[rrruuunnn]

How often should I disassemble my revolver for cleaning?

[cyclopsshooter]

i do it often, but i like doing it

[ChristopherG]

Depends on what you mean by 'disassemble'--and on how mechanical/resourced you are.

Most revolver owners should never take the side plate off--not because it takes a genius, but because they are not likely to do the research and take the time to know how to do what needs doing in there. Also, there's very little that needs doing in there. Honestly, you could never, ever take the sideplate off and probably lose nothing. I'm sure that's what the manufacturer recommends.

I take the cylinder out of my revolvers for cleaning and polishing pretty often, OTOH. It's simple and it makes the ordinary process of cleaning a lot easier.

So just how much 'disassembly' are you asking about or planning?

[Glockman17366]

I follow manufacturers' instructions. There's no need to go beyond that for routine cleaning.

[Lakeshore]

Bought my Ruger Blackhawk .357 magnum in 1969 and have fired unknown thousands of rounds through it. I keep it clean and lubed but have never stripped it beyond removing the cylinder. It still shoots as good as the day I bought it.

[rcmodel]

How often should I disassemble my revolver for cleaning? Probably never, unless you have proper gunsmigh screwdrivers and a knowledge of how to do it.

Unless it breaks there is no need to dissemble it.
Oil the trigger, hammer, hand, locking bolt, ejector star, and ejector rod with a drop of oil occasionally and it will still be going long after you are!

rc

[JellyJar]

Long time ago I had a nickle plated S&W model 36 that I completely disassembled. It took me three months to get it back together and working! I later sold it and now I wished I still had it.

[earlthegoat2]

Never, just clean with it still assembled.

[Nicodemus38]

if your worried about any possible residue or metal filings inside the action, there are several very good to decent aerosol gun cleaners that are designed to be blown into the action to clean and lube it.

[MR.G]

When I shot a lot the internal parts of my S&W revolvers were removed, cleaned, and lubed after about every third range trip. Springs changed every year. Now that I don't shoot them anymore, only occasionally for the fun of it.

[545days]

When it ceases to function is a good time. Other than that, follow the manufacturers instructions.

Whatever you do - don't pry the sideplate off! After removing the screws with a properly fitted hollow ground screwdriver, tap the weapon with a brass hammer to remove the sideplate.

[Publius1688]

Cylinder? Whenever you want to, just keep your weapon clean.
Sideplate? Here's a story. About 25 years ago, a male friend gave my Mom a .38 special snubby S&W. I forgot about it. Last year, she moved, and as she flew out for the first trip, I'm holding the .38 until Christmas for her. It's been fired, probably 2-3 boxes a year, with little more than a thorough wipedown & bore clean thereafter. I decided to take down the pistol completely, including the sideplate. After research online to make sure I wouldn't run into anything I wasn't ready for, I took it down.
The internals of the pistol were absolutely immaculate. I gave it a very light spray of Rem Oil, laughed, and put it back together.

[easyrider6042004@yahoo.ca]

How often should I disassemble my revolver for cleaning?

Never. Unless you drop in mud or the like.

[whitebb]

The Ruger Sp101 is a breeze to fully disassemble. I imagine the Gp100 is similar.

[easyg]

Never, just clean with it still assembled.
Best answer.

[E357]

If you're shooting jacketed ammo, then removal of the sideplate is rarely needed. However, if you shoot a lot of lead target loads then I think every 1000 rounds or so. At least that's what my training was.

Removal of the S&W sideplate is easy once you have the correct size screw driver and someone shows you how to do it. When I used to do work on my friends guns, many of them had "caked" deposits of crud in the lockwork. But this goes back to the old lead 38's they got for free at the PD ranges.

Elliot

[Avenger29]

The Ruger Sp101 is a breeze to fully disassemble. I imagine the Gp100 is similar.

The Ruger DA revolvers are designed to be easily field stripped.

S&Ws are more complicated, but doable. Personally, I don't do my S&W work- I know my limitations. I don't have the finesse or patience.

[gunnutery]

The Ruger Sp101 is a breeze to fully disassemble. I imagine the Gp100 is similar.

The sp101 and the gp100 are pretty much identical. I just clean the bore and chambers with a brush/hoppes/patches if I've only shot a 100 rounds or less. Otherwise I field strip them and give them a good thorough cleaning. More often with the sp101 since I carry it.