Revolver Cleaning Question

[Gunner Guy]

I have a j frame 38 spl and have been thinking about trading it in for a different pocket carry option in hot weather. When I first got it I foolishly did not clean it before or after taking it shooting. I actually only put 50 rounds through it. Since then it has been sitting in my car in a pocket holster and I recently took it out just to inspect it and it has rust on the hammer. I know I should have cleaned it but that seems fairly ridiculous after 1 year of ownership and only 50 rounds through it. I have always heard of revolvers being the let it sit in a drawer for 10 years until you need it kind of a gun. My glock is older than the snub and has more rounds through it and I've carried it on duty plenty but there is no oxidation at all (also never been cleaned, I know I'm terrible but I clean everything after a range trip now.) Makes me wonder why S&W opts to leave their triggers and hammers with no finish on them?
Anyway I'm wondering if guns like the model 640 or any other internal hammer revolver would require you to take apart the gun somehow and clean the internal hammer or suffer the same potential consequence of a rusty hammer?

 

[armorer951]

Rust never sleeps......and the environment in a car is a far cry from the conditions found in most bedroom drawers. Temperature extremes and humidity issues drastically affect both the finished and unfinished components. (The other troubling question is why would you leave a loaded firearm unattended in a vehicle?)

The regular care and cleaning of your firearms is your responsibilty. Guns punished with regular neglect will oxidize, whether they are made of stainless, aluminum alloy, or carbon steel.... and regardless of the finish or coating. Keep in mind that along with the inevitable oxidation, you will also be "rewarded" with malfunctions and a dramatic loss in value as the gun's condition degrades.

Internals also require regular cleaning and correct lubrication, though not as often as those exposed directly to condensation and contact with dust, dirt and other elements. If you are unable or unwilling to regularly check, clean and re-lubricate the internals, you should delegate this to a trusted, trained local gunsmith, or a factory trained armorer.

 

[OKFC05]

I know I should have cleaned it but that seems fairly ridiculous after 1 year of ownership and only 50 rounds through it.

What is ridiculous is firing a revolver and then putting it in a holster (hostile environment) without cleaning it, and expecting it to work when you need it. Putting it away dirty, or leaving it in a holster longer than a month, even clean, is carelessness and abuse.
If this hurts your feelings, good: it is the same speech my students get in basic pistol AND in CHL class.

I had two women come in to CHL class, one with a derringer and one with a Beretta .32, that each had been carrying illegally before. Neither gun was serviceable, and the ammunition was corroded into the chambers. I let them use my pistol for qualification, and explained both guns needed to go to a gunsmith. I did manage to get them unloaded for safe transport, but the owner of the derringer wanted me to reload it for her with the corroded ammo.

 

[Gunner Guy]

What is ridiculous is firing a revolver and then putting it in a holster (hostile environment) without cleaning it, and expecting it to work when you need it. Putting it away dirty, or leaving it in a holster longer than a month, even clean, is carelessness and abuse.
If this hurts your feelings, good: it is the same speech my students get in basic pistol AND in CHL class.

No feelings hurt here. I'm fully aware I should have cleaned it, wasn't aware it would hurt the gun to keep it in a holster though. As I said I absolutely clean my guns well now so the lecture isn't really necessary. I guess what I can take away from this is I'm not a revolver guy because my glock seems to have held up superbly under bad circumstances as well.

 

[MichiganScott]

You put 50 rounds through a revolver, never cleaned it, stored it improperly, and it now has rust on it. It's now a problem caused by S&W not finishing the hammer properly instead of your neglect.

Had you cleaned the revolver and wiped it down with an oily cloth, chances are the revolver would not have rusted even with you storing under less than ideal conditions. Although smokeless powder is nor corrosive, the carbon and other residue that it leaves upon ignition is hygroscopic and will cause rust. You will not get powder residue inside an internal hammer gun so that's not an issue.

You can't compare a blued revolver to a polymer gun with Tennifer finish on the steel. Personally, I would not treat a duty gun the way you claim to have treated your Glock. You may just need it to save your life someday.

 

[Rocket3]

Looks like someone is going to bed without supper.

 

[apollo99]

That weapon can be your life saving tool. Even when I was a Police officer the only time some of my fellow officers took out their weapons from the holster was at the range to qualify. The donut powder, onion bits and bread crumbs were enough to make a gun person cry. The range officers had a different reaction, usually making the offenders tear up little. Clean your weapon at least once a month, more often if you live in a hostile weather environment.

 

[Gunner Guy]

You put 50 rounds through a revolver, never cleaned it, stored it improperly, and it now has rust on it. It's now a problem caused by S&W not finishing the hammer properly instead of your neglect.

Had you cleaned the revolver and wiped it down with an oily cloth, chances are the revolver would not have rusted even with you storing under less than ideal conditions. Although smokeless powder is nor corrosive, the carbon and other residue that it leaves upon ignition is hygroscopic and will cause rust. You will not get powder residue inside an internal hammer gun so that's not an issue.

You can't compare a blued revolver to a polymer gun with Tennifer finish on the steel. Personally, I would not treat a duty gun the way you claim to have treated your Glock. You may just need it to save your life someday.

No it's totally my fault for not cleaning it (stated for the third time now) but why don't they finish the trigger and hammer? Wouldn't that only be a good thing?
As far as the duty weapon yeah I mean you live and learn and I clean my guns properly now but people have put thousands of rounds through their glocks without a single hiccup never having cleaned it. I only have a few hundred through mine.
I just didn't realize it was such a difference between revolvers and autos (or at least glocks.)

 

[OKFC05]

but people have put thousands of rounds through their glocks without a single hiccup never having cleaned it. I only have a few hundred through mine.
I just didn't realize it was such a difference between revolvers and autos (or at least glocks.)

Yes, there is quite a difference, especially considering the Glock is a simplified design with emphasis on corrosion protection. But the hyperbole on Glocks notwithstanding, they also can fail due to neglect.

For example, we have a competitor at our range that once delighted in bragging on his Glock and how little care he gave it, calling it "maintenance-free shooting perfection."
Then on the second stage of a major match where I was RO, he once again stepped up and invited everyone to witness perfection in action. Well, on the first shot, the Glock failed, not just a little jam, but hard-broke, locked up, catastrophic, no fixing that one today. The laughing went on for several minutes before we could secure his equipment and help him off the range: just mortally embarrassed, no other injury.

 

[dubshooter]

No it's totally my fault for not cleaning it (stated for the third time now) but why don't they finish the trigger and hammer? Wouldn't that only be a good thing?
As far as the duty weapon yeah I mean you live and learn and I clean my guns properly now but people have put thousands of rounds through their glocks without a single hiccup never having cleaned it. I only have a few hundred through mine.
I just didn't realize it was such a difference between revolvers and autos (or at least glocks.)

Yes. There are Glocks that have gone thousands of rounds without being cleaned. On YouTube. And during torture tests. Not a gun that someone (and their partners!) relied on to save their lives or someone else's.

When you clean your boots, clean your gun. Oh wait. I just looked around my department.... That might be what they're teaching in the academy now. So that might now work either.

I have a rag soaked with Remoil on my work bench. My Glock gets wiped down every Wednesday before I start my work week (just put my stuff away). Like the old saying goes, "I shower ever Sunday, whether I need to or not"

 

[Gunner Guy]

Yes. There are Glocks that have gone thousands of rounds without being cleaned. On YouTube. And during torture tests. Not a gun that someone (and their partners!) relied on to save their lives or someone else's.

You are absolutely correct sir! When I first started working I was fairly young (22) and cleaning just wasn't stressed with me, but now I know better. This incident with my revolver actually happened a while ago I only recently joined this forum.

 

[armorer951]

I'm mystified on how the Glock product line has risen to the rank of "sainthood" by Glock owners and others, but any firearm or firearm component, high quality or otherwise, including Glock, will surely oxidize if left in less than ideal conditions after being handled or fired.....especially those that have been generously coated with crud, sweat, dust, atomized lead, primer components, unburned powders, etc. Add to the mix a confined space like a holster, and you couldn't have a more perfect breeding ground for oxidation. This dirt and crud also has another side affect.....excessive wear and tear on the components and premature failure. Truth learned by experience: money and time invested in proper maintenance is always well spent.

Anyone who would fire "thousands of rounds" through any firearm without cleaning or maintenance should have their head examined. Kind of like car owners who try to go 30,000 miles between oil changes. A dangerous and irresponsible practice for sure, especially if the gun is carried and relied upon for personal protection or on duty.

The only "sane" people who would subject products to this kind of abuse are those "paid to punish" R&D workers out there.

 

[Stopsign32v]

Since then it has been sitting in my car in a pocket holster...........................................................................................seems fairly ridiculous after 1 year of ownership and only 50 rounds through it. I have always heard of revolvers being the let it sit in a drawer for 10 years until you need it kind of a gun.

I'm sorry but this seems fairly ridiculous. Comparing leaving a revolver in a holster in a car over leaving a revolver in a house in a drawer.

Well let's see, one gets humidity inside it while the other is constantly kept at a certain temp range. Don't blame S&W for your lack of care.

 

[Old cop]

Leaving a gun in a car is asking for trouble. Cars are broken into all the time and then a bad guy has your gun to further his crimes or shoot cops. Please reconsider your options and store your weapons securely.

 

[sw282]

l remember this guy would brag about NEVER changing oil in his car.
He said there was no need since he traded every year..
Then one time he didn't make it a whole YEAR :-(

 

[Young Gun]

I bought a 686 that had some rough loving. Plenty of rust on the hammer. Always clean your gun, even if you only fire one round. And your vehicle is both a very bad and irresponsible place to store your gun. Please don't do this!

 

[Gunner Guy]

I'm sorry but this seems fairly ridiculous. Comparing leaving a revolver in a holster in a car over leaving a revolver in a house in a drawer.

Well let's see, one gets humidity inside it while the other is constantly kept at a certain temp range. Don't blame S&W for your lack of care.

My house gets plenty of heat and humidity so can I not store it there either? Can one person tell me why they don't finish the trigger or the hammer? Because that's the only spot that's an issue...
My house (not current neighborhood) has been broken into before but my car never has, anecdotal I know but houses aren't exactly fort Knox either. I don't literally always keep it in the car it is a pocket gun after all. Sounds like I just need to clean it like once a month or so even if I don't shoot it cause it's hot and sweaty my pocket in the summer too.

 

[Wise_A]

Leaving a gun in a car is asking for trouble. Cars are broken into all the time and then a bad guy has your gun to further his crimes or shoot cops. Please reconsider your options and store your weapons securely.

Care, custody, and control.

---

Now--truth of the matter is, any finish, subject to use, environment, or neglect, is subject to wear and oxidation. What do you get when you combine gun oil with sand and grit? Lapping compound. Toss in a holster and you get the equivalent of sandpaper in a hot, humid environment--the moisture comes from your sweat and skin oil.

So anything you EDC is going to get holster wear. Even a Glock. But that's fine--don't use anything collectible for that purpose, and learn to appreciate good, honest wear on a gun.

You've gotten a cheap lesson. That's no reason to drop the Smith. These things have been dropped in lakes and mud and, with the right post-accident care, come out just fine. I can't think of too many weapons the size of a J-frame that offer that kind of firepower and reliability.

A better reason to select the Centennial is that there's no exposed hammer to snag your pants pocket on the draw. You shouldn't need to remove the sideplate to clean it, but like any gun, it's not going to want to live in a holster, and you're going to want to clean it regularly even if it's carried and never fired, just to keep dust bunnies at bay.

Reminds me of a story I heard once from my dad. He and two other plainclothes detectives were chasing some hooligan into an old apartment block. When the evil-doer ran inside, he and his partner drew their revolvers and made to pursue.

But the third guy, who never was much of a gun aficionado, couldn't get his sixgun out of the holster. It was stuck. He pulled and yanked, and finally, the gun broke free.

The entire frame, barrel, and cylinder, was completely red with rust. It had literally rusted itself into the holster, and frozen itself there.

It was quickly decided that he should "guard the front" and direct the responding unis.

 

[Wise_A]

My house gets plenty of heat and humidity so can I not store it there either? Can one person tell me why they don't finish the trigger or the hammer? Because that's the only spot that's an issue...
My house (not current neighborhood) has been broken into before but my car never has, anecdotal I know but houses aren't exactly fort Knox either. I don't literally always keep it in the car it is a pocket gun after all. Sounds like I just need to clean it like once a month or so even if I don't shoot it cause it's hot and sweaty my pocket in the summer too.

(1) Get a safe. Even if you've only the one gun, you can store important documents, cash, and other valuables in it if you really need to justify the cost. It doesn't have to be big, just big enough, and secured so it can't be stolen whole.

(2) Get a small dehumidifier, made for gun safes.

(3) Not to be too harsh, but if the finish on the hammer was the issue, don't you think we'd all have rust on our J-frames?

 

[caleb4387]

No it's totally my fault for not cleaning it (stated for the third time now) but why don't they finish the trigger and hammer? Wouldn't that only be a good thing?
As far as the duty weapon yeah I mean you live and learn and I clean my guns properly now but people have put thousands of rounds through their glocks without a single hiccup never having cleaned it. I only have a few hundred through mine.
I just didn't realize it was such a difference between revolvers and autos (or at least glocks.)

They did finish it

 

[ISCS Yoda]

All of the cleaning arguments aside, shooting a gun once, 50 times, or 500, does NOT cause a gun to rust. Iron and steel rust due to moisture, not gunpwder.

The non-technical side is that rust, also called ferrous oxide or iron oxide, occurs when iron or an iron alloy (think steel) is exposed to moisture for a long time, even if it's air dried or put into a safe or a drawer, whatever. The oxygen in the water combines with the iron in the metal as a chemical reaction - it's atoms and atoms that are happy to be together - and the result is iron oxide.

For those of you more technically interested, the process of rusting is actually called oxidation. Fe (iron) and O2 (oxygen) are oppositely charged so they can actively seek each other out and combine chemically. When they combine, the iron loses electrons to oxygen atoms. The product is ferrous oxide. Maybe it's ferric oxide; I am uncertain of the precise name or if it matters. The chemical formula is Fe2O3.

Commonly called rust.

All the cleaning in the world will not prevent rust if you allow moisture to be left on the iron parts of a gun. Wiping a gun down with an oil rag or a silicone impregnated rag before being put away will avoid rusting, regardless of whether you clean the gun or not.

Just as an aside, gun cleaning fanatics are never wrong. You should do it, you're careless and disrespectful if you put your guns away dirty after a hunting season or a range session. On the other hand, if you're not shooting blackpowder or corrosive ammunition, putting your guns away dirty is no big deal. An old cowboy once told me to clean my guns in February and if I forget there is always next February.

 

[Gunner Guy]

(1) Get a safe. Even if you've only the one gun, you can store important documents, cash, and other valuables in it if you really need to justify the cost. It doesn't have to be big, just big enough, and secured so it can't be stolen whole.

(2) Get a small dehumidifier, made for gun safes.

(3) Not to be too harsh, but if the finish on the hammer was the issue, don't you think we'd all have rust on our J-frames?

I have gun safes, I'll look into dehumidifiers I guess. I don't think the lack of finish on the hammer was the only problem, obviously what I did to the gun plus the lack of finish is why it has rust. It's just why doesn't it have finish? I mean there must be a reason.
Subcompacts like the shield, xds etc. Are of similar size to j frames and I'm definitely considering them. Though if what you say about not having to take off the side plate to clean the revolver is true I'd consider sticking with a j frame. Though it seems to me you'd eventually have to clean in there and there are just simpler options.

 

[Gunner Guy]

On the other hand, if you're not shooting blackpowder or corrosive ammunition, putting your guns away dirty is no big deal. An old cowboy once told me to clean my guns in February and if I forget there is always next February.

Was American Eagle 38spl rounds.

 

[BUFF]

Your hammer has a finish, the same finish as on the trigger. It's called "color case hardening." It's the result of heat treatment to give those parts their wear resistance. No, it's not a very corrosion-resistant finish, but lots of guns by many makers used it. Colt Single Action Armies have color case hardened frames, as did many Winchester lever action rifles.

Worse to some folks is that many of the internal parts of a S&W revolver are just plain bare steel.

Bluing, your gun's main finish, is a form of oxidation. Left unattended, it will rust, too. Some folks' skin will make a blued gun rust due to whatever their skin gives off. Most people's perspiration will rust a gun, if not wiped down and given a little bit of oil or something occasionally.

One of my early sergeants, when he found a dry and dirty gun during unannounced inspections, would yell in the deputy's face, "OIL!!! CHEAP!!! DAYS OFF!!! EXPENSIVE!!!"

 

[Redlegvzv]

I bought a 686 that had some rough loving. Plenty of rust on the hammer. Always clean your gun, even if you only fire one round. And your vehicle is both a very bad and irresponsible place to store your gun. Please don't do this!

This. And additionally, a holster is a lousy place to store a gun, whether in the bedroom, gunroom, or a car (and I agree--never store a gun in a car). Holsters attract mosture which leads to rust. Many times I have had friends show me guns that they stored in their gunrooms in holsters whereby rust attacked the gun where it was touching the holster.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

Watch makers used to make a good living cleaning and repairing fine pocket watches and later, wrist watches. Most modern wrist watches are plastic and are simply thrown away and replaced when they stop working. And that's if the individual even bothers to wear a watch now days.

Revolvers are great guns but it does require a certain amount of refinement and dedication to own and care for one. Put away wet, and stuffed in a leather holster will surely lead to rust and deterioration.

Some are just more suited to plastic watches and plastic guns. (Before you start thinking I'm getting all snitty, let me say I own and use Casio watches and GLOCK pistols.)

To answer you question, however, if those who choose revolvers wanted to pay for guns wearing GLOCK like finishes and there were sufficient numbers to purchase them I suppose the gun manufacturers would produce them.

 

[Arc Angel]

Frankly, I don't understand?

Three, recently returned, United States Marine Corps combat veterans taught me how to use, handle, and maintain guns. I started shooting with these men when I was only 9 years of age; I'm presently 73 years old; and, in all this time, (with the exception of only a time or two like when I was shot) none of my fired guns have ever gone for more than 3 days without getting a good cleaning - Never!

I'll frequently clean a gun BEFORE I leave the range - Especially if it happens to be a carry piece! In recent years I've sold off many of my older guns. Every one of them went for a very good price; so, the condition of these firearms spoke for itself! I've still got 40 + year old guns in the safe, right now, that I KNOW would also sell for top dollar if I were to put them up for sale. (They're not just clean; they're immaculate and carefully preserved against things like rust and fingerprint damage.)

I was always taught that the condition of my weapon, along with my acquired ability to use it well could make the difference between me either living, or dying. Maybe I take things too seriously; but, then again, maybe I'm something of a, 'dirt magnet' too. Throughout my long life none of the armed confrontations that I've been involved in were anticipated - None!

All of a sudden I simply found myself smack in the middle of a potentially deadly situation that, somehow, I'd managed to blithely walk into like, 'Ferdinand, the flower-sniffing bull'. (Which is NOT to say that I wasn't paying attention. I'm still here; so I must have, at the very least, been paying attention!)

Guess that I just don't get it? On occasion I've had close to 50 guns in the house - Every one of them immaculate and in perfect working order! Then again, I'm older now than I ever was before; and, truly, I just don't get what's going on in America today? Perhaps dirty guns, like dirty politics and declining public morality, are becoming America's new national norms; I really don't know?

 

[arjay]

No feelings hurt here. I'm fully aware I should have cleaned it, wasn't aware it would hurt the gun to keep it in a holster though. As I said I absolutely clean my guns well now so the lecture isn't really necessary. I guess what I can take away from this is I'm not a revolver guy because my glock seems to have held up superbly under bad circumstances as well.

It wasn't so much that it was dirty,it was the temp changes in the car that caused the rust.When the steel is cooler than the air temp,moisture condenses on it.
Also,it only takes a second to smash a side window in a vehicle and ten more to rifle through everything in there.Thieves work that fast.

 

[Gunner Guy]

Frankly, I don't understand?

Three, recently returned, United States Marine Corps combat veterans taught me how to use, handle, and maintain guns. I started shooting with these men when I was only 9 years of age; I'm presently 73 years old

Yeah that right there, that's why you don't understand. That's wonderful that three combat veterans taught you how to handle and maintain guns from such a young age. You were literally raised on guns it sounds like! That's awesome. My grandad was also a Marine who served in the Korean War, unfortunately he died when I was very young and was unable to pass on such knowledge to me. I've had to pick things up bit by bit as I go. This isn't some instance of me having no morals, being abusive (haha like I'm hitting my wife or something sheesh), or being disrespectful (I paid for the gun and this is America.) This is just a simple boneheaded move, learn from your mistakes kind of a situation. To hear some of you talk it's like you've never made a mistake in your life.
To all those who passed on some useful information and opinions I truly thank you, you have given me some things to think about.

 

[Gunner Guy]

It wasn't so much that it was dirty,it was the temp changes in the car that caused the rust.When the steel is cooler than the air temp,moisture condenses on it.
Also,it only takes a second to smash a side window in a vehicle and ten more to rifle through everything in there.Thieves work that fast.

Yeah definitely seems like it's the humidity and heat that did it. I live in a nice neighborhood with a garage and the gun is in a nifty little biometric safe and I don't leave it in there when I'm parked elsewhere (it's in my pocket at that point.) At this point I'll probably just lug it inside and do overnight etc storage in my safe inside that I'll probably get the dehumidifier for as Wise_A suggested.