Does 22lr lead up the gas tube ?

ES44AC

ES44AC

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I have always used 223/5.56 in my rifles, but does 22lr harm or damage the gas tube ? I will do a heavy duty cleaning to the rifling.

I have an option on a Daniel Defense upper and I know this guy has ran lots of 22lr . I have heard people say 22lr deposits lead in the gas tube. Is there anything to do before shooting this upper? I don't want a unexpected blow up .
 
ES44AC said:
I have always used 223/5.56 in my rifles, but does 22lr harm or damage the gas tube ? I will do a heavy duty cleaning to the rifling.

I have an option on a Daniel Defense upper and I know this guy has ran lots of 22lr . I have heard people say 22lr deposits lead in the gas tube. Is there anything to do before shooting this upper? I don't want a unexpected blow up .
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I have never owned a 22LR upper, but surely it is blowback operated so the tube doesn't do anything if it even exists.
 
If he was using a conversion kit in a standard upper it might dirty up the gas tube. Not sure if it could lead to a dangerous condition though, hopefully some wiser soul will chime in.
 
I don't see how it could be dangerous. If it did dirty the tube significantly all it could do is reduce the gas flow and fail to fully cycle the action.

I suppose some of the debris buildup could end up getting expelled into the trigger group and prevent it from working. Again, a stoppage but not a danger.

There is probably some strange sequence of events that could happen but I can't think of it.

I know - a gas tube full of unburned 22 powder! That's the ticket!
 
Sorry, never considered a kit in a standard upper.
 
I have heard of gas tubes rupturing after running a conversion kit a long time and then shooting .223. No idea what that round count might be. I have shot 1k+ with my conversion kit and then switched back to full caliber with no issue.
 
FarpinDar said:
I have heard of gas tubes rupturing after running a conversion kit a long time and then shooting .223. No idea what that round count might be. I have shot 1k+ with my conversion kit and then switched back to full caliber with no issue.
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Curious about firsthand accounts of this, it would seem like the has would have to have nowhere else to go and can't see how just a clogged gas tube would lead to this situation.
 
NoNameHaveI said:
Curious about firsthand accounts of this, it would seem like the has would have to have nowhere else to go and can't see how just a clogged gas tube would lead to this situation.
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I don't think the person that told me of his blowing up is on the forum. I'll see him next month and ask him.
 
Ran a conversion kit with thousands of rounds prior to getting a dedicated .22 upper. I would be more concerned about powder fouling in the tube. I never had a problem, and don't think you could get enough fouling to be an issue, but could be wrong. It will lead up the rifling in a .556 bbl. Could push out long curls of lead once I finally cleaned it.
 
Wahoo95 said:
Yes, you can get some lead in your gas tube over time. Run some 223 thru it periodically to blow that stuff out and all will be fine.
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^^^^ What he said.

I ran several hundred with a conversion kit in my AR pistol (really fun combination, BTW) and after each session I would finish up by removing the kit and firing a mag or two of .223. Never had any issues or noticed any leading afterwards in the barrel. I did, however, notice leading in the forward portion of the chamber adapter (before the bullet gets to the actual barrel). I feel sure if I had used copper plated 22LR this would not have been an issue.
 
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I have put many many thousands of rounds through 22 adapters, no gas tube or leading problems. Mostly Minimags, Blazer, and Automatch so junky ammo could be worse.

I will say that if you have a brake with side ports, DON'T shoot a lot of 22 and then take your first 223 shots on a firing line with anyone nearby. Debris from my brake got somebody laying next to me in several places on that first shot one time maybe 5 years ago. Not a good thing.
 
Derek8404 said:
How would lead even get into the gas tube?
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.22's seem to spray lead everywhere.

It becomes super apparent when you get a .22 pistol with a compensator. Comp will be full of lead (to the point where it will completely close and start keyholing bullets) in pretty short order, like 5,000 rounds or even much less depending on ammo.
 
NKD said:
.22's seem to spray lead everywhere.

It becomes super apparent when you get a .22 pistol with a compensator. Comp will be full of lead (to the point where it will completely close and start keyholing bullets) in pretty short order, like 5,000 rounds or even much less depending on ammo.
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Ah, I did not know that. thanks.
 
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