven't tried the 9mm cylinder yet), I decided it was time to find out how well the Lewis Lead Remover would work on the carbon in the cylinder.
It far exceeded my expectations. The secret to doing it quickly is to rotate it numerous times as gradually pulling through the cylinder. I cleaned the Blackhawk's cylinder and the .38 Special cylinder in the S&W 67 in just a few minutes.
Neil, the next time I place an order to Brownell's I'll order some of the Stainless Steel Sponge you recommended.
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Okay, this is embrassing, I have only used one type: S&B FMJ hardball. Incidentally, I also use the S&B .357 Magnum exclusively too because it is a true FMJ i.e. there isn't any lead exposed.