Cleaning Model 18

[442js]

I have a blued Model 18 with lead buildup on the front of the cylinder and the forcing cone. I have a lead polishing cloth for my Model 63 and 681 which does a great job in removing the buildup, but it isn't designed for blued guns and there is a big warning about not using it on blued guns. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get the lead buildup off my blued gun?

Thank you.

 

[Dragon88]

For the buildup inside the forcing cone and bore, try the Lewis Lead Remover. Alternately, a good solvent, a good brush and lots of scrubbing.

For the front of the cylinder....let it soak in solvent for a few hours and then scrub.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Hoppe's No. 9, even the new formula, works fine. When I get home from shooting, I slop some on the areas affected, and let sit overnight. After that a nylon toothbrush will usually take care of it. It's probably better if you apply the solvent at the range right after shooting, but waiting until you get home ain't gonna kill you.

As for the bore, I use a length of Weed Eater string. Melt a ball on one end, and on the other end use your pocket knife to cut an angle. Push that through a patch and run the patch down to the ball you melted in the string, soak the patch in Hoppe's, feed the non patch end through the breech, and pull through the bore. The ball you melted on the end will hold the patch.

Again, let sit and then use the same Weed Eater string to pull patches through until clean.

Works like a charm.

 

[442js]

For the buildup inside the forcing cone and bore, try the Lewis Lead Remover. Alternately, a good solvent, a good brush and lots of scrubbing.

For the front of the cylinder....let it soak in solvent for a few hours and then scrub.

Thank you, I will look into the Lewis Lead Remover. Doesn't look to be as easy as the polishing cloth, but then it doesn't get much easier than the cloth.

 

[442js]

Hoppe's No. 9, even the new formula, works fine. When I get home from shooting, I slop some on the areas affected, and let sit overnight. After that a nylon toothbrush will usually take care of it. It's probably better if you apply the solvent at the range right after shooting, but waiting until you get home ain't gonna kill you.

As for the bore, I use a length of Weed Eater string. Melt a ball on one end, and on the other end use your pocket knife to cut an angle. Push that through a patch and run the patch down to the ball you melted in the string, soak the patch in Hoppe's, feed the non patch end through the breech, and pull through the bore. The ball you melted on the end will hold the patch.

Again, let sit and then use the same Weed Eater string to pull patches through until clean.

Works like a charm.

Some of the lead has been on a while as I bought the gun with the lead on it, and haven't shot it yet due to a problem with the gun. Just want to get it cleaned up for when the problem is eventually fixed. Will the Hoppes work even though the lead could have been sitting there for years?

Thank you.

 

[Cooter Brown]

It won't hurt to try. I've actually removed the cylinder before and soaked it in a Mason jar with Hoppes in it.

If the buildup is very severe, take a brass cartridge case and flatten the mouth with a hammer. You can then use this to carefully pop off the buildup.

I'd try soaking it first.

 

[steamloco76]

Kano Laboratories KROIL works wonders on the soft lead build-up in a .22 LR. Scrub it in with a good bore brush and let it sit overnight. Large slivers of solid lead will pop out the next day when you patch the bore. As for the Cylinder- Hoppes and a lot of brushing.

 

[WyoStillhunter]

My M18 leads moderately with certain ammo but very little with other ammo. In my case it likes Federal ammo with a coppe wash on the bullet. The dark/lead colored bullets seem to lead much more.

Once you get it all cleaned up you may want to consider trying a variety of ammo to see if there is one that creates less leading than others.

Finally, of all my S&W revolvers, the M18 is the one that I never fail to clean thoroughly after every shooting session. Built up lead and crud from several sessions is much harder to clean out than doing it each time. I can get away with skipping cleaning for a session or two with my .38s but not the .22.