Why dont my barrel lead?

[Willee]

The .22 LR is a soft lead bullet and fires at over 1000 fps.
No real lube groves and most use a dry type lube.

One would think that this bullet would lead up a barrel real quick.

Willee

[Grandpas50AE]

Most of the name-brand I've shot feel like the lube is pretty waxy, so I suspect they are coated with some kind of micro-crystaline wax, which would suffice at the standard .22lr velocity of 1130 fps.

[btroj]

Nope. It obviously doesn't.

It is all about balance. The bullet alloy, bearing surface, lube, and pressure are all in balance. Change any one of them and it could lead to leading.

It is all about finding this balance.

[crabo]

Nope. It obviously doesn't.

It is all about balance. The bullet alloy, bearing surface, lube, and pressure are all in balance. Change any one of them and it could lead to leading.

It is all about finding this balance.

That's pretty much life, isn't it?

[btroj]

Yes it is Crabo, yes it is.

[DeanWinchester]

I would say too it has a lot to do with fit.

So many purchased cast boolits are grossly undersized it's no wonder they lead.

[williamwaco]

They don't lead because they FIT.

These guys have been loading those soft lead bullets since 1845 and know how to balance the fit and what lubes will work.

Most of them have a wax lube but some of them have a dry lube and some are just copper plated.

But the simple answer to your question is "They fit".



.

[44man]

Well, my .44, .475, 45-70 and .500 JRH never lead either so what is the point? My ML's or BPCR with soft lead never leaded either.

[GabbyM]

One reason is:
22 rimfire is an extremely efficient cartridge. Very small amount of powder and gas to get the bullet up to speed.

That said I’d wager you could shoot the same bullet from a .223 Rem at the same velocity and it still would not lead. Even with the 223's faster twist rate. Lots of “gallery” loads have been worked up in various calibers. Before I started casting 22’s I laoded 22 hornet J bullets over 4.0 grains of Unique in my 223 Rem. For about 1,355 fps. At the time I didn’t own a 22 rimfire rifle. People here on this site reporting results with plain based 22 cast have been limited to 1,200 fps for accuracy.

[44man]

Maybe I got a little carried away, sorry. It is true I never had a .22 lead. Some calibers are just more prone to it from high, fast pressures. 9mm, maybe .40.
I sat back and gave it some thought. Think how lucky we are that the little bore does not lead up. How frustrating it would be.

[jcwit]

While I agree most .22 rimfire firearms do not lead with current ammo available I purchased a S & W .22A pistol new 6 or 6 years ago. It would lead terribly till I had shot 3 or 4 bricks of ammo thru it. Lead would come out in long sprial strings when I cleaned it. Most ammo used at that time was American Eagle or CCI SV. Go figure?