Gents - I have a Ruger gp-100 stainless with a 6" barrel. Shooting lead bullets (Dardas 125 grain RNFPBB), with the blue Dardas lube. I am shooting 38 special loads, 3.5 grains of Titegroup.
After shooting 30 rounds, last weekend, I had quite a bit of lead in the barrel. I got it cleaned out using bronze wool (thanks to the fine people at Cast Boolits for that info).
At this point I am trying to determine the cause. Prior to shooting these, I had shot 25 rounds of 357 magnum loads with lead bullets (148 grain wadcutters over 3.0 grains of Titegroup), but did not look that close at the barrel for leading. Is it possible that the 357 loads may have leaded the barrel, and it just got worse as I shot the 38 special loads?
Since I have cleaned it out, I am thinking about running more of these rounds through it, checking for leading after each string of 6 rounds.
Is there anything else I should be looking for? Is the lube on the Dardas bullets adequate for this? Should I tumble lube as well? Does outside temperature have any effect on how well the lube works (it was about 10 degrees when I was shooting)?
I have also shot jacketed bullets out of this gun. Could this be an issue?
Sorry for all the rambling, but I just want to make sure I am headed down the correct path.
Thank you.
Tim