To clean or not to clean revolver

[reddog97]

I've got 4 Uberti revolvers which I completely disassemble and clean after each range session. I've found that all the parts inside the frame have residue on them and therefore I clean and reoil the same as the barrel and cylinder to ward off rust and corrosion. A coworker told me that he has a revolver that he has shot several hundred rounds through over a period of years and never took it completely down until recently and found no rust or corrosion inside except for a small spot of rust at the bottom of the mainspring under the grips. How come no corrosion inside the frame if it has residue on the parts after each shooting. How often do you pistol shooters disassemble the entire weapon?(time wise and number of shots fired).

 

[R.M.]

I completely strip and clean after every use.

 

[Pete Gaimari]

I strip down before and after every CAS event. I use Ballistol for lube on the whole gun, so I don't worry about rust. I just want to make sure everything looks good.

Besides, Colts are so easy to take down. I don't consider it a chore.

 

[Zonie]

I clean the cylinder, barrel and the exposed areas of the frame and cylinder pin within an hour after I'm done shooting.
I always apply a good coating of oil to the cleaned parts and the openings in the frame when I'm done.

Maybe once every 4 or 5 times I will take the rest of the gun apart and clean out the light fouling that has found its way into the inside areas.

I have yet to see any rust or corrosion on the internal parts of my revolvers even though they usually have some oil dampened fouling inside.

 

[reddog97]

Zonie, how much time covers those 4 or 5 outings, days,weeks,months?

 

[napolean]

I clean my remmy like Zonie does. I do not completely dissasemble mine very often. Every few months,(probably 100+ rounds)I remove the grips, trigger guard and trigger/bolt spring and can get to the guts with soapy water and then compressed air. There is oily fouling and the occasional cap fragment in there. I then spray WD 40 and blow it out again and use gun oil. I've had my gun since "78" and although it shows it's age, it functions great, no rust or pits, and still groups tight.
Jon D

 

[Zonie]

Months.

I have over 10 different C&B revolvers and a many of them I don't shoot much.

In fact, about a week ago when I was investigating someones comment about the inexpensive Italian revolvers having soft parts I disassembled a brass framed Confederate styled Colt and realized that I hadn't cleaned the inside parts after I last shot it well over a year ago.

There was the usual thin coating of black residue inside of it but there was no sign of rust or corrosion.

Some may point out that I live in Phoenix where the humidity seldom gets above 20 percent but I point out to them that I use two different kinds of cooling in my house.
Over 3 months a year I run my evaporative cooler (swamp box) and the humidity in my house when its running is 40-60%.

 

[CaptainKirk]

I have three BP revolvers; two open-top Colt repros and a '58 Remmy repro. Generally, I will completely disassemble after every heavy shooting session. I've never found any rust, but I'd like to keep it that way. This also gives me the opportunity to lube and inspect the internals, and besides, I like taking them apart. It's fun. :grin:
I shoot only Pyrodex P through mine. Whether you choose to believe the hype about corrosion and Pyrodex is up to you; I won't get into that now, seeing as how we beat that subject to death on another thread, here if you want to delve into it:
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/251852/post/916956/hl//fromsearch/1/

But thorough cleaning and oiling certainly doesn't hurt any way you look at it. That's my two cents, anyway. :v

 

[token tory]

I think it depends partly on by what method you clean, how far disassembly is needed.

For my '58 Rem reproduction I use the hot, soapy water method, followed by forced air drying & a lot of lube, (probably too much). For this I pull the cylinder & the nipples. The one time I used solvents, brushes & patches instead I did find all sorts of crud inside so I did the whole strip down & hot water.

My thought is that if you use the hot water & lube generously what isn't cleaned away will be oil coated & so impervious to rust. So far it's worked for me as I've never found any problems. :v

 

[Norinco]

Just from firing three shots on my Colt, there is visible residue inside the action.

 

[ZUG]

I purchased a Navey Arms Rem model 58 from a friend many years back (about 15+) and he bought it from a friend in the early 70's. It was fired maybe thirty shots and cleaned on the outside by the original owner. I disassembled it when I got it and checked it out. No rust on the outside and no rust on the inside but I was the only one that opened up the revolver as there was powder soot on the inside from the original owner. The gun came from NJ. It is now clean & oiled and sits in the safe ready to go along with the others.

 

[rafterob]

I'm in Zonie's camp on this one. Maybe 2 or 3 times a year. I use a heavy gun oil on the internals and the spray stuff on the outside. No issues so far after 5 years.

 

[oldarmy]

I always clean my OLD ARMY barrel and cylinder, and every part I can get to easily after every shooting session.Will use a cotton swab to get into the hammer slot and other small holes.
The internals, are cleaned when I have time or I find a problem with the action. Since I shoot it every few days in the summer. Rust never has time to form.
I use cold water after finding hot water flash rusting on the cylinder.
A light oiling and she is ready to go :grin:

 

[Poor Private]

I am partially with Zonie. I don't totally disassemble unless something breaks. I have had some pistols for over 10 plus years. The ones that I have taken apart(after a couple of years) I find nothing in disarry. So I quit doing it. Since the working parts inside the frame are so cheap to replace I don't feel that it's worth the effort. BUT every person has thier own ideas.

 

[junkman_01]

I completely strip and clean after every use.

A clean gun is a happy gun! :v

 

[token tory]

*Apologies in advance I'm medicated against possible snakebite* :redface:

I've never felt the need to strip before cleaning my gun, I just wash the clothes afterward.

*sorry, couldn't resist* :shocked2:

 

[Mike M.]

I put about 600-800 rounds per year through my Remington. The barrel, frame, and cylinder get scrubbed out regularly, but I only disassemble and detail-clean all components every six months. It's worked for me for thirty years.

 

[David Teague]

I clean the main components after each shooting session, spray the "innards" with gun oil, let drip dry and reassemble. I completely clean every few years :redface: and have never found rust, just a little oily back goo.

I've had a few of these revolvers since the early 1980's

Cheers,

David

 

[junkman_01]

No appology required. I loved that come back! :grin:

 

[token tory]

:thumbsup: :rotf: