Nickel plated guns

[moonsterman]

I have three nickel plated revolvers a 36,19,and a model 51 I have owned these for many years and have never shot any of them......I should really do that....that said what should I use to clean the frame ,yoke...outside of the gun in general that wont hurt the plating? I have CLP , ballistol , hoppes on hand...I am sure the hoppes is a no no...but would love some in put from others.....thanks much...Jay

 

[raljr1]

I have been using hoppes on my nickel 19 for close to 50 years with no ill effects....wipe it clean after your done.

 

[moonsterman]

Raljr1 thank you sir!!

 

[chief38]

I used Hoppes 9 for many many years until they started saying it could damage the finish. Although I have never had any Nickeled gun damaged by Hoppes 9, I do not use it anymore - just for precautionary measures.

I do believe that S&W's Nickeled guns are not subject to damage from Hoppes because they never used Copper plating underneath the Nickel plating and that is what the Hoppes can attack.

 

[srsmyth]

I use REN Wax on all Nickel and Blue that doesn't get shot, rejects fingerprints better.

 

[rockquarry]

Hoppe's #9 is fine for cleaning S&Ws with nickel finish, but I wouldn't soak guns, regardless of finish, in anything. Wipe down with a soft cotton cloth lubricated very lightly with oil, any oil, after cleaning.

 

[Hair Trigger]

CLP works well to clean nickel, I use Flitz to get a dirty and oxidized finish clean, then wax it with Renaissance wax. Then I keep it wiped and waxed. I use Hoppes to clean the bore and chambers after shooting but wipe it off as soon as I can. The M29-2 doesn't get shot, but the M25-5 is a regular range toy.

 

[pantannojack]

I think some of the OLDER solvents were developed to remove Cupro Nickle jacket fouling thus the problem dissolving nickel plating.

 

[stansdds]

S&W did not use a copper intermediate layer when nickel plating their firearms, so there is no issue with dissolving a copper layer and having the nickel flake off. I have used Hoppes Number 9 on my one and only (so far) nickel plated S&W and have had no issues. I do follow up cleaning with either a thin application of oil or wax.

 

[Pisgah]

Treat a nickeled S&W as you would a blued one. They never used the nickel-on-copper plating that folks always refer to, and Hoppe's No. 9 and similar compounds are absolutely safe.

I am very serious when I say that at least 50% of gun lore that "everyone knows" is absolutely wrong...