I have recently become the proud owner of a 686 performance center revolver. After taking it out and putting some rounds down range I began to give it a good cleaning. Not to my surprise the burn marks around the face of the cylinder did not come off(see pictures below) with the same ease as other areas of the revolver.

I have read that Mothers mag and aluminum polish or a lead away cloths can be used. My concern is the glass bead finish, I would like to keep it intact as much as possible.

So my question would be is there a safe and effective way to remove these marks without harming the finish?

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That bead blast finish will show marks. I can offer no suggestion how to keep them from showing, and clean the burn marks off the cylinder face, other than not shooting it.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have a nickel 27-2 and all I do is just scrub the loose stuff off with bore cleaner and wipe down well. And let your revolver wear it's powder marks on the cylinder face with pride. It shows that it has been used.

Yes after reading this thread. I am beginning to lean the way you both have suggested.

Thanks for sharing your expertise.

Anything that will remove the marks or the cylinder face is of necessity abrasive to some extent. These will all result in polishing any portion of the revolver finish which they are used on. Wipe the cylinder face with normal solvents and accept the fact that a revolver that is used will show signs of being, well, used! The only way to keep your gun looking like new is to leave it in the box and don't shoot it! Sound like it is already too late

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Gunsmithing since 1961

The lead wipe cloths or patches will get rid of those marks easily. They won't hurt the finish on a stainless gun or change the texture in the slightest. I've removed those carbon rings with Hoppes and a stainless brush for years (bronze brush on blued guns), but some people fear harming the texture of the finish so I won't recommend that. The cylinder face and forcing cone area take a lot of punishment during firing, especially in a 357 magnum, a little brushing won't hurt it....

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

LeadAway cloth will polish the cylinder face on a bead blasted finish. A soda blaster will not harm the bead blasted finish and will remove all burn rings and lead build up. I used it on my 686 CS-1 and it looks excellent. YMMV.

For some reason I'm remembering Phil Hartman's "Anal-Retentive Chef" routine...

No offense intended, but the cylinder-face flash marks have never really bothered me. My guns don't look grungy or beat to hell, but they do show some signs of the pleasure they've given me.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I wouldn't say they bother me, I understand that use will show. Part of the reason I purchased this firearm was that I enjoyed the look of the matte metal finish. My question was mostly for informational purposes to know what options are available should I decide I would like to restore the original luster.

Although I do plan to baby it, I certainly intended to use it and enjoy my purchase.

Thanks again for all the advice!