Wingman Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Does it really work on really stubborn lead fouling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 It it works, then it wasn't lead fouling, but plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 It it works, then it wasn't lead fouling, but plastic. No, your wrong! To the op, yes it does. I have shot many muzzleloaders AND black powder cartridges. Using black powder means hot water is best. Boiling water heats the barrels and thus drys them for you. What I soon discovered many years ago the lead would simply wash out. There would be black thin strips, wafer thin in the sink. No plastic wads are used by me and black powder! I believe it is down to the differing expansion rates of the two metals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klatuveradanikto Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Used to shoot black powder .45 pistol in the 80's and cleaning in boiling water was the best way of getting rid of everything. Ahhh the good old days,when we could have handguns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 All we used back in the sixty's was Young's 303 and boiling water then a jag with clean clothe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Boiling water works a treat after using lead and fiber wads. I was sceptical at first,then thought what the hell. I used to use wd40 a drill and a chamber brush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted January 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks will try it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 An old table tennis bat with a hole bored to take the barrels saves burned fingers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktattoo Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Welders gloves and black powder rifles and pistols / revolvers only time I have used boiling water and or steam on firearms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 The history of using boiling water was to wash out the salty residues that attracted rust in the old corrosive primers and had nothing to do with leading. If you have leading give it a soak with Hoppes or 009. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 The history of using boiling water was to wash out the salty residues that attracted rust in the old corrosive primers and had nothing to do with leading. If you have leading give it a soak with Hoppes or 009.And before that it was to flush out salts formed from the combustion of black powder and I doubt very much I am the first to notice lead coming out from the process! Have you tried it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 And before that it was to flush out salts formed from the combustion of black powder and I doubt very much I am the first to notice lead coming out from the process! Have you tried it? You can also make a brew with it whilst waiting for it to do its job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted January 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 No I haven't tried yet had another go with the WD40 and tornado brush got some more out, was going to try a bit more elbow grease... Or should I just take the plunge as they say?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 And before that it was to flush out salts formed from the combustion of black powder and I doubt very much I am the first to notice lead coming out from the process! Have you tried it? Oh yes I have boiled out more barrels than enough, but for leading I use Hoppes. Actually, gunsmiths use a jag with steel wool on to remove leading. I have done that with the rifles before now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 I tried today, it seemed to clear grime well but the leading stayed pretty much as it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 I tried today, it seemed to clear grime well but the leading stayed pretty much as it was.That surprises me! Boiling hot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 The history of using boiling water was to wash out the salty residues that attracted rust in the old corrosive primers and had nothing to do with leading. If you have leading give it a soak with Hoppes or 009. I agree, but I also believe the boiling water does help shift the lead - presumably by loosening it from thermal expansion/contraction. The primer residue was highly corrosive and needed boiling water to shift it. Most early percussion muzzle loaders show at least some signs of corrosion because it started so soon after use that some corrosion starting was almost inevitable before you got home to the kettle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) I am going to try this tomorrow, and will be very interested in the results, I have a fair amount of what I think is lead fouling in the left barrel on my SxS. it looks like dull streaking at the muzzle end of the barrel extending to about 6 inches down the bore rest of the bore is pretty much perfect. I have tried many things to shift it, including a tornado brush, fine wire wool on a jag, soaking overnight in WD40, Ed's Red and Bisley Bore Cleaner, Brasso wadding on a jag. I have also used the traditional bronze brush with a large dose of elbow grease until my arm was aching, my wife was wondering what I was doing the garage when I complained my right arm hurt the following morning! Its better but still there.... The gun is over 50 years old, according to my interpretation of the date stamps on the barrel stamped I1 made in 1963 i think. and the right hand bore is almost mirror smooth overall the gun is in tremendous condition for its age and actually shoots very well. So after my last attempts at cleaning I put her back in the cabinet and decided to leave it alone, after all when I am 53 I would expect to have a few blemishes!! Cant see any harm though in trying the boiling water trick but otherwise I'll just get on and shoot the damn thing and worry about it when it stops working properly! It is after all my knock about gun and cost me very little. Edited January 7, 2016 by Wingman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 That surprises me! Boiling hot?Yes, I put the end if the barrels on some folded kitchen roll to form a bit of a seal, then filled both barrels to the top with boiling water and kept topping up before letting it slowly drain away. They dried very quickly but were still baking hot when I ran a bronze brush through which did remove some lead, but not all, especially in the forcing cones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Yes, I put the end if the barrels on some folded kitchen roll to form a bit of a seal, then filled both barrels to the top with boiling water and kept topping up before letting it slowly drain away. They dried very quickly but were still baking hot when I ran a bronze brush through which did remove some lead, but not all, especially in the forcing cones.Oh 😕 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 if you want a divorce do it in the new bath......................results ...permanant tide mark................she wernt impressed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingman Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 if you want a divorce do it in the new bath......................results ...permanant tide mark................she wernt impressed.. You don't want your Mrs finding out you been messing with your weapon in the bath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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