I was just told that the new hammerless J-frames tend to get dirt/lint inside from concealed carry and have been failing to fire . I started to question this guy as to where he got his info and he said his gunsmith and it was common knowledge . I don't believe it , and he got mad and stormed off . We'll is he nuts or am I just misinformed ?
First, they all have hammers. Some are exposed (Chiefs Special), some are concealed (Bodyguard - not the new Bodyguard, but the traditional Model 38/49 Series), and some are fully enclosed (Centennial).
Second, lint is an annoyance in a gun carried in the pocket, and if you carry all the time (what I mean here is if you are wearing pants, the weapon is in your pocket), you will get lint on the exterior. It comes right off with a quick wipe with a dry shop rag. In my experience, it does not get inside the action such that a malfunction will occur, at least after 10 years or so with a 442.
I would not be at all worried about the problem mentioned. I simply do not remove a sideplate unless the revolver is dropped in the water or into a mudhole. I have never found it necessary. On those that have been carried (I no longer carry a revolver), when the sideplate was removed for other reasons, there was no appreciable build up of lint inside.
On the other hand, I don't get worked up over burn rings on the cylinder face or "turn lines."
All guns, with use, require an exterior wipe down, and by all means do it every so often. A carry gun should be clean, so I recommend the standard cleaning after shooting. I do not, however, find it necessary to remove the sideplate due to lint or anything getting in the action from pocket carry. And, pocket carry is the only carry method I have noticed in which lint build up on the outside is any kind of issue.
Just my thoughts.
