Can slugs DAMAGE (wear down) barrels?

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

This is also important for swaging. I'm surrounded by dirt and wind. The darn dirt gets in the house no matter what we do. All my swaging equipment, wire etc. gets covered up right after use.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

This is also important for swaging. I'm surrounded by dirt and wind. The darn dirt gets in the house no matter what we do. All my swaging equipment, wire etc. gets covered up right after use.

That's a good point.

I wonder how well big manufacturers insure the lead is clean? There is a lot of crap on pellets.

Even the good ones.

Rimfires are a gamble IMHO.

Even the good ones.

They probably make bullet lube in some dirt hut in China and add a handfull of rock polish to every 5 gallon bucket. Then sell it to Eley to spread on those gold plated Tenex bullets.

 

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

Sounds about right

 

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

But seriously, you will trash your equipment and slowly your gun.

 

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

That's a good point.

I wonder how well big manufacturers insure the lead is clean? There is a lot of crap on pellets.

Even the good ones.

Rimfires are a gamble IMHO.

Even the good ones.

They probably make bullet lube in some dirt hut in China and add a handfull of rock polish to every 5 gallon bucket. Then sell it to Eley to spread on those gold plated Tenex bullets.

It would be in their best interest to keep that lead clean if they want the dies to last.

 

[JungleShooter]

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.

Now, I so happen to live and shoot in a desert that's a 1000 miles long — so, you made a very helpful contribution, Bob!

Matthias

 

[Firewalker]

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

No

Lead sloughs off on the steel, coating it. Improper cleaning is the much bigger concern.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

Now, I so happen to live and shoot in a desert that's a 1000 miles long — so, you made a very helpful contribution, Bob!

Matthias

I missed an opportunity to hunt meteorites in the Atacama region. One of my few regrets.

I couldn't imagine how bad the dust is there. The desert here is high and dry but I'm sure it's off the scale on those giant mesas. Its about as extreme as it gets on the planet.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

No

Lead sloughs off on the steel, coating it. Improper cleaning is the much bigger concern.

I didn't think "leading" was an issue with a pellet rifle. I changed my mind after shooting 5k CPHP without a patch in the cometa.

The lead wasn't stuck and flaky like a centerfire but it was smeared down the first 4" pretty good. It was just on the surface of the lands. No pile up in the corners or smears in the grooves (that I could see).

Accuracy was definitely suffering. Patterns were opening up. I missed long shots more often. When my new rifle came I compared them at 25. There was a difference. The new rifle shot better. That's when I looked down the barrel.

It came right out with a few patches and Butch's bore shine. It was thin. But it darn sure smeared up the barrel. Accuracy came right back. Velocity jumped 35 fps. Accuracy with the old rifle (17k shots) was comparable with the new gun.

It's funny I've never experienced it before. Ive shot more between cleanings. Just when I switched to Walmart CPHP. Lots of loose pellets. You'd think they would smear less lead.

I switched back to cp domes and they (almost) all fit snug. Im tumbling them in plastic media with dishwashing soap for 30 mins to clean them. Well see how many of these it takes to smear up the barrel.

 

[blackdog899]

No

Lead sloughs off on the steel, coating it. Improper cleaning is the much bigger concern.

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

How old does a 22lr barrel last ? 10s of thousands, hundreds ? Standard velocity target rounds 1050 fps, 42gr.
Non target shooters using high velocity at around 1400 fps not many people actually wearing out rim fires.
I would think Airguns even less