Cleaning/finish care for Airweight?

[ESG2145]

I've ordered a new 442 Airweight and I have a question regarding cleaning and finish care for it?

A few years ago I acquired a second hand 342Ti Airweight in a trade. It did NOT come with an owner's manual, and not knowing any better from any other gun I've ever owned, I needless to say DESTROYED the finish/coating on it cleaning it with "Gun Scrubber" spray cleaner. I contacted S&W to see if it salvageable, the best they could tell me was "send it in and we'll see if we can do anything with it?".

Anywho, fast forward to now - I have an incoming NEW Airweight 442. I do NOT wish to repeat the experience )), so what is the BEST thing to clean it with?

I've normally in the past cleaned almost all my guns w/ a combination of Hoppe's solvent and some kind of "Gun Scrubber" or other spray gun cleaner. I've tried CLP before, but I'm not really a fan of it as a "one to do all" cleaner?


So what is the BEST and SAFEST thing for me to clean my new 442 Airweight once she get's here/I shoot it the first time?


I just want to be careful and not destroy this one like I did the 342Ti. The thought of it still makes me sick to this day, knowing the value that it carried at one point in time.


Thanks -

Eric

 

[ldryder]

I usually use Ballistol.

 

[Old cop]

Your 442 is an aluminum alloy frame w/a steel barrel & cylinder so those products should suffice. That's how I've maintained my Model 38 for well over 40 years. One other thing, buy a silicone cloth and wipe the gun down daily, especially in the summer, to keep rust at bay. I used to wax (any liquid car wax) my blued guns but I'm not sure how that will work on the newer finish of your 442.

 

[629shooter]

The 442 isn't as picky. But, if you really want to play it safe, use Hoppe's Elite.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[InTheWoods]

Not a 442, but I know that waxing the frame of my 642 has keep all finish wear away for well over a decade of carrying. Gotta wear through the wax before the finish can wear. I won't let that happen.

 

[EricR]

A 442 is the handgun I carry 90% of the time. I carry it either in a soft holster inside my pants pocket or a kydex IWB holster on hip. Echoing others, I'll wipe it daily with a homemade silicone cloth. After trips to range it'll be BreakFree CLP on all surfaces after cleaning cylinder chambers and bore with Hoppe's No. 9. Granted, I baby this revolver but it's finish seems pretty durable, both alloy and steel material. No edge wear yet but it's only been about a year I guess.

Oh! And I'm on Craig Spegel's list for boot grips! I love the feel of the stock rubber grips but I'm going for the beauty of what Mr. Spegel can do for me.

 

[kaaskop49]

attn OP

Sounds like I wrote the opening paragraphs of your post! Exact same thing happened to my 342 when using GunScrubber to flush out the innards. The KlearKote finish peeled off the frame. My gunsmith assured me the gun was safe to fire. This was the ONLY gun I had this problem with;; even the "sister" 337 did not lose it's finish from using GunScrubber.

To your query, my blued/blackened(?) finish Centennial models have not lost any finish from using GunScrubber and Hoppe's #9. However, the prior posters have recommended some excellent cleaning products so you may feel more confident using them.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[ESG2145]

Sounds like I wrote the opening paragraphs of your post! Exact same thing happened to my 342 when using GunScrubber to flush out the innards. The KlearKote finish peeled off the frame. My gunsmith assured me the gun was safe to fire. This was the ONLY gun I had this problem with;; even the "sister" 337 did not lose it's finish from using GunScrubber.

To your query, my blued/blackened(?) finish Centennial models have not lost any finish from using GunScrubber and Hoppe's #9. However, the prior posters have recommended some excellent cleaning products so you may feel more confident using them.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

So what did you wind up doing with your 342Ti in the end? Did you try and have it refinished?

I'm on the fence with mine (I still have it), I figure I'll either try and have it redone depending on the cost, or just sell it at a significant loss.

I never would have traded for it at the time when I got it, had I known it's limitations ammo wise (no lead) and it's recoil even with +P/. I got caught up in it's carry weight at the time not realizing these other issues. I had always wished I had just gotten a regular .38 Airweight (hence my new 442) after I got the 342Ti.

 

[kaaskop49]

So what did you wind up doing with your 342Ti in the end? Did you try and have it refinished?

I'm on the fence with mine (I still have it), I figure I'll either try and have it redone depending on the cost, or just sell it at a significant loss.

I never would have traded for it at the time when I got it, had I known it's limitations ammo wise (no lead) and it's recoil even with +P/. I got caught up in it's carry weight at the time not realizing these other issues. I had always wished I had just gotten a regular .38 Airweight (hence my new 442) after I got the 342Ti.

I still have my 342. Haven't shot in in years and never bothered to ask about refinishing. Although a veteran snub magnum shooter, I find the 342's recoil painful. In your case, I would not sell it at a loss; it is a very popular uniform pocket BUG for many LEOs. I do agree that the 442/642 is a better gun for general snub usage.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[ESG2145]

............. Although a veteran snub magnum shooter, I find the 342's recoil painful. In your case, I would not sell it at a loss; it is a very popular uniform pocket BUG for many LEOs. I do agree that the 442/642 is a better gun for general snub usage.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I was amazed the first time I shot it with even 129gr +P Hydra Shocks (what I would NOT call a high recoil load in a stainless steel J frame), I could NOT believe the amount of recoil that 342Ti had.

Can not imagine anyone wanting to shoot one of the new .357 Sc Airweights whatsoever. :O

I had always said after getting the 342 that if I got another Airweight it would be a traditional one like either the 442 or 642.

 

[haywood]

I've had a gaggle of 442's. I still have two of them. I carry at least one of them every day in my pocket. I've cleaned them with all kinds of solvents spray and otherwise. My favorite is Ballistol. The finish on the 442 has held up very well for me.

 

[kaaskop49]

I've had a gaggle of 442's. I still have two of them. I carry at least one of them every day in my pocket. I've cleaned them with all kinds of solvents spray and otherwise. My favorite is Ballistol. The finish on the 442 has held up very well for me.

Some of us do very well with our snubs. As poster haywood says, we carry them daily and experience little, if any, finish wear. I think the snubs like us...

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[ABPOS]

I just use CLP. I ruined a good top of a cedar chest with gun scrubber though. My wife was not happy.......

 

[haywood]

Ballistol isn't the best for burn rings on stainless but, I use Flitz for that.

 

[silversnake]

Agree with ABPOS, I would just use CLP.