Your Dad told you right! Guns are tools, tools when used develop wear patterns related to how they are used. You don't want it dirty, don't shoot it. There is a very old axiom, as true today as it ever was, that is: "There are far more guns worn out by cleaning than by shooting!"
The staining, literally burns, on the face of the cylinder causes no harm. It is quite close to being an actual heat bluing. Using abrasives to remove is causes wear to the gun and, eventually, is harmful. Regardless what some will tell you, lead remover cloths, Flitz, Mother's, Simi Chrome, and any other polish are abrasive. Very fine, but still abrasive, that's why they polish! Many times someone says they want to polish their gun, but not remove any metal! Ain't going to happen. Polishing IS removal of metal to some degree, can't happen any other way. Being obsessive about keeping things "clean" is not a positive character trait.
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Gunsmithing since 1961
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