I've read & looked at this quite a bit. So, I thought I'd get some input now to focus my direction.
I cast Lee TL 124 grain RN for my 9MM. I use the Lee sizer to .357 (my barrel slugs at .356). I shoot a SW 669 and Sigma. My cast is mostly WW and BHN is 20-22. I tumble lube them before sizing and after. Lube is cut with maybe 20%mineral spirits.
I've found that 4.1 Win 231 (1.10 OAL) seems to work best as far as shooting. I never have a failure to feed or any other problem in several hundred rounds of the relaods. My young son does - but I think it's in his trigger pull since his hand is not as large or strong. At 3.3/3.4 the Sigma does not cycle consistenly - so that's probably the low end. Groups seem best at the 4.1. I've not gone higher because I think (there are some conflicting data sources) - that's about Max. Lee has max at 4.0 - a couple other sources go up a few tenths from there. At 4.1 there does not seem to be any over-pressure signs on the cases or primers and it reacts closely to the factory rounds (which is one of my objectives for practice).
But, I went through about 250 rounds between both guns and have been working on getting the lead out for a couple days.
I honeslty can't say whether the leading is from just these rounds or an accumulation that I missed before. I probably have about 500 lead rounds out of each gun so far.
The lead seemed along the whole barrel length.
I've been using Hoppes No. 9 and a brass brush. I have another tiny brass brush that I've used on some of the stubborn areas also.
So, a few questions (any other comments welcome also):
<>Is this as good as anything for cleaning the lead out? Is there a better product?<>How good should it be cleaned before I can reliably tell if my loads are still leading? I think I'm about 95%+ at this point.
<>With them clean, should I just go try another 100 rounds and reinspect and then try something else?<>Should I try sizing to .358? (the molds are .356 but 99% seem to drop over that and almost all get sized to some degree at 357 or 358 - I use some of the 358 in .38 special with no similar, stubborn leading).<>Would a lower load - like 3.8 or 3.9 likely reduce the leading? I don't think I want to go higher.
<>Would lower or higher BHN likely reduce the leading?<*>Would not cutting the Lee lube help?
Thanks for your consideration.