Model 60 Cleaning

[IslayMalt]

I bought my wife a model 60 .357 for Christmas. I've never owned a revolver so don't know much about cleaning them other than the obvious. While I was cleaning the front of the cylinder I wasn't able to get off all of the... discoloration?, or maybe it's something else. When I ran my fingers over it there didn't seem to be any raised areas, like buildup. This was after the first trip to the range. It's stainless if that makes any difference. I was scrubbing it with break-free, but there was some that just wouldn't clean up. The rest of the gun cleaned up as well as I would have expected. Is there something else I should be using?

[OKFC05]

It's harmless; all mine have it.

Fuggidaboutit until you want to sell it LNIB.

Be sure and clean under the star, and it good to put one drop of Breakfree down the front of the cocked hammer after cleaning.

[MacGuffin]

The gentleman from Oklahoma is absolutely right. There is no harm whatsoever with the carbon rings on the front of the cylinder. He is also right on target about keeping the area under the extractor star clean.

...However, if you are like me, and let the OCD kick in every time the post-range cleaning session is due, you can go to your local gun store and pick up a "Lead-Away" cloth. Use one of those, and that will take the dark rings right off with very little elbow grease. I have been using them for years and they work like a charm. That being said, they are for stainless guns only. DO NOT use one on blued steel. Otherwise, it won't be blued for very long.

Best of luck and keep shooting!

[ogilvyspecial]

A retired Michigan State Police Trooper told me that while he was going through the MSP Academy back in the late 70's that the recruits were taught to remove any fouling stains from the front of the Cylinder with a pencil eraser.

I know that the front of the Cylinder on his old duty Revolver (Stainless) that I just got from him was clean as a whistle.....

With that said, I also use the treated, lead / fouling remover cloth from Birchwood Casey, which, as has already been mentioned, is for use on stainless steel only.

[26Ford]

you-tube has several good videos on the subject. Like anything internet related, there are some very good ones, and well there are some clunkers, 26

[IslayMalt]

Originally Posted by MacGuffin

The gentleman from Oklahoma is absolutely right. There is no harm whatsoever with the carbon rings on the front of the cylinder. He is also right on target about keeping the area under the extractor star clean.

...However, if you are like me, and let the OCD kick in every time the post-range cleaning session is due, you can go to your local gun store and pick up a "Lead-Away" cloth. Use one of those, and that will take the dark rings right off with very little elbow grease. I have been using them for years and they work like a charm. That being said, they are for stainless guns only. DO NOT use one on blued steel. Otherwise, it won't be blued for very long.

Best of luck and keep shooting!

Thanks,

Just to make sure... I'm talking about the front side of the cylinder, not the portion that mates with the barrel. Like in the recessed area between chambers. Same answer?

[roymack]

I have a SS 357. I use comet clenser with a tooth brush and a little water.
Doesn't seem to harm a thing and gets it looking new.

[IslayMalt]

I sent her a cloth to remove lead from stainless. She said it worked great. Thanks everyone.