Cleaning a revolver

[D Brown]

ATTABOY for asking !
Not dumb question... if you don't know...asking is smart !
Brass bore brushes are made to clean inside barrel and cylinder , just add a little solvent , CLP , WD40 or oil depending on how dirty / fouled the barrel is . Cleaner and lubricants make the cleaning job easier .
Don't use stainless steel brushes , if they still make them ... I think the harder SS brush might do damage so I never tried them ... brass brushes are fine .
Gary

I think bronze bore brushes are a much better approach to gun cleaning. A brass brush would leave tracks all over the blue finish.

 

[Telecaster]

I had to learn to be patient, and let the cleaning fluid soak for 5-10 minutes before proceeding. Less brushing, that way.

 

[Rolex28]

I clean after each firing... I do not use a bore brush. I just run 3-4 cleaning cloths with cleaning fluid, ONEWAY through the bore. Then 2-3 runs of clean cloths... all one way. I don't like the idea of running a dirty bore brush back and forth through each cleaning or the next cleaning..

 

[glenwolde]

I'll add a tip. Use a slightly larger brush to clean the chambers in the cylinder. For example, if you have a .38, use a .38-caliber brush for the bore and a .40/.41-caliber brush for the chambers. They also make brushes specifically for chambers that are slightly larger than bore brushes.

On .38/.357 cylinders I use a .375 rifle brush. It's just about a perfect fit and they are like 3x longer than a pistol brush so you gets lots o' scrubbing in a single pass.

 

[chief38]

For stubborn Lead but not quite bad enough for the Lewis Lead Remover I use Bronze Chamber Brushes in the appropriate caliber. They are a few thousandths oversized and a little more aggressive - but still safe.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Some time ago, I saw a tool that was made for cleaning revolver cylinders. I think it was from Brownells, but I cannot remember at the moment. It was a device that looked like a speedloader, but had six bore brushes on it. Seems like a speedier way to clean the cylinder.

I've used that. I think I still have it. I think I had two, one for 5-shot cylinders and one for 6-shot cylinders. IIRC, they had nylon bristles and I found it a bit awkward to use so I went back to cleaning each chamber individually. I may have to see if I can dig it out and try it again.

 

[kbm6893]

I clean after each firing... I do not use a bore brush. I just run 3-4 cleaning cloths with cleaning fluid, ONEWAY through the bore. Then 2-3 runs of clean cloths... all one way. I don't like the idea of running a dirty bore brush back and forth through each cleaning or the next cleaning..

I soak the chambers and hire with a solvent soaked patch, let sit while I do the rest of the gun, the. Scrub with a bronze brush in bore 10-15 swipes. Use a brass brush on a cleaning rod in a drill for chambers. Then follow up with another solvent soaked patch which gets out any residue from the brushes. When it comes out clean I follow with one more clean patch to cover all the chambers and bore. It comes out completely free of black. Then follow with a dry shotgun patch through all the chambers and hole to make sure it's completely dry and clean. Takes me maybe 20 minutes to clean the revolver.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I soak the chambers and hire with a solvent soaked patch, let sit while I do the rest of the gun, the. Scrub with a bronze brush in bore 10-15 swipes. Use a brass brush on a cleaning rod in a drill for chambers. Then follow up with another solvent soaked patch which gets out any residue from the brushes. When it comes out clean I follow with one more clean patch to cover all the chambers and bore. It comes out completely free of black. Then follow with a dry shotgun patch through all the chambers and hole to make sure it's completely dry and clean. Takes me maybe 20 minutes to clean the revolver.

Except for the drill and the shotgun patch (I just use a regular patch) I use pretty much the same method. Works well for me.

 

[kbm6893]

Except for the drill and the shotgun patch (I just use a regular patch) I use pretty much the same method. Works well for me.

Shotgun patch is just a tighter fit so more thoroughly dried.

 

[pasound]

Many years and many guns ago, I jumped on the "new" stainless brushes. Scarred the bore on my stainless 6" Ruger Redhawk after a session of cleaning out too-soft 240gr lead SWC handloads. Tossed them, and told all my friends to do the same.

 

[AzShooter]

I find that using an electric drill really helps and I take one with me to matches to clean out the cylinders when needed. It's not needed much now because I've found ammo combinations that aren't as dirty as my old fodder.

TSA always gave a a look when I had the drill with a brush packaged in with my shooting bag luggage.