Cleaning a S&W 43c

[Dr.J]

Thinking about buying a model 43c and have questions about cleaning. I am primarily a competitive rifle shooter who enjoys handguns for a relaxing alternative. I have a model 617 and 686, but have no experience cleaning an aluminum frame gun.
I use Boretech Eliminator and C4 carbon cleaners on my .22 rifles and model 617. Are both safe to use on a 43c, if not what do you suggest? Also, if I get a buildup of lead on the top strap, I use a thin piece of brass to scrape it off. I assume this is not recommended as it would scratch the aluminum. How do you remove lead buildup if it presents itself? I'm guessing a brass bristle brush for the barrel is acceptable, but nylon for the cylinder a? Thanks, Tom

 

[smoothshooter]

Do not use any brush on the aluminum parts that has metal bristles. Even brass.
There is no way that I am aware of that will remove all lead buildup on aluminum parts.
Ultra-sonic cleaning might work, but I have no experience with that method on guns.
Resist the OCD type compulsion if that is a thing with you to make the gun spotless when cleaning it. You may do more harm than good, over time. I clean aluminum gun parts with nylon brushes and small cleaning patches over the course of several days with Hoppe's #9.
.22 pistols are just dirty to fire, period. They do not have to be spotless to function.
I DO spend extra time on the chamber(s) and extractors, though.

 

[Bill Lear]

The M43C has a stainless steel barrel liner which means conventional bore brushing if you simply must.
As for the chambers - the entire cylinder is anodized aluminum, including the chambers. Just what IS anodized aluminum? It's an oxide of aluminum "grown" on the surface that manifests in the form of near diamond hard crystalline structure! A brass or bronze bore brush simply hasn't the suds to wear through an aluminum oxide finish under normal circumstances such as passing a brush through the chamber a few times, HOWEVER, plastic brushes are available for those who doubt.
Having said that, my 43C has never been cleaned with anything more aggressive than Break Free CLP on a fibrous cotton swab - down the bore, in the chambers, and it works great!

For those who actually shoot a 43C enough with lead bullets to generate lead residue, remember the lead is MUCH softer than a standard brass brush! I wouldn't spent a lot of time worrying about scuffing off an aluminum oxide surface using any sort of hand-operated cleaning process.

 

[chief38]

Very easy - take a bamboo chop stick and sharpen it in a pencil sharpener. Use the sharpened point to remove lead build up. Bamboo will not harm the finish and the sharpened point usually gets the lead off. You can also use a sharp knife to put a chisel point on the chop stick.

I have hundreds of bamboo chopsticks in my workshop and I use them quite often from mixing glues, small bottles of paint, grease, etc. I keep a sharpened one in my shop apron pocket and it always seems to come in handy. I also use then to apply grease to my Dillon Press and many other pieces of equipment requiring grease. handy little tools! Oh, and they are great for eating Chinese food as well!