Lewis Lead Remover ?

[irold]

Thinking of purchasing a Lewis Lead Remover from Brownells.  Several of my revolvers tend to lead up after an extended range session.  And yes , I've done everything I'm gonna do to eliminate the leading problem.  Its just easier and less hassle to clean it rather than eliminate it. And trust me I have tried everything within reason ...and my budget.  Back to the Lewis tool , anyone use it ??  Should I give it a try , or just stick with the brass brush routine ?
 
regards , irold

[Ranger99]

i've never had one or used one,
but it must be a decent product
since they've been in business
for a lot of years and still selling.


give it a try and give us a report.
good luck

[jhalcott]

 I have used the Lewis tool for some years. I find it BETTER to eliminate the cause of the lead fouling than using the tool. I guess I'm just lazy! The lewis tool will remove lead from almost any caliber bore. A "Chore boy" wrapped around a snug bronze brush will do it also. IF you give us a list of your loading  and alloy recipe's, we MIGHT be able to help eliminate the cause of leading in your guns Also WHERE in the bore are you getting the fouling?.. I do NOT enjoy pulling the Lewis tool thru the bore till it comes out clean! I've got more reloading to do after a shooting session!

[t-reg]

I recently noticed some bronze wool at the local hardware.  Bought it, pulled a little off, wrapped it on a patch for a snug fit and a few swipes later had a clean barrel. 


Have had good luck with Chore Boy, but the all brass is hard to find.  Gotta check it with a magnet first to make sure it's not the bronze coated steel stuff.

[Bigeasy]

Try Chore Boy, as others have said.  Buy the copper version.  Wrapped around a brush, it works well, and will not harm your bore.
 
Larry

[Mike in Virginia]

When my dept. used revolvers, they had a Lewis tool at the range to get the lead out of the bore.  It worked great, but like someone above said, I don't know why a person would use soft lead bullets.  The old Federal "FBI load in .38Spl. was a good round, but so many other bullets are available now that are better.  Hardcast or jacketed, factory or handloads.

[irold]

[quote author=Mike in Virginia   I don't know why a person would use soft lead bullets.  The old Federal "FBI load in .38Spl. was a good round, but so many other bullets are available now that are better.  Hardcast or jacketed, factory or handloads.

 
Ok , I really didn't want to get into this aspect of it , but :   I do not cast...I use Oregon Trail laser cast bullets ( far from a soft bullet ).  They have performed the best out of a half dozen different cast bullets I've expermented with.  I use them in two of my 44 mags and two .357s. , and a .45 1911.  All my handguns will lead after a session at the range.  Generally after I'm done shooting a particular gun , I will put a couple rounds of a higher velocity semi-jacketed bullet through it. It does help to blow it out. However , in the revolvers there's usually always lead ahead of the forcing cone....The rule of thumb test...put a bullet in the cylinder, see if it falls through , has been done.  The laser cast bullets are as follows:  .358 for the .357 mags ,  .431 for the .44 mags and .452 for my 1911.  I'm happy with the O.T. bullets , I personally believe I won't get any better performance with a store-bought bullet.  (lead, non G.C. )  My 4" redhawk was worked on by Ten-Ring Percession , out of Texas.  Not sure what exactly Alex did , but it probably leads the least...but it will still lead during an extended session.  Perhaps he polished the forcing cone , I know he recut it. Anyway I can't afford to do that with all my handguns...so I do the best I can within my budget.  All loads are at moderate velocities , with mostly 2400, bullseye , unique , 231 being used depending on caliber.  I've been several years compiling my loads for these various guns , believe now its time to shoot and just clean the lead......please don't misunderstand...its not a bad leading problem........but I can't let it go for more than one session ( 100 to 150 rounds ) or my accuracy falls off quit fast.  Please don't tell me to slug the bore and throats.....it would do me no good.  With out casting my own I'm limited to the diameter the manufactor sizes to.  Besides between Hunters Supply , Leadhead and the others I've tried , I have used numerous diameters....the O.T. has been the best overall for me.
 
So , back to my question.....should I try the Lewis tool or the Chore Boy ?  I've heard of Chore Boy ...where can I get it ? 
 
Big Easy ....you said get the copper version ??  sounds like they make different variants ?  What is Chore Boy actually made for ??
 
Thanks for the input
regards , irold

[Bigeasy]

Irold
 
Chore Boy is simply a heavy steel wool like pot and pan cleaning pad.  It is available in many grocery stores.  Their are several types I have heard, but it is the copper version you want - softer then steel, but hard enough to remove the lead.  By wrapping some on an old cleaning brush for a tight fit, it works similarly to the Lewis kit, without the expense.  If you are more comfortable with the idea of the Lewis Lead Remover, then they also work well.  I used one a bit at my PD's range when I loaded a bunch of swaged pure lead bullets to hot in a 44 mag load years ago, and it did work as advertised, removing the soft lead goop that was coating the barrel of my S&W 29.
 
Larry

[Savage]

I have a one of the LLR tools. I use it frequently to clean auto barrels after 150-200 rounds. Works good. It comes with a tool to clean the lead out of the forcing cone on revolvers as well. I bought mine some years ago from Brownell's.  In my opinion it works better than the Chore Girl pads.
Savage

[jimster]

I have the LLR tools, you need to use the screens with them, they work and I used the tool for the forcing cone as well. I now find myself using  all copper pads, I snip off a strip and wrap it around a cleaning brush,  I'm too lazy to get more screens for the LLR. 
Like someone said, make sure if you get some kind of cleaning pads they are solid copper, some have just a coating over the top of steel, don't use those. I'm currently using just commercial "copper scrubbing pads" I found at the grocery store.  I don't usually have a big leading problem, so a couple passes is all I need, seems like more work to get out the LLR.  Or maybe I should see if I can use copper pads with the LLR, never tried it. 

[30calflash]

 I've used them with good results on various caliber revolvers. Sometimes you'll get a build up on the screen which can be removed with a nylon brush, dry. Just flicks off. I think Hoppe's had a similar system at one time.

 Never tried the chore boy, but if it's available why not!

 FWIW Col E.H.Harrison, from the NRA, used to recommend using mild steel wool on a worn bore brush to remove leading from rifle barrels, said it did no harm even after one barrel was leaded and cleaned this way many times. He said that having to clean a barrel this way would convince you to develop a non leading, accurate load. From the NRA Cast Bullet handbook.

[Goldstar225]

I bought my LLR about 25 years ago for my .357, it beats the heck out of a copper brush.  Two or three passes and the bore is free of lead, works great on the forcing cone too.
 
I need to pick up the adapter set for my .45 Colt.

[irold]

Thanks for all the input....I did order one...got it a few days ago.  Haven't used it yet.  I'm almost looking forward to some lead to see how it works 
 
regards , irold

[Dand]

Yes I have and use the Lewis Lead Remover for 38/357 and 41 mag.  I keep it in my range box. It works really well.  Once in a while when developing new loads, I've ended up with a lot of lead real quick.  Having the LLR allowed me to stay shooting and load testing quickly. I like it a LOT.  One note, sometimes it can be hard to pull the patch thru the barrel. In that case I may hold the tool handle under my feet and pull up on the gun. I don't use it a whole lot but I really like to have it when I need it. I too really like the forcing cone cleaner part. 

[coyotejoe]

I have used the Lewis tool for years but it's a bit of a pain because it's a "one way" tool. You insert the rod from the muzzle, screw on the cleaning attachment inside the revolver frame and draw it threw the bore. If you mess up and pull it all the way out, or if you pull it out to check progress, you have to unscrew the cleaning attachment and start over. With the ChoreBoy on a brush you run it down from the muzzle and leave it on the rod, you can easily remove and reinsert as many times as you like. And while it's true that not every store carries ChoreBoy I've never found one which carries screens for the Lewis Lead Remover. Every centerfire revolver I have ever owned has leaded the bore at least to some extent if fired with lead bullets. I've tried all teh tricks recommended as sure fire ways to avoid leading and none of them worked. Over the years I have probably owned 100+ revolvers and the only way I have ever found to avoid leading is to shoot jacketed bullets.

[irold]

I have used the Lewis tool for years but it's a bit of a pain because it's a "one way" tool. You insert the rod from the muzzle, screw on the cleaning attachment inside the revolver frame and draw it threw the bore. If you mess up and pull it all the way out, or if you pull it out to check progress, you have to unscrew the cleaning attachment and start over. With the ChoreBoy on a brush you run it down from the muzzle and leave it on the rod, you can easily remove and reinsert as many times as you like. And while it's true that not every store carries ChoreBoy I've never found one which carries screens for the Lewis Lead Remover. Every centerfire revolver I have ever owned has leaded the bore at least to some extent if fired with lead bullets. I've tried all teh tricks recommended as sure fire ways to avoid leading and none of them worked. Over the years I have probably owned 100+ revolvers and the only way I have ever found to avoid leading is to shoot jacketed bullets.

I agree 100 % 
 
BTW , I got my LLR tool and what a joy to clean the lead out !
 
regards , irold