Since the late 1970's, I was taught, and from then on I always cleaned, my revolvers (S&W Models 29, 14, 17, and 19) by first removing the cylinder. I now have a 1980 Python to go along with my revolvers, but in the Python forum, it was suggested that the revolver be cleaned without removing the cylinder.

It's so easy to do, and seems to make the cleaning job all that much easier, that I don't understand any reluctance to removing the cylinder as one of the first steps.

So, I'm asking the question here - do you guys and gals clean your revolvers with the cylinder in place, or detached from the gun? ......and why?