Residue on Cylinder Flutes

[Tweek]

I clean used guns at a LGS. This stuff is my secret weapon.
Big 45 Frontier Metal Cleaner | Remove Rust from Gun Bluing and Clean Dirty Gun Bores Easy!

 

[alwslate]

The cyl flutes of my model 27s and 28s get that same look after firing with my cast bullet handloads. A mix of powder, bullet lube and lead residue I suppose from the higher pressure of the .357 over the .38 spl. I just wipe the flutes with Breakfree like the rest of the gun and no, it doesn't wipe right off. So what? It hurts nothing. A gun that gets used shows indications of having been fired. I don't understand why some gun owners think their gun has to have all indications of firing removed every time they fire it.

 

[JH1951]

I have had great success with Flitz - use it sparingly and gently, and do not go hard on the high edges of the flutes. I would do the whole gun. After that, I apply a coat or two of Ren Wax. Sparing and gentle use will produce beautiful results.

 

[kraynky]

I am a leave it alone and shoot it guy. It doesn’t impair function, contribute to rust or wear, and once it is spotless by any method next time I shoot it it will looks the same again. I try to get most of it off but for me whatever doe come off with a five minute cleaning job can stay there.

Oh, so this used to be your gun! LOL! Sorry, couldn't help myself.

I'm also a believer in the "Ed's Red soak method". Brass Chore Boy pads work well too. Might take both......

 

[firebreather]

I thought the leadaway cloths would remove blue???
I have not used them.

I've been using Lead Away patches on the externals of blue guns, gently, for years and cannot tell that they've ever damaged the finish. YMMV.

 

[loplop]

Update here, fellas!

Thank you for all the ideas. It took me a few days to get the time to sit down and patiently work at it. In the end, I soaked patches with hoppes #9, let them sit a bit, and began gently rubbing with a small ball of copper chore boy. Every now and again I’d stop, wipe with the hoppes patch, and get back at it again. Under the bright light on my reloading bench, the deposits were shiny and hard looking, and clearly raised of the metal—not the dull color or blue damage they appeared to be from afar.

A few hours later and… they’re totally gone, with no visible change to the bluing where I rubbed and where I didn’t. Looks great!

Next up is the front sight paint (agree on that idea for sure) and I’ll try to find that renaissance rust remover. This one has a mix of the rough blue (on the underside, backstrap, etc) and more of a polished finish on the more visible sides and cylinder. There is definitely some light rust pitting on the rough finished backstrap, and some on the one side of the cylinder that sat on something, probably for a number of years. A smidge on the blast shield also.

Can’t get the photo to post directly for some reason, so here’s the updated album with a few close ups (one during the cleaning, just before getting all the residue off a flute, one after, and one overall pic).

Thanks to all again, I definitely like it better this way. I’m going to shoot it frequently, so there will be new wear, but no sense having residue cluttering up that pretty cylinder

Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman - Album on Imgur

 

[stansdds]

It's cleaning up very well.

 

[oink]

Yes, it's looking good. The previous owner must have shot loads of swaged, dry-lubed bullets. I've shot the heck out of fairly soft cast lead bullets lubed with soft messy alox based lube. They left a horribly dirty gun but it mostly just wiped off.

 

[Oldshot]

Sorry for late post. First: Could the flute "crud" be the result of the cylinder gap not in spec? Any signs of end shake or was the lock up tight with no signs of damage from heavy mag. firing? Next: did any of the excellent cleaning suggestions work? I have a 4" M-28-3 with a lot of mags and p+ thru it but thankfully no flute crud.