Cylinder Removal

[Niekamp]

Does everyone remove the cylinder of their revolver when cleaning it?

I never have, but heard that some do...

I just picked up a Ruger Super Redhawk....but didn't see anything in the manual about removing the cylinder...does anyone know how to remove the cylinder on these things?

N

 

[Steve in PA]

Yup.......every time I shoot my SRH I take the cylinder apart and clean it. No reason not to......I consider it part of the cleaning process.......just as I take apart each magazine I used when shooting one of my semi-autos and clean then as well.

For the SRH.....you need a special tool.....for removing the screw inside the cylinder. Its available from Brownells.....which is where I got mine. I took mine apart by looking at the exploded diagram and figuring out where everything went.

Becareful.....there are several small parts and springs and two tiny ball bearings inside. I haven't taken mine apart since hunting season...so I can't give you an exact detailed by the numbers way to take it apart.

Maybe I'll pull it out tomorrow and see what I can do

 

[Johnny Guest]

Not everyone; not all revolvers

Up front: I don't own a Ruger Redhawk, and there may be complicaitons unknown to me.

I'd say the vast majority of people do not remove cylinders when cleaning double action revolvers. The swing out cylinder gives adequate access to clean the chambers from the breech end. A toothbrush-style bristle brush allows for removal of fouling from around rear of barrel and the crane area. Also don't forget to brush throughly in the area where the extractor star seats in rear of the cylinder. This is especially imortant with use of heavy loads of slow burning powder. Unburned powder granules can collect under the star and keep it from seating properly.

Certainly, cylinder removal, with adequate precautions to prevent loss of arts, allows for a somewhat more through cleaning. Always make certain you have exactly the right size screwdrivers.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Randy63]

What Johnny Guest said.
I only own S&W and Colt revolvers. I been shooting them for years and never once removed a cylinder. I'm give my revolvers a thorough cleaning after every range session. I have a K22 that my father bought brand new in 1950. We've literally put 100's of thousands of rounds through it and none of the side plate screws have ever been turned. This gun still runs flawlessly. If it ain't broke.

K22

 

[Dot_mdb]

It is much easier to clean a revolver with the cylinder removed. Removing the cylinder on a S&W revolver only requires the removal of one screw and then sliding the yoke/crane assembly away from the frame. Remove the screw while the cylinder is locked in place. You can then put the screw back in while you are cleaning so that you don't lose it. Fear not, there is little that can go wrong with cylinder removal.

Once you try cleaning with the cylinder removed you will not go back to the other way. Especially if you have been shooting lead and have some serious cleaning to do inside the chambers and on the cylinder face.

Bill

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I don't remove the cylinder every time I shoot. I do remove it periodically so that I can do a real thorough cleaning, however.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I always remove the cylinder and let it soak in a jar of Hoppe's No. 9 while cleaning the barrel and frame: I get a better cleaning job, and it's easier to clean parts that have soaked awhile. Total extra time: none, since it's easier to clean a cylinder by itself.

 

[Pappy John]

As Dot_mdb said, I do it after shooting lead. I think that the strenuous scrubbing needed to remove the lead residue from the cylinder face and chambers would be hard on the crane otherwise. Jacketed ammo just leaves powder residue for the most part and it comes clean with solvent and a swipe. No great need to remove in that case.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i guess there's always somthing new.

i was taught not to remove the cylinder when cleaning, and i stuck with that until i starting shooting competition. you want to talk about dirty guns...think thousands of wad-cutters with powder and kube fouling.

most folks would take out their cylinders for cleaning before the season and than just brush and wipe between matches. depending on how it went during the season, they might get a real cleaning at the end too...the side plates never came off unless there was a problem