How in the world? Cleaning?

[AveragEd]

I mentioned this in another gun cleaning thread, so this may be a re-run for some. MidwayUSA (and likely other places) sells Iosso GunBrite Polish - it's a very mild abasive paste cleaner (a little harsher than toothpaste and less coarse than rubbing compound) that cleans the black deposits off the face of cylinders. CAUTION - it will remove bluing after repeated uses, so it is best reserved for stainless guns or occasional use on blued ones you want to clean before retiring to safe queen status.

I use a medium or hard toothbrush to apply the cleaner and rub the deposits off with a rag - it takes a little rubbing but a cylinder face will come clean in about two minutes. The cheap brushes without any sculptured bristles like the ones hospitals give you work best; it's getting hard to find plain old toothbrushes any more - they all seem to have cute designs and shpaes in the bristles, but my wife just spent a couple of days in a hospital and I scarfed the brush in her welcome package. I'm still using one from a previous hospital stay but backups are good to have.

As far as removing lead deposits, the guys using a crushed cartridge case are right on. Hit the area with GunBrite afterward and you're good to go!

Ed

 

[WillyK]

About a year ago I bought a 617 from a guy that had so much lead built up, it looked like the forcing cone and top strap were one piece, It took quite a while but I used a guitar string and Hoppes to get rid of the build up. Just soak the lead section and run the guitar string back and forth real careful.
It worked but it took some time.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I made a simple little tool that has been very handy for this and similar duties.

Took a brass patch jag, the type that is a flat blade with a slot in it, and pounded it a bit flatter with hammer. Then shaped it with some files into a flat, sharp edged scrapper. Then screwed it into a short piece of old cleaning rod.

Works great for what you describe as well as removing lead from other areas like around the corner between the top strap and recoil shield. Lots of crud builds up there as well. Doesn't damage stainless or blueing.

Use it often and resharpen it with a file or sandpaper as needed.

This would normally be the second best answer in the whole thread, the best being the one that said, "Don't sweat it; you're just going to shoot it again, anyway."

For normal use, a toothbrush is sufficient, with a little Hoppe's or CLP or whatever you're using. Of course, it doesn't clean it completely, but who cares? When you care, the quoted reply becomes the best answer.