Cleaning out a 41 compensator

[thessler]

Hi
The compensator on my 41 is just about clogged. Any suggestions for an easy clean out. I'm using Hoppes 9 but the stuff is caked on and not really loosening much.I'm trying to avoid scraping and filing , the stuff is hard as a rock.
Thanks, Tom

[colt_saa]

I know it is too late, but back in the olden days we used to spray the comp with Carter's Compensator Cleaner before shooting

The lead deposits almost wiped away.

You could buy it mail order from Gil Hibbens back then.

For the younger folks on the Forum, "Mail Order" is the predecessor to the Internet

Carter's has not been made for decades (thank you again EPA) but I am sure that something has replaced it.

Getting it back to clean if it has been ignored for many range sessions is going to take work.

Forget about #9 and buy one of the many solvents that specifically talk about lead fouling. Let is soak for and hour and them brush it with a brass, bronze or copper brush. Rinse it off and repeat until finished.

Remember the Model 41 comp is aluminium. It is still softer than lead, but your steel scrapers are much harder than the comp and they will gouge it

[Barrie]

I believe most of us don't use the Compensators on our M41's for this reason. Myself I have a false Nose on mine which works great and never needs cleaning ever. I suggest letting it soak overnight in a stronger cleaner from Hopes like No. 13. Send me a private message and I can help you locate one for your gun.

[Tom S.]

I don't have a Model 41 comp, but on the comps I do have, I use Hoppe's and a dental pick - a stainless one, not the newer plastic ones.

[Bakebfr480]

I didn't think a compensator was needed on a 22!

[824tsv]

O.P., you have your work cut out for you. The anodized finish won't stand up to abrasive cleaning. You need to find something powerful enough to loosen the fouling and rub away with a soft brush.

[smithrjd]

Lead Away from Shooters Choice should work, but it will be a long process. Soak, scrap/scrub and soak again. Use a orange wood stick, or a hard plastic one. Steel will work but it would be easy to go through the anodized finished aluminum. I took mine off and use a false muzzle cover.

[H Richard]

Soaking in Kroil, and then using dental pics to scrape it out.

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

FWIW, the reason I didn't use the muzzle brake on my Model 41 had nothing to do with cleaning. James Clark told me in writing that he experienced a slight loss of accuracy with its use. That was enough for me.

[civil1977]

I agree its best to shoot without the muzzle brake installed and use the false muzzle. To clean a muzzle brake, I soak it in Kroil for a week and then clean out the inside with the plastic Tipton cleaning pics. For really stubborn deposits this may have to be repeated several times.

[Barrie]

Model520Fan You are quite correct in that the compensator will cause these pistols to shoot slightly high to the left as well finally really throw your aim off altogether. The false nose never needs cleaning and keeps me on track as well. Usely the False nose kits come with the proper screw in the bag with it as well.

[JohnHL]

A little thread drift here.

A couple of comments seem to indicate that the compensator causes inaccuracy.

Why would S&W produce and install a product for their most accurate .22 pistol that makes it shoot poorly?

John?

[Leon Narozny]

I don't know how to go back and find my posts, but I posted a cleaner for the MB that worked like magic. I know it had acetone, and I think the other ingredient was white vinegar. A 50/50 mix. I put the MB in a small jar and let it soak a day or so. The lead flaked off, all I used was a toothbrush to get into the vents. If anybody is good at going back by "subject" you may find this thread. I believe it was about two years ago.
I do not use the MB on my 41, the FMB is much better.
I never had any accuracy issues with the MB on the gun.

[civil1977]

Originally Posted by JohnHL

A little thread drift here.

A couple of comments seem to indicate that the compensator causes inaccuracy.

Why would S&W produce and install a product for their most accurate .22 pistol that makes it shoot poorly?

John?

The muzzle brake is removable so the shooter could decide for themselves. The muzzle brake may be an advantage during timed fire where less muzzle rise is beneficial.

Gil Hebard and Jim Clark tested several top .22 target pistols and published the results in the 1961 Gun Digest and Hebard’s Pistol Shooter’s Treasury. They used a machine rest and shot 10 shot groups at 50 yards. They tested the following guns with and without their removable muzzle brakes; S&W Model 41, High Standard Citation and Olympic, Hammerli Model 200 and Ruger Mark I. All guns shot better groups without the muzzle brake.

In the case of the Model 41, the group with the muzzle brake was 1.449” vs. 0.978” without the brake.

By the mid to late 1970s S&W dropped the muzzle brake and 7 3/8” barrel, which was replaced by the 7” barrel.

Gil Hebard’s Pistol Shooter’s Treasury is a great book packed full of usefull shooting info.

[Tom S.]

Originally Posted by civil1977

The muzzle brake is removable so the shooter could decide for themselves. The muzzle brake may be an advantage during timed fire where less muzzle rise is beneficial.

Gil Hebard and Jim Clark tested several top .22 target pistols and published the results in the 1961 Gun Digest and Hebard’s Pistol Shooter’s Treasury. They used a machine rest and shot 10 shot groups at 50 yards. They tested the following guns with and without their removable muzzle brakes; S&W Model 41, High Standard Citation and Olympic, Hammerli Model 200 and Ruger Mark I. All guns shot better groups without the muzzle brake.

In the case of the Model 41, the group with the muzzle brake was 1.449” vs. 0.978” without the brake.

By the mid to late 1970s S&W dropped the muzzle brake and 7 3/8” barrel, which was replaced by the 7” barrel.

Gil Hebard’s Pistol Shooter’s Treasury is a great book packed full of usefull shooting info.

And that sums it all up nicely!

While the muzzle brake is a neat object, it belongs in the box an not on the gun.

[rwsmith]

...but it seems like an extra shot of ammonia wouldn't hurt.

[6string]

Hi Guys,
Gil Hebard, the bullseye shooter and founder of Hebard Guns, wrote a great book called "The Pistol Shooter's Treasury".
It is a treasure trove of bullseye shooting information and knowledge. It is long out of print.
Gil often compiled tests, including one involving 22 target autos with and w/o compensators. He did this test in 1960 or 1961. 10 shots @ 50 yds out of a machine rest. Rugers, High Standards, Hämmerli, and S&Ws are on the list.
Attached is a copy of the results...

You can draw your own conclusions regarding compensators.

Jim

[Joe Hohmann]

Originally Posted by Bakebfr480

I didn't think a compensator was needed on a 22!

It's not, especially for a semi-auto. But it looks "macho".

[gwpercle]

As to cleaning , a good long soak in Ed's Red Bore Cleaner (search the term for the recipe) it's a good home made cleaner , 4 common ingredients from wally mart, after soaking use a stiff tooth brush to remove build up.
Repeat soaking and scrubbing if necessary.
Ed's Red Bore Cleaner is good for this sort of cleaning.
My model 41 is also a little more accurate without the compensator, do a test and see if it helps or hurts accuracy....it is cool looking though !

Gary

[kidcom]

It was mentioned to me that if you soak the MB in liquid mercury (dangerous stuff), the lead will simply dissolve in a brief period of time. Personally, I wouldn't touch this suggestion with a ten foot pole. It was given to me by an LGS.

[Tom S.]

Originally Posted by kidcom

It was mentioned to me that if you soak the MB in liquid mercury (dangerous stuff), the lead will simply dissolve in a brief period of time. Personally, I wouldn't touch this suggestion with a ten foot pole. It was given to me by an LGS.

When I was a kid, my dad brought home a small bottle of mercury. I learned that you could rub it on a copper penny and it would make it shine like a dime. I did several of these, using my bare hands of course, and it never had any eflfkjskgh;j jkw hkhdjhahg abmvq0fghah hh eiyv on me.

[6string]

Originally Posted by Joe Hohmann

It's not, especially for a semi-auto. But it looks "macho".

It's too bad that we've lost sight of what these TARGET grade 22 semi auto pistols were designed and intended for that people really think a compensator is some sort of "tacticool" accessory.

Closely read the chart I posted above. The compensators almost all have a slightly negative effect on accuracy, on the order of approx 20-45%, for 10 shot groups @ 50 yds from a machine rest. (Keep in mind that at 50 yds the X ring is about 1.65" and the 10 ring is just over 3 inches. So, even with the compensator, a Master ranked competitor can still fire a clean 100 score")

However, in the context of formal competition, the potential advantage of the quicker recovery during the timed and rapid fire stages brings the advantages of a compensator into play.

Gil did some research to help the serious competitor make his or her own informed decision.

Best Regards,
Jim

[Barrie]

For the vast majority of us it is of NO value to us in my view. I shoot much better without it but I am glad I have it to go with my gun someday. Hopefully help raise the price a bit when I get shipped to the moon or area.