How many of you dry your revolver in the oven?

[Ed C.]

Over complicating is well put. My frames are packed in synthetic grease and have action shields installed keeping fouling and fragments out, so like you said, scrub the barrel and cylinder, wipe the frame and lube and presto done in 30 minutes. Just discovered using an ultrasonic machine that does wonders on the cylinder and nipples.

Sometimes I like complicated. It's all part of shooting BP. Nothing is fast when dealing with muzzle loaders anyway. Taking out the internals and cleaning only adds about 20-30 minutes to what I have to clean anyway and I like the idea of knowing exactly what is going on inside the gun. On days when I want to shoot fast and easy clean up the unmentionables come out. I've been tempted by grease packing and have a friend that loves using the ultrasonic cleaner but like so many things in life at this point, I'll just do it the old way.

 

[ernbar]

Sometimes I like complicated. It's all part of shooting BP. Nothing is fast when dealing with muzzle loaders anyway. Taking out the internals and cleaning only adds about 20-30 minutes to what I have to clean anyway and I like the idea of knowing exactly what is going on inside the gun. On days when I want to shoot fast and easy clean up the unmentionables come out. I've been tempted by grease packing and have a friend that loves using the ultrasonic cleaner but like so many things in life at this point, I'll just do it the old way.

Try the new fangled way, you may like it. I rather spend more time shooting and less time cleaning.

 

[Ed C.]

Try the new fangled way, you may like it. I rather spend more time shooting and less time cleaning.

I may just do that. Pick one gun and see how it works out over time. I understand there is also a commercial solution made for guns to be used in ultrasonic cleaners.

 

[ernbar]

I may just do that. Pick one gun and see how it works out over time. I understand there is also a commercial solution made for guns to be used in ultrasonic cleaners.

I use water and a tad of Dawn. Read somewhere to use the Simple Green in the purple container which is supposed to be safe on these metals.

 

[Flintlock Whiskey]

But seriously folks.... 30 odd years ago when I was really into PPC, S&W introduced the 625. Alot of PPC shooters retired their 25-2's and got one. They weren't cheap. ( btw, that's how I got my first 25-2)

A good friend bought the first one I'd seen. We all shot it. A Very smooth double action trigger, overall a great out of the box competition revolver. He proudly announced being stainless you could wash it in the dishwasher and dry it in the oven.

Next match he showed up mad at the world. He uncrated his month old 625 and it was covered in yellow/orange rust spots.

As competitive shooters we had compassion for him... NOT!
I told him he needed to use more Jet Dry, another told him it looked like an orange tree had took a dump on it!!

No one knew exactly what happened, but he kept it for years. It shot fine, but looked horrible. I learned that stainless steel only goes so far to prevent rust.

So no, I've never been tempted to use a dishwasher to clean or use an oven to dry a pistol.

It all has to do with the composition of the "stainless" steel. I was an instrument specialist for a surgery in a major hospital for a little over ten years. If it isn't some sort of polymer, its stainless. Owing to the corrosive nature of bodily fluids and such they had to be. Anyway, the only truly stainless instruments were made of austenitic, high nickel content SS and those instruments weren't under a lot of stress, they were absolutely nonmagnetic. Ones that were had to be manufactured with a much higher carbon content. While they were durable, they were subject to pitting from corrosion if not properly cared for, if they got pitted, they were thrown out. SS in a firearm will only slow the corrosion process to a small fraction compared to a blued steel one, but they will still degrade if not taken care of. So, the moral of this long-winded tome is: make sure the surgeon doesn't leave a SS pistol in your gut before closing you up.

 

[Flintlock Whiskey]

I may just do that. Pick one gun and see how it works out over time. I understand there is also a commercial solution made for guns to be used in ultrasonic cleaners.

I bought the midsized sonic cleaner from HF and I have to say it works very well. I use a heavy concentration of simple green and run it for about 5-10 minutes. Gets all the crud out. It works good with colts but not with 1858 Rems as well. With a Remington one has to fun it with the barrel poking out and reverse it and run again. It cost $80.00. If I were to do it over again, I would spend the extra and get the big one for the Remingtons.

 

[Mad L]

Wow, just Wow!
Oven baking, ultra sonic cleaning, automotive fluids....what has black powder shooting come to?!?
Our forefathers are turning over in their graves!

Had I known this hobby was going to be that complicated I would stuck to unmentionables!
Now I have to explain to my wife why I have to buy so much more stuff...including an oven for my revolvers...now; does it have to be an Electric oven too?????

 

[Ed C.]

Wow, just Wow!
Oven baking, ultra sonic cleaning, automotive fluids....what has black powder shooting come to?!?
Our forefathers are turning over in their graves!

Had I known this hobby was going to be that complicated I would stuck to unmentionables!
Now I have to explain to my wife why I have to buy so much more stuff...including an oven for my revolvers...now; does it have to be an Electric oven too?????

Lol! 'Cause we have way too much time to fuss over the small stuff. Our forefathers were not concerned with keeping a BP tradition going. They just wanted to keep their guns in good enough shape to shoot a rabbit or turkey. I'm pretty sure if you told them, "Here, put your guns in this magic gadget and they'll come out clean", they'd be just like us.
The oven will definitely have to be electric....and no farting around while cleaning your guns, lest you melt the ice caps and me and all my buddies in Florida will be under water.

 

[bronko220002]

I’ve baked mine in the oven every time. Coat it down with olive oil afterwards. On 225F long enough to heat it up.

And served with garlic bread and your choice of pasta! LOL

 

[Ed C.]

It all has to do with the composition of the "stainless" steel. I was an instrument specialist for a surgery in a major hospital for a little over ten years. If it isn't some sort of polymer, its stainless. Owing to the corrosive nature of bodily fluids and such they had to be. Anyway, the only truly stainless instruments were made of austenitic, high nickel content SS and those instruments weren't under a lot of stress, they were absolutely nonmagnetic. Ones that were had to be manufactured with a much higher carbon content. While they were durable, they were subject to pitting from corrosion if not properly cared for, if they got pitted, they were thrown out. SS in a firearm will only slow the corrosion process to a small fraction compared to a blued steel one, but they will still degrade if not taken care of. So, the moral of this long-winded tome is: make sure the surgeon doesn't leave a SS pistol in your gut before closing you up.

Right, because then you will be forced to get a concealed carry permit and will have to give up air travel.

 

[Panama Red]

And served with garlic bread and your choice of pasta! LOL

I recommend the pork tortellini Alfredo.
Goes very well with a Remington. If it was a Colt, I’d definitely go carbonara…
-Red, drank a few too many Peroni while I was there…

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Ovens are for pizza, not revolvers.....

 

[Eterry]

Wow, just Wow!
Oven baking, ultra sonic cleaning, automotive fluids....what has black powder shooting come to?!?
Our forefathers are turning over in their graves!

Had I known this hobby was going to be that complicated I would stuck to unmentionables!
Now I have to explain to my wife why I have to buy so much more stuff...including an oven for my revolvers...now; does it have to be an Electric oven too?????

I completely agree. What happened to warm soapy water and a rag to dry it on?

 

[Panama Red]

I completely agree. What happened to warm soapy water and a rag to dry it on?

Ding dangy! Why, when I wuz a pup, we just wiped our hogleg down with a greasy beaver, and we were happy!
-Red, being crotchety…

 

[Tenring]

Have been Microwaving recently when it throws sparks she’s done. O yeah..just a little levity

 

[ernbar]

Have you thought about lead contamination from using a dishwasher where your eating utensils get washed?

I fail to see the humor of the two smilies for my post that Snydly and Hiparoo posted. Care to expand on your reasoning? All that lead, gunpowder and whatever chemicals used will get into the washer components and get on the utensils one eats and drinks from on the next load. Even worse if dishes and drinking glasses are loaded up with gun parts.

 

[Bad Karma]

I fail to see the humor of the two smilies for my post that Snydly and Hiparoo posted. Care to expand on your reasoning? All that lead, gunpowder and whatever chemicals used will get into the washer components and get on the utensils one eats and drinks from on the next load. Even worse if dishes and drinking glasses are loaded up with gun parts.

you're right, it’s not very funny but the greatest danger I would face in that scenario would be lead poison administered by my beloved’s revolver…

Try the new fangled way, you may like it. I rather spend more time shooting and less time cleaning.

before I began grease packing I just blasted the internal parts with a squirt or two of CLP. Never have I had internal rust. Cleaning and preserving these guns isn’t nearly as complicated as people are making it seem. Especially since most percussion caps are not corrosive as they were back in the day.
…

 

[Flintlock Whiskey]

Right, because then you will be forced to get a concealed carry permit and will have to give up air travel.

The real problem is when you have to pull it for defense.

 

[Griff093]

I fail to see the humor of the two smilies for my post that Snydly and Hiparoo posted. Care to expand on your reasoning? All that lead, gunpowder and whatever chemicals used will get into the washer components and get on the utensils one eats and drinks from on the next load. Even worse if dishes and drinking glasses are loaded up with gun parts.

Hmmm... you don't think all the contaminates flush out with the water? I don't have any food deposits left on my dishes and utensils when they're run thru a cycle. Maybe my washer does a really good job... Why wouldn't the crud washing off the revolver also flush? However, I did it once... pretty much took the finish of the Italian copy, but maybe I shouldn't have left it in there until the dry cycle was done...
Now I just run hot water thru the barrel, cylinder, brush out the fouling that remains after the flush, cloth patches til dry, oil, lube and a dab of grease on the nipple threads. Action stays packed with Lucas synthetic EP2 grease. Meanwhile the nipples are in the sonic cleaner, after 5-6 minutes, the sonic cleaner has pretty much removed all the carbon buildup off the stainless nipples, they then get wrapped up in a paper towel and set aside with my shooting kit, until it's time charge the guns again.

 

[user 33697]

I clean with a dawn/water/ballistol mix, blow dry with air compressor and put in the oven at about 180 degrees. I think the ballistol leaves a film that prevents flash rust when oven drying. I'll then put a heavy coat of ballistol on everything and done. Might be more than necessary but it works for me and I've got the time for a little gun love.

Your absolutely right about Ballistol. I swear by it! It's great for removing surface rust and leaves a nice thin coating when storing a firearm. Ballistol is especially great when cleaning a new BP revolver as they all seem to be shipped from Italy with surface rust inside and out. Also, Ballistol is not harsh on your hands and is biodegradable.