Lead ammo clean up?

After finding out that two friends of mine hadn't fired a gun since .22s in their childhood, I took them out to the range and let them experience a Garand, a POF P-15, a S&W Model 19, a FNS-9c and my DW Valor. One of them is now infatuated with 1911s, and the other intends to get a S&W 66 or 686 (I guess he was only partially 'enlightened' , although I suppose revolvers are acceptable). Look out world, a new 1911 addict has been created!

Together we ran about 550 rounds through my Valor, 500 rounds of which were hard cast lead ball from 'Quality Made Cartridges'. This was the first time I was able to take my Valor out after it got back from getting a loose rear sight fixed, and it passed with only one very obviously limpwristing-induced FTF (complete beginner shooter with nervous shakes in the hands - you know the drill). That lead ammo was accurate, but smoked like black powder and was dirty as heck (by the end, the stainless bushing and plug were as black as the slide). I was impressed that the Valor kept on chugging even when every interior surface was covered in thick black nastiness (the feed ramp was absolutely caked). I gave it a few drops of lubricant about 2/3 of the way through, but otherwise it was left alone its filth. Even at its dirtiest however, the action felt very smooth.

Cleaning it up was a nightmare, though. It took me over an hour going over it with Hoppes-soaked q-tips to get it to something approaching clean again - the sludge was deposited in every nook and cranny, way worse than anything I'd ever seen with FMJ ammo. Does anyone have any handy tips for cleaning lead ammo fouling on guns with melonite/nitride/duty treat finishes that won't ruin the finish? I was sorely tempted to break out the gunscrubber more than once, but I understand that stuff can ruin nitrocarburized finishes. Lead ammo is nice and cheap, but if there's no workaround for the sludge problem I might switch back to conventional ammo.

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Lead ammo clean up?