How to Remove Lead From a 22 Bore

All the parts of a gun needs to be cleaned periodically, especially the barrel.

Over time the barrel of your gun can get coated in lead from the bullets shot through it. This is because most bullets are not jacketed, especially .22-caliber ones, so their lead cores rub against the rifling in the barrel. This scrapes off lead into the grooves of the rifling and, over time, can make a rifled barrel into a smooth-bore barrel.

Things You'll Need

• Bore cleaner cloths or patches
• Bore cleaner solution
• Bore cleaner rod

Instructions

1. Put the safety on the gun and then unload all the ammo. If it is a revolver, detach the cylinder. If it is a clip-fed gun then detach the clip and work the slide twice to clear any live ammo.

2. Put a bore cleaner cloth through the eye of the bore cleaner plunger. Dab some bore cleaner solution on the cloth until it is soaked throughout. Push the bore cleaner rod through the bore; there will be some resistance if the lead buildup is significant.

3. Push the bore cleaner rod through until it appears at the other side of the barrel. Pull the bore cleaner rod back out and take out the cloth; it will be black from carbon and lead deposits. Put in a clean cloth and apply cleaner solution to it. Push the freshly loaded cleaner rod back into the barrel.

4. Repeat the cleaning process until the cloths no longer come out black or dirty. Swab out the bore with a dry cloth to remove all the cleaning solution.

References

• Gun Reports: Cleaning your Gun
• Custom Pistols: Bore Cleaning
• Boses Guns: Lead Removal