Hornady bullets and Severe copper fouling

HighDesertWolf · 10-25-2004, 07:06 PM

Has anyone had a problem with Hornady XTP bullets and severe copper fouling in their pistol barrels? I am, and dont know what to do other then stop using them, could it be the powder I'm using?

Mark whiz · 10-25-2004, 08:22 PM

I can't say I've ever noticed ANY copper fouling in my pistols & I've shot LOTS of XTPS.
What you may have is a very rough barrel. Before giving up the XTPS, I'd try working the bore with a bore paste like J-Bs, Iosso, USP, etc. that will get all traces of fouling out and smooth things up well enough to hopefully cure that fouling problem.

HighDesertWolf · 10-26-2004, 01:16 AM

its an older pistol but before i got it , it was hardly ever shot atleast I was told. since ive had it , ive run atleast 1500 rounds through it a variety of bullet styles, mostly 38 speials loaded with lead cast or plated bullets, My 357 magnum loads i load with either winchester jhp's or xtp's. I never noticed copper fouling untill today when i decided to shoot some xtp's i loaded up as 38 specials, something else I did differently then usual is after shooting last time before today I used kano kroil in the bore because a friend said it was the best for loosening lead deposites could that have done something?? something else i noticed with the copper fouling it seemed to have made the tool marks in the bore more visible, I will try jb's bore paste see if that takes care of the problem

10-26-2004, 07:07 AM

Nope, its usually a mild fouling bullet in my opinion. I scream out of my 44 with 24gr of H110 behind a 240gr XTP, and I can't find any copper fouling. I always check with sweats or CR10 before oiling. Maybe you could measure the diameter of the bullet? See if they are correct. Or measure the lands. Yes, your powder could affect that fouling. But on a pistol, thats hard for me to believe. The only bullet I see fouling is barnes pistol bullets.

James B · 10-26-2004, 03:48 PM

Same here. No problem with any Hornady bullets.

Highpower · 10-27-2004, 07:00 AM

HDW, I recently picked up an 'Outers Foul Out 3' cleaning kit. This this is incredible. The stuff that comes out of you 'clean' barrel will floor you. Awhole lot easier than the Sweets method too! Midway has them on sale now for $69.99. Well worth the money, for ALL your firearms!

HighDesertWolf · 10-27-2004, 08:46 AM

the load i was pushing is a slower one according to the book it pushes a 158 gr XTP at 633 fps with 3 gr. clays from a 7.7 inch barrel, could have the lower velocity been the culprit?? I was also thinking could the Kano kroil have loosened all the copper and lead deposits thus exposing the ruff spots in the bore??

Mark whiz · 10-27-2004, 11:05 AM

It is very possible that a good cleaning on a badly fouled barrel would expose all of a bore's "shortcomings". And then any pitts or rough spots would be very noticeable. I got ahold of a rifle like that............it shot good for awhile but once I figured out how to get copper out of a bore, I created a monster - fouled HORRIBLY until I fire-lapped it with the Tubb Final Finish system.

I REALLY think the bore paste will solve a lot of your ills. Here's another little test to check for a "rough" bore: Take a fluffed cotton ball and push/pull it thru the dry bore and then look closely inside to see if any cotton fibers were snagged and left in the bore............if you see strands in there - it's rough.