Barrel leading ?

[cephas53]

Howdy, shot about 30 rounds with my 30/30 today. Lyman gas checked 173gr, half ww/pb. Sized .311, BAC lube. Load was not hot, 20 grs 5744. However when done and I looked down the bore it appeared as if it was lined completely with lead. Almost looked like a chrome bore. Took a swab of Ed's Red and it all wiped out easily, really with no effort at all. Would you consider this leading? Or what the heck is it? Thanks.

[Wayne Smith]

If it came out that easily it was either antimony wash or powder residue. Ed's Red does not dissolve lead.

[44man]

It does not sound like lead. Did you get strips of it out on patches? If it was lead, the alloy is too soft for the velocity.

[405]

Nope, doesn't sound like leading. That shiny appearance doesn't sound like leading. Leading doesn't look exactly shiny. A tight patch on a jag pushed thru usually reveals traces of leading as it will pick up slivers or flecks. Severe leading may even appear lumpy if viewed down the bore and will surely be felt as a significant increase in friction as a tight patch is pushed thru. A "wash" of lead left in the bore is common even with the best of loads. That lead wash may show as an dark gray-brown staining on the patch if using one of the solvents that is at least partially a lead solvent.

[mooman76]

If your barrel was completely lined with lead like you said, it would not have come out easy. Like the others have stated it was most likely something else or a combination of things.