How often do you remove the sideplate?

[Berserker]

How often do you take the sideplate off your revolvers, for cleaning, and what do you do?

 

[MichiganScott]

I do it when they are new and when I feel they need cleaning after that. It's not something I feel needs to be done on a regular basis, but I know a lot of people remove them regularly.

 

[jepp2]

My basic philosophy is not to remove the sideplate. But I do make the following exceptions:

- when I buy a used S&W revolver that has been shot a reasonable amount, I will do a total tear down and complete cleaning. I want to know what has been done prior to acquiring the handgun. At this point I will normally do the tuning I desire and any spring changes. I lube, reassemble and it is set for as long as I own it.

- for a new revolver, I only remove the sideplate if I decide to tune it or do any spring changes.

- the last reason would be if I decide to do a part change like changing to a TT or TH or both.

I don't see the need during normal shooting or cleaning to remove the sideplate.

 

[kennyb]

i never remove them...have found no reason to

 

[madmikeb]

When I buy a gun, new or used, the first thing I do is disassemble it and completely clean and lube it with graphite grease. Then I almost never take the sideplate off again unless I have to for some specific reason.

 

[snubbyfan]

I'll remove the side plate when I first purchase a used gun. If things look good, I'll lube and replace. If there's corrosion or nasty gunk in there, I do a detail cleaning and relube.
The only other time I'll remove the side plate is if the action starts feeling gummy.

 

[Berserker]

Two L frames I bought in 2000, I opened this year, one used. They both looked ok, to me. They haven't been shot a ton. I would spray them down twice a year with Rem oil, down the hammer and work it.

This time I put some heavier oil on the sear and hammer. Though now I have wondered if that will gum up.


Shouldn't we be concerned with rust?

 

[Nevada Ed]

Old saying..."If it ain't broke...don't mess with it. "

but if you know what you are doing, it is nice to check out a weapon that you just received if used...........to make sure it is in good condition and clean.

I was a gunners mate in the Navy and worked on small arms so it sort of worked out with a S&W...........but it takes a big
pair of Brass ones to open up a S&W if you do not have any
training or at least a manual of how it is done correctly.

 

[Skunkhome]

Never. Don't see a need to.

 

[Fuego]

As soon as I bring a new or new-to-me revolver home. I open it up and strip it, examine all the parts with a loupe, then put them in a basket for a trip through the ultrasonic cleaner.

Then I dry the parts and reassemble. I use Mobil 1 Synthetic grease as a lube.

Then I don't open it up again until I have a problem with it.

Free Advice: Don't open up a S&W revolver with out the Kuhnhausen book.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

I remove the sideplate when I buy a new-to-me revolver. After that, I normally only remove the sideplate if I want to change springs, although if a gun is particularly dirty I sometimes take it down completely.

 

[andyo5]

I always remove the side plate on a used gun that I acquire. Often the oil has turned to goo, and there may be surface rust that should be cleaned out. I also take the opportunity to change the rebound spring to a 12, 13 or 14 lb Wolff version.

 

[raveneap]

i never remove them...have found no reason to

Neither do I.

 

[glider1]

If it's a keeper I'll pull the side plate and go from there. As long as I'm happy with the action and it's clean and lubed then put it back on. If you do a detail strip you might as well polish a little while you have it apart.

 

[Bart45]

Never saw a need to. With the aerosol cleaners such as CLP and ultrasonic cleaning available, never had a reason to go beyond those two methods.

 

[chief38]

When I purchase a gun (I ONLY buy used pre '96 ones when it comes to S&W's) I'll strip the entire gun, make any adjustments or parts replacements I want to, lube and reassemble. If the revolver only gets shot once in a blue moon chances are the side-plate won't come off again unless there is a problem. On guns like my CCW gun or frequently shot target guns the side-plate will be removed for a thorough cleaning and lube once every few years or sooner if the need arises.

When I buy a used auto loader I will strip it down completely for the same reasons and unless there is a problem or I want to replace a part I usually won't strip it down completely for a bunch of years. One exception is my Colt Gold Cup that gets at least 100 - 200 rounds through it per week. That ones comes completely apart once a year for a thorough cleaning and lubrication.

 

[GM4spd]

No.Better to leave it in place.

 

[Cpo1944]

I hardly ever remove it . I see no real need to . I just give it a squirt of spray carb/brake cleaner let it soak awhile and then blow it out with compressed air, do a few drops of lube, and it`s good to go, with no damage to the screws ,plate , or frame.I only do this once in a great while, when I suspect it`s getting gummy.

 

[Harrison]

I detail strip and clean every new to me revolver. At that time I change rebound spring and do any necessary minor polishing and deburring, along with a good lube job. After that I only remove the sideplate if the revolver gets dirt of sluge in it, or starts to feel gummy. Removing side plate and detail striping a S&W revolver is not rocket science or mysterious. It is a fairly simple design that has been around for over a century.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

I heard that some guy removed the sideplate and found a human finger tip in his revolver. S&W paid him big bucks to keep quite about it.