I have a recent production 617 and I have been trying to clean the cylinder face, but nothing seems to work. I use simichrome polish on my other revolvers and they clean and polish them, but this particular gun seems to have some sort of clear coating on the cylinder face, the cylinder is steel not aluminum. The other Smith's I've owned are all older revolvers and with a little bit of polishing they look great, but this gun I just can't figure out. Maybe their is some sort of difference on the finish of these newer guns? What is the best cleaner for this problem? Maybe the simichrome works best as a polish, not a cleaner? What do you folks use to clean your cylinders? Thanks.
Cleaning cylinder face
- Thread starter Bodyguard
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I never understand why there is so much fuss about cleaning the cylinder face unless the gun will be on display, and not fired again. The carbon ring itself will never build up to the point of causing a function issue. Just make sure that the powder fouling is removed thoroughly when cleaning and call it good.
That said, use a Lead Wipe-Away treated cloth that you can buy at Gander Mtn. or Cabela's or most any decent gunshop. It takes the carbon rings off with a minimum of effort.
That said, use a Lead Wipe-Away treated cloth that you can buy at Gander Mtn. or Cabela's or most any decent gunshop. It takes the carbon rings off with a minimum of effort.
scooter123
Member
Get yourself a bottle of M Pro 7, which BTW runs about 40 dollars per quart. Best gun cleaner I've ever used by a country mile. You'll also need some Kleen Bore Lead Away cleaning cloths. I'd also suggest a 22 caliber bore snake, they word great as a substitute for a dry patch.
While your cleaning the barrel let the face of the cylinder soak in a light spray of the M Pro 7. Take 15 minutes or so to clean the barrel and the frame, which the M Pro is also excellent for.
After a 15 minute soak spray a nylon brush with the M Pro 7 and scrub for about 5 minutes. Then cut 3/4 inch square of the lead away cleaning cloth, soak it with the M Pro 7, and wipe the remaining slight stain away with medium pressure. Once the face is clean wet a bore brush with the M Pro 7 and scrub out the chambers, 10 strokes per chamber will leave them gleaming like new.
Finish up with a pass of the bore snake through the barrel and each chamber and your finished.
While your cleaning the barrel let the face of the cylinder soak in a light spray of the M Pro 7. Take 15 minutes or so to clean the barrel and the frame, which the M Pro is also excellent for.
After a 15 minute soak spray a nylon brush with the M Pro 7 and scrub for about 5 minutes. Then cut 3/4 inch square of the lead away cleaning cloth, soak it with the M Pro 7, and wipe the remaining slight stain away with medium pressure. Once the face is clean wet a bore brush with the M Pro 7 and scrub out the chambers, 10 strokes per chamber will leave them gleaming like new.
Finish up with a pass of the bore snake through the barrel and each chamber and your finished.
Dale53
Member
I have a 617 and NEVER clean the cylinder face (other than wipe it with a solvent cloth). It is not something that troubles me. Excessive cleaning of the cylinder face can actually cause an accuracy problem (people often resort to abrasives for this purpose and THAT is a "No-No")!
Dale53
Dale53
stuch77
Member
i use a pencil eraser.
thomashoward
Member
Drop your Cylinder into some Slip 2000.
Carbon will be gone
Carbon will be gone
5Wire
Member
Plus one on the MPro7. Lead removal cloths on stainless only. Once cleaned, regular use of MPro7, nylon or bronze brush will do a reasonably complete job.
686-5 Mountain Gun
617-2 Plus
547 3-inch
629
686-5 Mountain Gun
617-2 Plus
547 3-inch
629
C Islander
Member
Birchwood Casey has an inexpensive lead cleaning cloth that works real well. You can find it most anywhere that sells gun cleaning products.
Mikie
Member
EZ Brite lead removing cloth works great on my 617 and 686
hobby-gunsmith
US Veteran
double ott
Member
I used Mothers Mag
I cleaned up my model 66-2, 4" (not P&R) a week ago with Mother's Mag polish. I got the idea from another post here. I bought the 66 used for a fair price, it showed use, but not abuse. It really cleaned up the face of the cylinder nicely. Really brought out the finish for me. I just used a piece of old T-shirt to polish it. Little effort, great results.
Regards, Double Ott
I cleaned up my model 66-2, 4" (not P&R) a week ago with Mother's Mag polish. I got the idea from another post here. I bought the 66 used for a fair price, it showed use, but not abuse. It really cleaned up the face of the cylinder nicely. Really brought out the finish for me. I just used a piece of old T-shirt to polish it. Little effort, great results.
Regards, Double Ott
+1, With a properly manufactured revolver, the cleaning of the face of cylinder really does not accomplish anything, pure cosmetics. Knock yourselves out with useless scrubbing. I personally, like the blast marks.
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cjcutter1
Member
Lead removal cloth, or just let it ride and shoot the **** out of it.
rlsbee
Member
Gotta agree with the lead free cloth on the stainless guns. I use one on the 617 and 686. I just picked up one at the gun shop/range and I'm not sure of the brand.
ric426
Member
How much odor does MPRO 7 have? On the recommendation of my favorite gunsmith I tried Shooter's Choice. In the basement. Once. I was promptly told not to use it in the house ever again. Now I'm very careful about the cleaners and solvents I use indoors because my wife is very supportive and tolerant of my shooting and I don't want to rock the boat.
My current favorite is Bore Tech Eliminator (works reasonably well and no smell whatsoever), but it's hard to find and I see the MPRO stuff all over the place. If the MPRO 7 has little or no odor I think I'll give it a try.
Agreed on the lead remover cloth on stainless. One cloth will last years if you just cut off little pieces for use at a time. If M-Pro 7 has any odor at all, it is very slight. You wife will thank you for it if the ammonia smell of the others bothers her. It does work well as mentioned, but I prefer Eezox for my blued guns. It seems to work better and I like its smell. It sort of reminds me of the hair tonic the old barber used when I was a little kid.
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scooter123
Member
M Pro 7 has a very mild and pleasent odor, smells more like a fine funiture polish than a solvent that is the most effective I've ever found for cleaning firearms. If you have an open cut it'll sting a bit but I cannot imagine anyone complaining about the odor.
Geronimo Jim
Member
I love MPro7 ... best thing I have ever used for lead and carbon. Another big plus is that it is biodegradeable. No toxic fumes!
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