What causes barrel leading problems?If one shots semi-jacketed bullets does this help to keep the lead problem down?Also scrubbing the bore with a copper brush help?I have been seeing a lot of lead only bullets for sale cheap but was afraid they would cause leading problems without a jacket of some sort.How many rounds does it take to lead up a barrel really bad and what do you do when it gets caked up bad?

Dude, exactly what is the nature of your problem? Are you shooting a lot of soft lead bullets? Or are you shooting some hard cast stuff? It all depends on what speed you are driving the bullet and whether the bullet size matches the throat and barrel. There are a whole bunch of variables. Gotta have specifics.

I have never shot solid lead pistol bullets because i have heard they would leadup your barrel?I always shot jacketed bullets and never had any problems,But have seen a lot of mag-tech ammo in 38spl,super cheap locally.Was wondering if i keep my barrel clean and just shoot several hundred rounds will i have a problem?I never have leadded up a barrel but here it is hard to clean that crap out when it happens.Looks like no one would shoot them if they were a problem ,But like i said i am not a expert on pure lead bullets without jackets.I dont want to ruin a barrel trying to save a penny on ammo...........I would assume they were at the industry standard as far as speed goes?Figured i would ask the experts....

Blackbearhunter
Buy a box of the ammunition with lead bullet.
Clean your barrel thoroughly (to get jacket material out of the barrel)
Start shooting the lead bullets and look after each cylinder/magagazine fired.
Decent barrel and proper lead bullets, bullet lube, and I doubt you will see any leading.
A lot can be learned from hanging around the "crusty old crowd" over at:

http://cast_boolits.aimoo.com/

Super hard lead bullets are not necessarily better!

I shoot up to 200-500 bullets/gun on some range days without any appreciable leading.

Louis when leading starts what does one look for?Chips of lead coming out of barrel when you scrub with the copper bristle brush?Or will you see lead caked up in it?Is to much speed what causes it or is it shooting tons of lead bullets and never cleaning?Seems like my old muzzle loader would be fried as old as it is and the number of pure lead rounds shes seen but she still shoots great groups even though shes 20yr,young!I just want to be careful and not get a lead problem to begin with,oh yea does copper do the same thing?I only use hoppes cleaning fluid,never tried any of the stronger stuff.Will hoppes remove the stuff?

BBH, you need a good copper solvent like Sweets to remove all jacket fouling or you will pick up lead on whats left. After it is clean you should not get much lead unless the boolit is not the right size or is too soft. The lube is very important also.
After shooting lead, throw out the slotted end of your cleaning rod. You want a tight jag and a snug patch. This will push out almost all of any leading you might get. Then use the brush. I shoot thousands of cast boolits from my .44 and .45 with zero leading, however I get a little from the .475 Linebaugh. The tight jag removes all of it. Using a gas checked boolit keeps leading down too. You must use a boolit that you can barely push through the throats. The throats must also be the right size for the bore dimensions. They should be .0005" to .001" over bore size. (measured from the bottoms of the grooves.) Most Ruger .45 Colts have throats that are too small and the boolit will be sized down before going down the bore and will shoot bad and cause a lot of leading.
After removing any leading you can, shooting jacketed bullets will clean out the rest. Then the copper has to be removed before going back to lead. If you have a lot of lead, you can buy a Louis lead remover that does a good job.
Chances are if you get good boolits, you will get like most of us and never go back to condom bullets. I think if you collected all of the lead removed from all of us on this site, you might be able to make 1/4 of a boolit, or less. Not a problem to worry about. Just have fun and keep us posted.

Thanks bfrshooter,I knew there had to be something to it i just didnt know,I will jag clean for sure.Iam gonna get some sweets also. Thanks!

I have been told not to leave sweets in the barrel like you would Hoppes. Any response?

Swede, that is correct. After using it, wash out the bore with Hoppe's. The stuff will form ammonia crystals in the bore if left in too long.
I leave a lot of my bores wet with Hoppe's in storage. A quick patch to wipe it out always brings out some crud. Still great stuff as old as it is but will not remove copper fast. The new copper solvent Hoppe's might be better, but I haven't tried it yet. Sweets is the strongest.