Author Topic: How to Clean???  (Read 1266 times)

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Offline ihuntbucks

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How to Clean???
« on: March 12, 2009, 08:37:43 PM »
How do you remove/clean the powder burns from the end of a revolver clyinder?I have a SBH "Hunter" .44 mag that has it.I know it doesn't hurt it,but I do not like it.Bore solvent will not work.Some time back someone posted a post about this,I think.I want the cylinder to shine like the rest of the gun ;D.....Rick
"Traveling East" F&AM #261  RAM #105  R&SM #69  KT #23 "Live for nothing;die for something"

Offline ShootnStr8

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2009, 01:22:24 AM »
I use carburetor cleaner with care not to get it on the grips. 

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Offline Ken ONeill

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2009, 02:00:20 AM »
A "Lead Away" cloth will work on a stainless gun. Do not use it on a blued gun as it will remove the bluing.

Offline Glanceblamm

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2009, 04:37:29 AM »
It will pretty much be there all the time especially if you are shooting a couple times a week. What you try to do though is control it and the toothbrush type of the bronze brushes that you can find at the gunshows as well as some outlets can work well with your common solvents. What I like to do is to clean the cylinder first and leave it setting there (wet) while I clean the rest of the gun. This gives the solvent time to soften up the fouling and then you can use the brush.

To get the cylinder face factory clean many do like the lead cloth. I have not used one but have a tube of Gun Bright paste that works well.


Offline Graybeard

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2009, 05:53:38 AM »
Simple really. If you want your guns to shine like new the DON'T SHOOT THEM SILLY BOY.  :o

Guns that are used ain't supposed to look like new ya need to stop worrying about such matters and just use them as they were intended to be used and accept the fact a well used gun looks like a well used gun.  ::)


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Offline skarke

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2009, 06:00:10 AM »
You'll want to get the fouling reduced to the point where it doesn't alter cylinder dimensions or cycling.  Scrubbing guns to the point of sterilization is usually more harmful than leaving a little staining alone.  Build up is one thing, cosmetics is another all together.  That said, I've had a little luck with a good coat of Ballistol around the cylinder front, the strap, and outside the forcing cone before shooting.  Most of the crud seems to wipe off.  However, I haven't tried to shoot 300 rounds before cleaning either.

The black powder guys like it.  It is mainly mineral oil with detergents.  It cleans up with soapy water, and doesn't smell bad.

It's cheap also, you might like it.

If your cylinder is stainless, the lead cloths are excellent, per everybody else.
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Offline skarke

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2009, 06:06:49 AM »
PS, a sharpened penny works wonders in those leaded up areas.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.  Ronaldus Maximus

Offline AtlLaw

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2009, 06:10:48 AM »
If you want your guns to shine like new the DON'T SHOOT THEM SILLY BOY.  :o

 :D  LOL!!!!

While I now agree with Bill, there was a time when that used to bother the heck outa me also!  Back many, many seasons ago I had my S&W M49 finished in a then new process called "Armaloy."  This was before SS guns, or at least there weren't many around.  However, the resulting finish looked very much like SS.

For the first time the residue around the chamber mouths became very apparent.  I found myself spending more time scrubbing that area with a brass brush then I did cleaning the rest of the revolver!  I finally asked myself, "why?"  And haven't concerned myself with the issue since.

A handgun with some cosmetic shortcomings is kinda like being stuck with an ugly woman... if she feels good in your hands and does what she's suposed to, then there are some other things you just got to ignore...  ;D
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Offline ihuntbucks

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2009, 07:32:24 PM »
Thanks guys.I'm going to try the "Lead Away" cloth.I'll take note on so-called "not worring "about the looks....but I don't think so ;D....Rick
"Traveling East" F&AM #261  RAM #105  R&SM #69  KT #23 "Live for nothing;die for something"

Offline Jack Magnum

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2009, 03:41:03 PM »
Thanks guys.I'm going to try the "Lead Away" cloth.I'll take note on so-called "not worring "about the looks....but I don't think so ;D....Rick
I use lead away cloth. You can use your gun all week and still have it look good. I just cut out little pcs of the cloth and the ppowder residue comes right off.

Offline Autorim

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2009, 05:28:48 PM »
You can go to your local Mercury dealer and buy a spray can of Quicksilver engine cleaner. It is designed to remove carbon from cylinder heads. I have used it for years to help remove carbon in front of the chamber in rifles. I think the benchrest guys were the first to find this.

Offline Autorim

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2009, 05:31:33 PM »
I meant to also say -  It works, but I seldom do it. I just shoot, clean and don't worry about the carbon staining. I shot 5 handguns today and I had rather shoot than clean, but I do take care of my firearms.

Offline ihuntbucks

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #12 on: April 05, 2009, 01:53:18 PM »
My order for some more supplies came in this week.One thing I got was a couple of "Tipton's" Metal Magic Gun Cloth and let be the first to say they are a "God sent"The cloth cleaned my .357 and .44 mag ss revolvers up "b-e-a-u-i-t-i-f-u-l-l-y" They look like they're brand new.I am one happy camper ;D.......Rick
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Offline Autorim

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2009, 02:02:45 PM »
I can't help but wonder. Does using a lead removing cloth increase the exposure to lead poisoning. Do you throw the cloth away after cleaning or handle it repeatedly? It seems that if you repeatedly handle a lead saturated cloth containing elements that remove lead that you are increasing exposure.

I may be a bit more aware of this as I had a friend who developed lead poisoning. The human body is not made to rid itself of heavy metals.

Offline .308 Win.

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #14 on: April 09, 2009, 06:39:27 PM »
  I have used Flitz metal polish and it does a pretty good job. 

Offline Jack Magnum

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #15 on: April 09, 2009, 11:06:43 PM »
I can't help but wonder. Does using a lead removing cloth increase the exposure to lead poisoning. Do you throw the cloth away after cleaning or handle it repeatedly? It seems that if you repeatedly handle a lead saturated cloth containing elements that remove lead that you are increasing exposure.

I may be a bit more aware of this as I had a friend who developed lead poisoning. The human body is not made to rid itself of heavy metals.
I use rubber gloves to clean my guns,Like the kind docs uses. I cut small pcs out to clean problem areas such as cylinder, back strap etc. and the pcs are so leaded up you can't use them again---Throw away.I don't use them every shooting session .Actually, Just when I'll be giving them a long rest.

Offline Autorim

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #16 on: April 10, 2009, 01:20:17 PM »
I like to shoot a lot more than I like to clean. I take good care of my firearms to prevent rust, but I rarely clean them "sparkling new"  - maybe I should say never. After shooting, I examine the barrel and cylinders and if they look OK, I wipe them off until I go shoot again - which won't be very long.

Some gun owners like to polish and add fancy grips which is fine, but I shoot, try to improve and clean occasionally or if leading is a problem. I guess that carries over into my vehicles. I change the oil and filters and air cleaner and sometimes I actually wash them.

Offline glockman55

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #17 on: April 14, 2009, 04:05:37 AM »
When their new you like to keep um polished up, but after a while it's just a seasoned look. I never could get mine (like new) clean on my Red Hawk..I bought it to shoot it.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: How to Clean???
« Reply #18 on: April 14, 2009, 04:17:27 AM »
atlLaw , that was a classic !
since more guns are damaged by cleaning why take the chance ?
If ya can see it ya can hit it !