Cleaning my first revolver

[Flynt]

I bought my first revolver last night at Cabelas Ft. Worth -- a Ruger Security Six 357. Shot her today, and she shoots like a dream.

However, I'm not sure I know how to clean her. The gun is stainless and was immaculate. When I got her home I noticed the front face of the cylinder looked like someone had blued it. Same thing for the front of the frame next to the barrell. I assume it's a really carbon, lead, et al, deposit. My normal stuff I use, such as Hoppes no. 9 and CLP don't seem to phase it. What do you guys recommend? Thanks.

 

[dfariswheel]

For stainless guns ONLY, buy a "lead-away" cloth at most any gun shop.
This is a heavy cloth the literally wipes the carbon off with just light rubbing.

DO NOT use on a blued gun, it also wipes bluing right off.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Hot gases blow through the barrel/cylinder gap on any revolver, leaving carbon deposits ("burn rings") on the front face of the cylinder and around the barrel's breech end (forcing cone) and frame. I don't worry too much about them unless so much builds up that it retards the rotation of the cylinder, then I just scrub the areas with a toothbrush and solvent. When I want to completely remove them I too use the "lead-away" cloth.

 

[lee n. field]

Like a turn ring it's an unavoidable sign that you're actually using the gun.

Myself, I don't bother trying to get the front of the cylinder pristine.