Cleaning an 1851 Colt Navy

[paulmarcone]

I just got a Pietta Colt Navy and have fired it twice. After both shooting sessions I took off the barrel and thoroughly cleaned the barrel, bore, cylinder, nipples and cylinder pin.

Tonight I also took off the trigger guard and gave the trigger area, mainspring and inside of the grips a good cleaning with Ballistol and a toothbrush. There was some powder residue on the trigger guard.

Should I take off the trigger guard every time I clean the gun or is it something that should be done only once every 3 or 4 shooting sessions.

Thanks.

 

[gun killer]

IF YOU ARE USING REAL BP IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO AFTER EVERY OTHER SHOOTING. IF YOUR USING SUB. BP ITS STILL A GOOD IDEA FROM TIME TO TIME

 

[paulmarcone]

IF YOU ARE USING REAL BP IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO AFTER EVERY OTHER SHOOTING. IF YOUR USING SUB. BP ITS STILL A GOOD IDEA FROM TIME TO TIME

I use real blackpowder (Goex FFFG). Thanks a lot.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

You might want to consider cleaning the revolver each time after your day at the range. That would be taking it all the way down to clean. You might find bits of cap material and large flakes of burnt reside down inside the frame. A piece of cap can become stuck and cause the revolver some problems while shooting. The residue can build up during shooting and can cause problems also.
Taking the revolver all the way down gives you a good opportunity to inspect the springs too. A simple, free cleaning and inspection can save you some grief at the range when you find out your trigger spring has broken or cracked, or the spring behind the cylinder rotating hand (cocking pawl) is where it is supposed to be. That could ruin your day even before it got started. :hmm:

 

[rebel727]

I tear mine completly down once a year if I think about it, no problems. Anything more is just wearing out screws.

 

Congrats on the Colt Navy. I got one a little while ago and have shot it twice. Love that gun. I was really surprised how accurate it is.
Have not taken mine completely apart. Am a little learly of have extra pieces left over when I'm done. :wink: I figure if it starts acting up, then it's time for a strip job. Other than that, a really good cleaning after the range.
Steve

 

[scrat]

a few months ago i tried something different on my revolvers. The end result was fantastic. After a good cleaning inside and out. i took one revolver used my normal gun oil. then took the other revolver and used some powdered graphite. i lubed up everything except for the Bolt the cylinder rides on. This i used a small dab of molly grease. Well i went shooting poured about 50 or so rounds through each. Then just hot water cleaned the barrel and cylinder. then i went shooting again the following week fired off almost about 80-100 rounds through each. Then i went home and began to take them all apart. Amazing enough the graphite lubed revolver was still very very clean. The one that was lubed with oil. Of course was all caked up. my guess is that the oil gives the powder something to stick too while the graphite did not stick. i posted this on THR and several members have tried it too. works really good. and black powder does not stick to it. neither does spent caps. So your revolver can go a lot more without jamming up or needing to be cleaned as with other oils.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

you might want to try washing your revolver with warm windsheild washer fluid. not as cheap as soapy water but the alcohol(get the winter mix it has more of) and ammonia in it really cut through the crud. I use a spray bottle filled with it and rinse with hot water after soaking, spraying again and soaking then scrubbing.

 

[Poor Private]

I have never tried the graphite method of lubing before. It sounds interesting to try as an experiment. Now cleaning the bugger when your done just take off the grips, remove the cylinder and toss in your home dishwasher. But you have to do a rinse to get the Calgon all off it.

 

[paulmarcone]

a few months ago i tried something different on my revolvers. The end result was fantastic. After a good cleaning inside and out. i took one revolver used my normal gun oil. then took the other revolver and used some powdered graphite. i lubed up everything except for the Bolt the cylinder rides on. This i used a small dab of molly grease. Well i went shooting poured about 50 or so rounds through each. Then just hot water cleaned the barrel and cylinder. then i went shooting again the following week fired off almost about 80-100 rounds through each. Then i went home and began to take them all apart. Amazing enough the graphite lubed revolver was still very very clean. The one that was lubed with oil. Of course was all caked up. my guess is that the oil gives the powder something to stick too while the graphite did not stick. i posted this on THR and several members have tried it too. works really good. and black powder does not stick to it. neither does spent caps. So your revolver can go a lot more without jamming up or needing to be cleaned as with other oils.

This sounds interesting. What parts of the revolver did you place the graphite powder? And what graphite powder product did you use and where did you purchase it?

I would think you'd still need to use a rust preventative. But it sounds interesting. Again, I'd like to know where you applied the graphite, how and where you bought it.

Thanks!