Can slugs DAMAGE (wear down) barrels?

[JungleShooter]

Can slugs DAMAGE barrels? ​

"Damage" as in "wear down"? ​

​

Please, if the specialists (gun smiths, guys with studies in physics, and the like) would answer this for me, I'd appreciate it.

I've heard a lot of opinions.
Now, I'm ready for the truth.



Thank you for schooling me — I admit I am utterly unqualified to answer this question (my resume includes failed physics classes in school).

Matthias

 

[nervoustrig]

Slugs will most definitely erode a bore.

If you first coat them in aluminum oxide, silicon carbide or similar abrasive.

Otherwise lead or its common alloys used for slugs are at least two Mohs points away from mild steel, and will therefore do nothing to a barrel.

 

[ChefSparrowRagazzi]

Joe Friedrich set an American Rimfire Association (ARA) benchrest shooting record with a rifle that had over 100,000 rounds through its barrel

 

[steve-l]

Theoretically yes. Actually, never. Much lower pressure, lower velocity and lower temperature. That is not to mention softer lead alloy of the amunition as well.,

 

[Corvid_hunter]

Can pellets damage a barrel? They are made from the same material.

 

[blackbird1993]

A Slug/Pellet made from 100,000% of lead could not damage a barrel made from steel.

Problem could be mineral dust.

From my 3D Printer i know, that if you use a metal scraper for removing an object from the glass-plate, there could be some scratches on the glass if you do it often. The key here is dust from minerals and other "harderthansteel" materials, which you couldn't get rid of in most environments.

So, if you would look at your barrel after 100000 shots, you would see fine scratches inside it when looking down the barrel with a microscope, resulting from mineral-dust-contaminated pellets.

But don't worry: In real life, this will never make an impact on the shooting characteristics of your barrel....

 

[ChefSparrowRagazzi]

Can pellets damage a barrel? They are made from the same material.

Barrels are not manufactured from Lead.

 

[Corvid_hunter]

Barrels are not manufactured from Lead.

What are slugs and pellets made from?

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Dust and grit erode the barrel in an air rifle. The lead dosent.

Lead can embed abrasive material. So can an aluminum cleaning rod. So clean slugs aren't going to wear a barrel. Dirty slugs covered in silica dust will. In some areas (like mine) it is a problem. In others not so much.

 

[Corvid_hunter]

Lead - Pronounced - Led.
Barrels are made from steel which is a much harder alloy than Soft Led.
As above that I posted.....Joe Friedrich won an ARA sanctioned benchrest match using a gun with a barrel that had more than 100,000 .22 rimfire rounds passed through it. As far as I know he is still using that gun years later, among others he has in his collection.
In summary a barrel shooting a soft Lead projectile , if taken care of , can last a lifetime for most shooters. Now once you step up to powder burners/firearms and larger much faster calibers that produce a lot of heat, this all changes quickly and you run into things like throat erosion, and a bevy of other issues after extended use. Airguns are different. Conversely, you are shooting rapidly decompressed air which is cold. Instead of getting hot, the barrel cools.
Once more, In summary, no, shooting slugs will not harm a barrel of an airgun. ( unless they are dirty and covered in grit and whatnot else. If you drop one on the ground, throw it away. Don't put it through the barrel. Especially in a .22 rimfire firearm/powder burner. Rimfire cartridges have a form of lubrication on the led bullet. Once it hits the ground , whatever dust or grit that is on the ground is picked up and sticks to the lubricant. Don't shoot it. Just throw it away.

So what you are saying is that you did not understand my original post.

 

[jarmstrong]

huummm. led, lead, leade,,,

Leade Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

Leade definition: That portion of a <a>firearm</a>'s <a>barrel</a> immediately in front of the chamber where the bullet travels prior to contacting the rifling.

www.yourdictionary.com

 

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

Is this now the grammar nation forums.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Since we are not pronouncing the words here but rather reading them, spelling is important.

Led = what you did as a leader.

Lead = a heavy metallic element with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82.

Phonetically they are the same. In print they are different words with very different meanings.

Don shut durty led bulits. Tha wil scru up ur barl. Clen led bulits won.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

So what you are saying is that you did not understand my original post.

U hit tha nal on tha hed wit tat on!

 

[ChefSparrowRagazzi]

Can pellets damage a barrel? They are made from the same material.

Can pellets damage a barrel? They are made from the same thing.""
Not: Pellets and slugs are made from the same thing.
The way you typed it was not that I didn't understand the question.
Anyone would have looked at that and thought the same thing that I did.
Anyone asking a question like that might make one assume that the person didn't know the difference between steel and lead.
So you guys go ahead and let me have it alright. You're funny guys ha ha , hardy har har.
I really don't expect literacy here. Or the proper way to compose a question. But that one threw me. Nice.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Can pellets damage a barrel? They are made from the same thing.""
Not: Pellets and slugs are made from the same thing.
The way you typed it was not that I didn't understand the question.
Anyone would have looked at that and thought the same thing that I did.

U red tat an thot he had a led barl?

I dinit. Mos shuturs no thu barl is stel an thu bulit ar led. Mos no how tu sa those words tu.

For thu fu who dint your pos wus educatin.

 

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

U hit tha nal on tha hed wit tat on!

Now your speaking my language

 

[ChefSparrowRagazzi]

just so this doesn't transcend to another flame fest I just went ahead and blocked a couple of you. Be well.

 

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

 

[Bedrock Bob]

In the desert where everything is covered in grit its pretty important to keep your led projectiles clean.

The fine dust that settles everywhere is like abrasive cleanser. Your hands become polishing cloth. The bluing rubs off the barrel, the lacquer on the stock wears through and throat erosion in the barrel is a real concern with a firearm.

If you carry a rifle in the desert for a couple hours and look down the muzzle the first 2 inches below the crown will be furry with dust. I push a dry patch through the bore 3-4 times a day while hunting. On scoped rifles I put a balloon over the muzzle and tape it with sports tape.

I think it pays to keep the barrel and the led as clean as possible. Especially when shooting in a sandblasting cabinet like the Chihuahuan desert. In other areas its probably not a huge concern.

Some dampness on your fingers from a frosty beer will wipe off the dust. Roll the pellets in your fingers as you load them to insure they are clean and lubricated. I'm sure it will work with slugs too.