New 686 owner, how to clean cylinder?

[garyoNC]

Just cleaned it for the first time and the bore brush seemed too loose for the cylinder. I've heard some mention a .40 cal brush, will this work? I shoot .38 and .357 so I need to make sure I keep it clean so I don't have any problems seating the longer cartridge.

Thanks,
Gary

 

[starman041]

A slightly larger than caliber brush works very well when cleaning a revolver's cylinder. A .40 caliber brush should work well.

Although it is good to be aware of various possibilities, I think you would have to shoot a whole lot of .38 specials in a 686 before you had a problem with the.357 cases sticking. That has been my experience anyway.

You run a greater risk in encountering this situation by shooting .22shorts, then switching to long rifles, due to the lube/wax used with most .22 ammo.

It is true though, as you plan, a good cleaning between calibers will insure proper function.

 

[cptdco]

I've bought brushes specifically designed for and advertised as "cylinder brushes". I've ordered them from Brownells and I've seen them in local gun shops. I also like the longer rifle brushes. I think the last one I bought was for a .375 and did a fine job on the .357 cylinder.

 

[Bud11]

A Boresnake in combo with brushes works for me.

 

[stevieboy]

Oversize brushes work well. Here's a tip on getting your cylinder clean. Brush the cylinder with a dry brush -- that is, without any solvent in the cylinder or on the brush. Brushing dry seems to work best at breaking the encrusted carbon free. I tend to be pretty vigorous with my brushing. If the brush is really tight, I rotate it rather than pull it back and forth. 20-30 complete rotations per chamber is about right. Once I complete my brushing, I then swab out with patches that have been soaked in a good solvent. That, in combination with the brushing, seems to do a really good job.

 

[TommyW]

Try a "new" bore brush. In time, as you use them, they tend to get "compressed" as the bristles are bent downward.

 

[YellaHorse]

I agree with brushing the cylinders dry with an oversize brush...it works well. In addition I use WD-40 as my solvent of choice. I also use a cut-off cleaning rod that I put in an electric drill at low rpm and brush the cylinders and barrel. I use the same technique with patches until they come out clean....a lot less work

 

[allglock]

Spray with M-Pro7 and wait a minute, then run a bronze 50 cal. rifle brush through on an electic drill. Saves ALOT of time!

 

[Beancounter81]

As a fellow 686 owner, here's what I use - Brownell's revolver chamber brushes. They work better than anything else I ever tried.

REVOLVER CHAMBER BRUSH - Brownells

 

[mag318]

I always remove the cylinder and crane from the frame prior to cleaning. It's easy to do taking out just one screw. A slightly oversize brush works best like a 40 calibre.