Cleaning an unfired BP revolver..

[MedWheeler]

I've got a recently-acquired BP revolver that could seriously use a good cleaning. I'm not new to owning these, but have no experience actually using them. I know about the post-fire cleaning regimen, but can I clean this one prior to firing it the way I clean my "modern" firearms, and using the same stuff? Thanks..

 

[pghrich]

Hello, you did not say what type [colt or remington], but either one uses the same cleaning stuff, soap and water, a bucket is handy and laundry trays help with a short hose, and a old tooth brush, complete takedown is recomended if you are unsure at least remove the cylinder grips and barrel if colt style, cylinder , grips , and trigger gaurd if rem style, after cleaning shake it and dry all the parts, i spray wd40 on mine and have not had any problems, also be sure to spray inside the action, and dry the barrel, remove the nipples and wipe everything nice and dry, put anti seige on the threads of the nipples and reinstall them, i am sure you will get more replys but thats a start, pghrich

 

[M-Cameron]

i dont see any reason why you couldnt use regular firearm cleaner on a BP gun....mechanically speaking they are the same thing.

 

[pghrich]

I don't know about you but after a day of shooting the only way to get all that blackpowder soot out is with pleanty of soap and water

 

[BADUNAME30]

Hey Rich, you should give Balistol a try, you will find your cleanings far easier and better.
It permeates the metal.
Balistol replaces all yer cleanin and lubin products.'cept for the Anti-sieze
Give it a try.I know you'll like it.

 

[MedWheeler]

pghrich, yes, I know pretty much the drill regarding post-fire cleaning.. I was just asking about "general" cleaning of a gun that has been simply stored and gotten pretty cruddy, if I could use my regular solvents and what-not on it. Sounds like there shouldn't be a problem.
By the way, the gun in question is a Navy 1851 Colt-type (of course, an Italian repro.) It appears to be either stainless steel (except for the brass frame) or nickel-plated steel. There's a bit of rust on it. I also do have a Remington-type, which I've had for almost thirty years, but have never fired. I'm gonna do it one of these days.

 

[mykeal]

For the first cleaning there's no reason you can't use solvents intended for smokeless powder cleanup. It's a good way to get rid of manufacturing greases and oils.

HOWEVER, do NOT SHOOT the gun with those solvents and oils in the combustion areas (chambers and bore). Just before firing it, swab those areas with an alcohol soaked patch to remove the solvents. They are (generally) low distillate petroleum products and will not burn completely at black powder combustion temperatures, leaving behind tar that's a pain to remove.

Black powder combustion by-products are completely water soluble, so post-shoot cleaning can be done with plain water. Concoctions involving Simple Green, Murphy's Oil Soap, dish detergent, WD-40, olive oil, thousand island dressing, Windex with and without vinegar, etc. can also be used but plain water is cheaper, and it works.

Ballistol and other mineral oil based solvents also work well as cleaners, but again are more expensive than plain water. Ballistol is really a great rust preventative best used after cleaning.

 

[MedWheeler]

Good info, guys. Thanks.

 

[Pancho]

I'd pay particular attention to the nipples. Removing them, cleaning them, and adding a touch of antisize to them before re-installing them.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Any gun that I buy that I am going to only shoot Black Powder in, whether new or used, I completely strip down and completely clean it with a strong solvent like lacquer thinner of paint thinner, to remove all the manufacturing oils.

Once everything is down to bare metal I lubricate everything with Ballistol making sure all metal surfaces have a light coating, then I put it back together again.

I have done this with brand new guns as well as antiques that are over 100 years old.

 

[loose noose]

Sorry fellers, I'm kind of partial to equal parts of Murphy's Soap Oil, rubbing alcohol, and hydrogen Peroxide, and that stuff don't smell like smelly socks.