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?

ALWAYS take it off,,, I would ask, why not ?

If I have fired just a couple cylinder's full, I don't take it off. For a full cleaning I do remove it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Leave it on. Easy enough to
clean without removing it.

Perhaps if cylinder feels sluggish
or once a year, then remove it.

A drop or so of Rem Oil around the
bushing once in a while doesn't
hurt.

But if removing it makes you happy
by all means do so. Just don't over
lube or oil before reassembling.

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Ubi Est Mea

I remove the cylinder for cleaning. Sometimes the side plate and internals.

I like a clean gun and this is pretty standard cleaning for me.

All I'm missing is my cup of coffee.










They're just soo much nicer when they're clean.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

For Pythons, all other Colts and S&Ws, I remove the cylinder for cleaning.

along with the cylinder I also remove the stocks

When cleaning any revolver after a shooting session, I remove the cylinder. I clean and lubricate the yoke as there seems to be carbon fouling buildup there. I don't believe that you need to do this each time. Before doing this many years ago, I occasionally experienced a slight drag on cylinder rotation. I believe that this was due in part to carbon/grit and/or lack of lubrication. After I started with this cleaning regimen I no longer had this problem.

My only caution to you is to be certain to use the correct size screwdriver to remove the side plate screw retaining the yoke.

HTH.

JPJ.

When the cylinder doesn't revolve very freely, there is obviously a lack of lubricant (or maybe gummy lubricant) and perhaps some grime that needs removal. I remove the cylinder at that point and give everything the needed attention. Virtually all of my revolvers have seen a good bit of firing and all are far from new; most I've had more than thirty years.

I've never thought to take note of how often I remove a cylinder for cleaning, but would guess about every two-three years, certainly not any more often than that.

I see no reason to bugger up any screws and remove the cylinder on routine cleanings. Spray lubes and compressed air are my friends.
Yes, I have a complete set of S&W screwdrivers but bad s**t happens.

I always remove the cylinder before cleaning. Not only is it easier to clean, but it also puts no strain on the yoke (crane). If it's mishandled in closing the cylinder (flipped shut rather than pressed in) the misalignment can cause real problems. Same principle applies here. Take it out carefully.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I always take the cylinder out. Makes it easier to clean the burn marks off the front of the cylinder.

There's gonna be a lot of opinions on this one! First off, I'm not obsessive about cleaning a gun each and every time I fire it. GASP! Certainly I understand those who do clean each time. For those in the service to our country, Uncle Sam settles for nothing less.

For a "light cleaning" I leave the cylinder in place. I always remove the stocks. Leaving the cylinder in place is a little awkward, though. A thorough cleaning means removing and disassembling the cylinder. Once in a blue moon, I pop the sideplate and clean/relube the guts.

Call me crazy, or another name of your choosing. It works for me. Removing the sideplate isn't that big of a deal as many might have you believe. Just use the right tools and technique. And cleaning after every firing isn't (IMNHO) needed.

Forty-odd years of shooting S&W revolvers and I've never once removed the cylinder on any of 'em for cleaning.

They are carefully cleaned and oiled after shooting, and continue to function perfectly.

I always remove the cylinder.

Been shooting revolvers over 50 yrs & have never removed the cylinder, likely b/c I’m not mechanically inclined and fear something going awry, but they all still run perfectly.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Python owners (or wannabes) are so obsessive about the finish of their guns that whomever told you to not remove the cylinder was probably afraid of buggering up the screw or (gasp!) scratching the precious....

I'm surprised that some even shoot their Pythons, particularly the status seeking newbies. FWIW, my first centerfire handgun was a Python (second was a 4" 66) and I've owned 4 or 5 others. Shot that first one quite a bit, wish I still had it (but that's another story).

Python forum? LOL

Clean your guns the way you're used to doing it, it'll be fine.

I almost never remove the cylinder. Ok, you got me. I never remove the cylinder.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I’m a bit of a slob when it comes to cleaning guns.

Back in my high school rifle team days, I got in huge trouble for cleaning my Winchester 52C during the season: Sargent Shaw made me do pushups before each daily practice for weeks!

He wanted to impress on me how undesirable and unnecessary it was to clean a well seasoned barrel in the middle of the competitive season.

In the ensuing 55+ years, I’ve followed Sgt. Shaw’s ‘advice’ and resisted the impulse to muck about with guns that are working well.

I’ve routinely run 500+ rounds through my 1911’s between cleaning; I wipe my shotguns down after use during the season and take care of the finish and grease the hinge pin (I use Parker guns) but only clean them at the end of the season, and I wipe my edc daily with a lightly oiled rag.

I don’t disassemble revolvers to clean them.

The stocks, side plate and cylinder are removed whether I shoot one cylinder or twenty. I bought a "vise smith" but I haven't used it yet.

Everything is cleaned and lubricated then reassembled.

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U.S. Coast Guard, retired CPO

I like to keep my car clean too. I don't just wash the windows.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I always remove the cylinder. Way easier to clean it when it's out.

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Heavily armed old man.

My schedule is never that full that I don’t have the time to remove the cylinder for a proper cleaning.

Another one who ALWAYS removes the cylinder. For me it’s faster and makes it easier to thoroughly clean. Or perhaps it’s the way I was taught.

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213th FBINA

You guys inspired me and it looks so easy to remove. Will remove them all when cleaning a used revolver after purchase from now on.

When I was young my dad impressed upon me to clean-up after myself. That also went for cleaning guns after we shot them. When I shoot mt gun I clean then afterwards. That includes removing the stocks and the cylinder. I inspect, clean, lube and back in the safe. Why? Why not?

Please invest in a proper set of screwdrivers before removing any screws from any firearm. I will never consider purchasing any firearm that has buggered up screws even though the seller had reduced the selling price substantially to compensate for that fact.
BROWNELLS S&W SCREWDRIVER | Brownells

You can carefully clean the Cylinder and the rest of the Revolver,
by leaving Cylinder on.

Taking the Screw, Yoke, Cylinder off every time is just a lot of
wear and tear on those Components.

Unless you are shooting hundreds of rounds and the powder is
really dirty, I would just carefully clean.

When I go to the Range, I have several Revolvers with me. I am
very conservative, and will probably shoot two Cylinders from
each Revolver.

When I get home, I just carefully wipe the powder residue off
with a Make Up removal Cotton Round and full Synthetic Oil. I
also make sure the Cylinder spins freely.

Now when the Cylinder starts to turn sluggishly then I take the
Yoke/Cylinder off and clean.

To each their own, the Best to you and your endeavors.

Attached Images

	SW MG 629 44Mag cleaning.jpg (47.9 KB, 28 views)
	gunclean.jpg (4.2 KB, 386 views)

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

Somtimes I do. Sometimes I don’t. But I always run a brush with Ballistol through the barrel and cylinders, and do a good wipe down with same, before I leave the range.

It’s good to disassemble, clean, lube often. I lube all the metal to metal contact parts with moly. Oil is for the bores.

Slotted screw heads are not intended for frequent use no matter how well the screwdriver tip fits. That said, there is little choice but to carefully remove the forward sideplate screw to fully get at the cylinder, crane and center pin. Manhandling the cylinder over the frame cylinder stops mars the cylinder O.D. If I disassemble the cylinder I'm careful to place it between the stops and insert the yoke. It doesn't matter much, but if done frequently the gun will get counterproductively marred. Samuel Colt was way ahead of S&W with his spring loaded cylinder pin latch. If I was crazy serious about frequent disassembly and cleaning I would figure out how to substitute a socket head capscrew for the forward lockplate screw. Sooner or later that slotted screwdriver will slip and make a mess.

Great advice! I already have a full set of gunsmith screwdrivers and it's amazing how tight they fit the screwhead compared to an automotive screwdriver.
I also have factory S&W replacement screws! Their only a dollar or two each at MidwayUSA. They are a great filler item if you're just shy of free shipping too!

I'm obviously not qualified to be a member of the collectors association. I use my guns. Yeah, I have way more than I need but Oh Well! If a screw shows some evidence of being used, then it obviously got used. So what! Go to the range and shoot a couple of cylinders out of several guns??? Not likely. If I go to the range I'm going to send some lead down range, unless I'm just doing a function test on something. I guess I still suffer from a old used cops attitude that a gun is a tool to be used. It's also why I'll never get big bucks for any of mine on gun brokers. It's also why I'll never buy one of those expensive guns on gun brokers, because I'll shoot the you know what out of it. Yeah, I generally remove the cylinder for cleaning. An yeah, after qualifications or a training session, having fired 160 rounds minimum, I've been known to use a leatherman when necessary if no decent screwdriver was about, and then stuff it back in my holster and jump back in the patrol car, likely banging it on the door jam in the process.

I guess I should resign from the forum after that.

Hickock45 doesn't.

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You're shy a few manners.

Some shooters damage their guns by a neglectful lack of cleaning.
Some shooters damage their guns by obsessive over-cleaning.

One is as bad as the other.

How do you guys clean the burn marks from the front of the cylinder.

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Dick

I use this Husky screwdriver. It fits perfect.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

IF it’s stainless, this’ll do the trick. I’ve put countless thousands of rounds thru this 66-1 and I’m at least the third owner.

Attached Images

AFE5AAA7-E17B-4392-9D11-6B432365FE40.jpg (78.2 KB, 41 views)

Ditto on the Birchwood/Casey lead remover and polishing cloth.

This was my brother's 66-1 that was his duty revolver for 10 years. He LOVED shooting .357s.
I can't even imaging how many rounds have gone thru this gun.

I am the second owner and I have only put a few hundred thru it myself.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

But these fit correctly,.
What is the Difference Between Gunsmith and Regular Screwdrivers? - YouTube

But these fit correctly,.
What is the Difference Between Gunsmith and Regular Screwdrivers? - YouTube

I've never buggered a screw.

Not only is the screw driver blade important but so is the person using it.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Yep. Me either in 40 something years. But, it's their guns.

John