Recognizing Leading

[MikeAllen]

I've seen posts that discuss excessive "leading" from certain pellets. How do you recognize excessive leading? And if a particular pellet creates this problem does the barrel type make it better or worse? Barrel type being cut rifling, polygon rifling, pressed rifling (FX barrel inserts), etc. I assume it's mitigated or corrected by cleaning with a good CLP solvent like Ballistol or Otis 085. What about running a dry patch periodically instead of a complete barrel cleaning? Back to the original question - how do you even recognize leading?
TIA,
Mike

 

[thomasair]

A creeping poi is an early sign of leading. It moves a little at a time, then may come back to where it started all at once.

 

[MikeAllen]

I've seen posts that discuss excessive "leading" from certain pellets. How do you recognize excessive leading? And if a particular pellet creates this problem does the barrel type make it better or worse? Barrel type being cut rifling, polygon rifling, pressed rifling (FX barrel inserts), etc. I assume it's mitigated or corrected by cleaning with a good CLP solvent like Ballistol or Otis 085. What about running a dry patch periodically instead of a complete barrel cleaning? Back to the original question - how do you even recognize leading?
TIA,
Mike

Thanks Mike - much appreciated! I've always thought my POI variance was caused by a thing called "ME!"

 

[Motorhead]

Agree as Mike says ... generally seen as a degrade in accuracy especially where the pellets have not changed ( Same tin or lot # ) that once were shooting great & now not so much
* Of course speed or tune not altered either

 

[Ezana4CE]

I've seen posts that discuss excessive "leading" from certain pellets. How do you recognize excessive leading? And if a particular pellet creates this problem does the barrel type make it better or worse? Barrel type being cut rifling, polygon rifling, pressed rifling (FX barrel inserts), etc. I assume it's mitigated or corrected by cleaning with a good CLP solvent like Ballistol or Otis 085. What about running a dry patch periodically instead of a complete barrel cleaning? Back to the original question - how do you even recognize leading?
TIA,
Mike

I hope I don't sound too dumb here. Like the others mentioned, when accuracy changes and I haven't changed anything about or within the gun or ammo it makes me want to examine my bore or clean my barrel. A bore scope would make excessive leading very recognizable. When I see what appears to be caked up lead streaks with heavy flaking layers, my bore is leaded enough for me. Somewhat even, but heavy distribution of leading prompts me to clean. If leading looks heavier in a spot or two then I need to clean and investigate the area(s) for burs or tight spots in the barrel that may need some attention. I mostly use this approach in big bores where I shoot a lot of slugs.

I don't clean my pellet shooters as nearly as much. I will shoot way more pellets than slugs before cleaning a pellet barrel. When accuracy changes with them, often I will clean the barrel without examining it for leading. I generally have an idea how many tins I've shot through a gun if I shoot it frequently or more than the others. I don't just run a random dry patch through the barrel. After owning a gun for a year or two, I think you should have an idea of how many tins through it warrant a cleaning. When running a pull-through cleaning system, seeing lead flakes on a dry patch after cleaning with several wet and dry patches means "keep cleaning" to me. Once the dry patches aren't coming out with flakes of lead on them, I know I'm getting close to finishing. I usually clean with Ballistol. My two cents even though I'm still learning.

 

[MikeAllen]

Thanks for your detailed reply!

 

[BABz58]

Bore scope will take the guesswork out of it.

 

[MikeAllen]

Bore scope will take the guesswork out of it.

Can you recommend one?

 

[BABz58]

Can you recommend one?

I have this one.

 

[MikeAllen]

I have this one.

View attachment 520534

Thanks!