Question about cleaning revolvers

Airweight38 · 08-14-2008, 12:49 PM

I'm a lifelong semi-auto guy who just recently started shooting revolvers. I used to use Q Tips on all of my semi-autos and they worked famously, since most edges in semi-autos are smooth. I'm discovering that revolvers, on the other hand, have more rough edges (around the barrel...and the shell extractor particularly. I'm getting little strands of cotton everywhere and it's driving me nuts. What do you guys use to clean yours?

KW Gary M · 08-14-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airweight38

I'm a lifelong semi-auto guy who just recently started shooting revolvers. I used to use Q Tips on all of my semi-autos and they worked famously, since most edges in semi-autos are smooth. I'm discovering that revolvers, on the other hand, have more rough edges (around the barrel...and the shell extractor particularly. I'm getting little strands of cotton everywhere and it's driving me nuts. What do you guys use to clean yours?

Have you tried a baor Snake? I use that and a face cloth. Even a cut up old T-Shirt has worked too.

Airweight38 · 08-14-2008, 01:07 PM

I love my bore snakes. I ahve one in .38 and .22 and use the heck out of 'em. But, I'm talking more along the lines of cleaning around little goofy areas. Stuff you'd pick at with a Q tip.... like under the shell extractor or the corners on the inside of the frame around the cylinder...

Coeloptera · 08-14-2008, 01:25 PM

Brass brushes, like for a grill. They come in toothbrush-like sizes and work very well for getting around the forcing cone, the extractor, and so on. You can get a pack of them at a big box store for like 2 bucks.

Since the metal is softer than the steel and my gun isn't plated, nothing scratches.

- Coeloptera

Deep13 · 08-14-2008, 01:30 PM

Nylon brush for exterior.
Bronze brush for forcing cone area and front of cylinder.
Bronze bore brush for barrel followed by cotton patches.
Bronze chamber brush for chambers.
Rinse it all with Outers spray solvent.
Run a patch each through each chamber and the bore.
I use a bore snake on the 0.22 chambers, but not the bore. I know they are popular, but it seems to me that they are like running a dirty patch through the bore.

Deep13 · 08-14-2008, 01:32 PM

All that is for stainless steel, which all my revolvers are. I wouldn't use any kind of metal brush on a blued exterior or nickle. I would never use a steel brush on anything.

Coeloptera · 08-14-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deep13

Nylon brush for exterior.
Bronze brush for forcing cone area and front of cylinder.
Bronze bore brush for barrel followed by cotton patches.
Bronze chamber brush for chambers.
Rinse it all with Outers spray solvent.
Run a patch each through each chamber and the bore.
I use a bore snake on the 0.22 chambers, but not the bore. I know they are popular, but it seems to me that they are like running a dirty patch through the bore.

Bronze...my head fell off.

- Coeloptera

Mike Franklin · 08-14-2008, 02:07 PM

A brass brush won't hurt a blued gun. Do as much brushing as you need to and then work a patch around those parts. There are a few places that get dirty that don't really hurt function. The underside of the topstrap, the outside face of the crane, the front edge, not face, of the cylinder. But if you don't clean'm your gun will look dirty. you can fold a patch over the end of a flat ended screwdriver and use that to get into some of the tight spots.

Deep13 · 08-14-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coeloptera

Bronze...my head fell off.

- Coeloptera

Are they brass? Come to think of it, I just buy the ones that are the right color (and size). I don't remember what the package actually says.

Coeloptera · 08-14-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deep13

Are they brass? Come to think of it, I just buy the ones that are the right color (and size). I don't remember what the package actually says.

Okay see...now you went and made me really think about this.

Apparently I have both bronze cleaning brushes from a cleaning kit and brass brushes as well. Honestly I've never noticed a difference in use except that I was right the first time. You can buy the brass grill brushes at a big box store.

Okay, now I have to ask is there some difference I'm not seeing?

- Coeloptera

billy · 08-14-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airweight38

I love my bore snakes. I ahve one in .38 and .22 and use the heck out of 'em. But, I'm talking more along the lines of cleaning around little goofy areas. Stuff you'd pick at with a Q tip.... like under the shell extractor or the corners on the inside of the frame around the cylinder...

plastic as well as brass/bronze brushes.
regular bore brushes
and the good ol boresnake

stalebiscuit · 08-14-2008, 05:42 PM

t-shirts, cloths

samuel · 08-14-2008, 06:39 PM

I know I will catch it for this but over cleaning in some places like the frame over the chamber and around the barrel/frame.Every time you clean it down to metal,the next time you shoot it the hot powder/gasses have bare metal to work on until it builds up again.As long as the buildup isnt bothering the function,it is benefitting you. sam.

08-14-2008, 12:49 PM	#1
Airweight38 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 327	Question about cleaning revolvers I'm a lifelong semi-auto guy who just recently started shooting revolvers. I used to use Q Tips on all of my semi-autos and they worked famously, since most edges in semi-autos are smooth. I'm discovering that revolvers, on the other hand, have more rough edges (around the barrel...and the shell extractor particularly. I'm getting little strands of cotton everywhere and it's driving me nuts. What do you guys use to clean yours? __________________ I'll keep my freedom, guns and money. You can keep the "Change."

08-14-2008, 01:07 PM	#3
Airweight38 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 327	I love my bore snakes. I ahve one in .38 and .22 and use the heck out of 'em. But, I'm talking more along the lines of cleaning around little goofy areas. Stuff you'd pick at with a Q tip.... like under the shell extractor or the corners on the inside of the frame around the cylinder... __________________ I'll keep my freedom, guns and money. You can keep the "Change."

08-14-2008, 02:07 PM	#8
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,267	A brass brush won't hurt a blued gun. Do as much brushing as you need to and then work a patch around those parts. There are a few places that get dirty that don't really hurt function. The underside of the topstrap, the outside face of the crane, the front edge, not face, of the cylinder. But if you don't clean'm your gun will look dirty. you can fold a patch over the end of a flat ended screwdriver and use that to get into some of the tight spots. __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

08-14-2008, 05:42 PM	#12
stalebiscuit Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: atlanta, but much rather be in valdosta Posts: 3,539	t-shirts, cloths __________________ honey, i forgot to duck!

08-14-2008, 01:25 PM	#4
Coeloptera Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 3,561	Brass brushes, like for a grill. They come in toothbrush-like sizes and work very well for getting around the forcing cone, the extractor, and so on. You can get a pack of them at a big box store for like 2 bucks. Since the metal is softer than the steel and my gun isn't plated, nothing scratches. - Coeloptera

08-14-2008, 01:30 PM	#5
Deep13 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 722	Nylon brush for exterior. Bronze brush for forcing cone area and front of cylinder. Bronze bore brush for barrel followed by cotton patches. Bronze chamber brush for chambers. Rinse it all with Outers spray solvent. Run a patch each through each chamber and the bore. I use a bore snake on the 0.22 chambers, but not the bore. I know they are popular, but it seems to me that they are like running a dirty patch through the bore.

08-14-2008, 01:32 PM	#6
Deep13 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 722	All that is for stainless steel, which all my revolvers are. I wouldn't use any kind of metal brush on a blued exterior or nickle. I would never use a steel brush on anything.

08-14-2008, 06:39 PM	#13
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 12,447	I know I will catch it for this but over cleaning in some places like the frame over the chamber and around the barrel/frame.Every time you clean it down to metal,the next time you shoot it the hot powder/gasses have bare metal to work on until it builds up again.As long as the buildup isnt bothering the function,it is benefitting you. sam.