Barrel Extension Cleaning

[ggibson511960]

With more stay at home time to fondle my S&W's I have been pulling them out for thorough cleaning. My oldest and most used S&W is a M-14 that's had a ton of HBWC's run through it. The revolver finish is immaculate but the frame above and around the barrel extension is a mess. Over the years I have used solvent and judiciously brushed, scraped and picked to get the worst of it, but leading combined with powder residue and crud has plated the metal.

What is everyone's favorite method for keeping the dirty part of a revolver clean without trashing the blued finish?

 

[stansdds]

All I have ever done is a thorough cleaning after every visit to the range.

 

[chief38]

I use a plastic "dental pick" to remove any larger accumulations and I once bought a 250 foot roll of the sneaker lace material (cotton I believe) they use for sneakers that wasn't cut into pieces yet. I apply solvent to the material and work it back and forth a few times (like you would with dental floss). That removes everything and causes no harm or bluing loss.

A nylon brush does little to clean this area!