Bat Masterson
Member
Hey people, here is a question for your collective mind: What is the best method for drying a pistol that fell in the lake (with me still attached to it) while I was fishing? 
How to dry a pistol
- Thread starter Bat Masterson
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Been there, done that ... 
Remove the grips and dry them by hand.
Field strip the gun as far as you know how.
If you don't have any WD-40 (the best way) put it in a oven at very low heat (150 degrees or slightly less) for about a half-hour.
Spray it down with a good gun oil, and drain or airhose out the surplus.
Let it sit for a few hours, and then wipe off remaining excess with an absorbant cloth.
Reassemble.
Remove the grips and dry them by hand.
Field strip the gun as far as you know how.
If you don't have any WD-40 (the best way) put it in a oven at very low heat (150 degrees or slightly less) for about a half-hour.
Spray it down with a good gun oil, and drain or airhose out the surplus.
Let it sit for a few hours, and then wipe off remaining excess with an absorbant cloth.
Reassemble.
Vern Humphrey
Member
You guys remind me of a lady at church -- she has several daughters, and the youngest one (about four) came in what a cast on her arm.
Me: "Kalley, what happened?"
Mom: "She fell off the clothes line."
Me: "You know, you CAN dry them with towels."
Step one is to strip the gun down as far as you can and get all the water off it. You can pull an old muzzle loader's trick -- remove all non-steel parts (grips, etc.) put the stripped pistol in a pot of boiling for about 15 minutes, then cool and lube it. The steel will be so hot that all the water will evaporate.
Me: "Kalley, what happened?"
Mom: "She fell off the clothes line."
Me: "You know, you CAN dry them with towels."
Step one is to strip the gun down as far as you can and get all the water off it. You can pull an old muzzle loader's trick -- remove all non-steel parts (grips, etc.) put the stripped pistol in a pot of boiling for about 15 minutes, then cool and lube it. The steel will be so hot that all the water will evaporate.
Ken Rainey
Member
What kind of pistol? If it's a Glock - nevermind, it's ok !......just kidding, field strip it (detail disassembly if possible), rinse with clean water, blow dry with compressed air if available, "wash" it out with WD-40 making sure it gets in every nook and cranny and blow dry again or let drip dry, wipe parts off with WD-40 slightly dampened cloth, use your favorite gun oil in all the right places and reassemble. If it's a gun with wooden grips remove them and clean/dry/oil (polish) them too and your good to go. Some people scream that WD-40 is bad for guns - for what reason I don't know...my uncle is a retired gunsmith and he used it a lot, he was taught it's use in gunsmithing school as a matter of fact....very helpful in cleaning/lubricating mechanisms that are unable to be or shouldn't be taken apart. I've used it for years as a "cleaner" and protector for my guns following up with a good oil (usually motor oil - synthetic nowadays = Amsoil) in all the right spots and never had a problem with it. I believe that WD-40 got a bad rap from people that misused it by just spraying some into the actions on their guns and never took them apart and cleaned them properly - I've seen this with pump and semi auto rifles and shotguns...sigh.
As always, YMMV.
Ken
*Edit* After posting I saw that Old Fuff and mastinson had already beat me to it with the WD-40 suggestions ! .........
As always, YMMV.
Ken
*Edit* After posting I saw that Old Fuff and mastinson had already beat me to it with the WD-40 suggestions ! .........
dairycreek
Member
I'm from Oregon where there's a nasty rumor that we have a lot of rain. When I am trying to clean one of my hunting revolvers after a long day in the wet, wet brush of western Oregon I find that you just could cannot beat WD-40 for getting rid of the water in the gun. Spray the gun liberally and be sure to get the WD-40 into all the gun's nooks and crannies. It sure will take care of an excess water problem. WD-40, on the other hand, is NOT an effective lubricant. So when you have wiped the gun as free of the WD-40 as you can get it lube the gun with a good lubricant. My current favorite is Eezox but I have used 30 weight motor oil with excellent results. Just get the water out first.
Burt Blade
Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2004
- Messages
- 477
Note: Blackpowder guns are cleaned with hot soapy water, every time you shoot them. This also works for mil-surplus “corrosive” ammunition.
Remove any wood/plastic parts. (Glocks may be a problem...)
Use paper towels, etc to remove most of the obvious moisture.
Clean it normally.
Oil it lightly.
Set the oven to about 150-175 degrees F and bake it for 30 minutes. (Anything under 200 degrees F is not going to change the steel.)
Turn off the oven, open the door slightly, and allow it to cool to room temperature.
When cool to the touch, re-attach wood/plastic parts and then oil lightly.
Done.
I have been cleaning a pair of Uberti Remington “1858” revolvers and a pair of Ruger Old Army revolvers this way for over a year. No rust yet.
I often let them bake dry on a sunny loading bench when I clean them at the range.
Ballistol Oil, mixed 1 part Ballistol to 10 parts water, makes a dandy cleaner for this process. The heat of baking evaporates the water, leaving the oil.
Remove any wood/plastic parts. (Glocks may be a problem...)
Use paper towels, etc to remove most of the obvious moisture.
Clean it normally.
Oil it lightly.
Set the oven to about 150-175 degrees F and bake it for 30 minutes. (Anything under 200 degrees F is not going to change the steel.)
Turn off the oven, open the door slightly, and allow it to cool to room temperature.
When cool to the touch, re-attach wood/plastic parts and then oil lightly.
Done.
I have been cleaning a pair of Uberti Remington “1858” revolvers and a pair of Ruger Old Army revolvers this way for over a year. No rust yet.
I often let them bake dry on a sunny loading bench when I clean them at the range.
Ballistol Oil, mixed 1 part Ballistol to 10 parts water, makes a dandy cleaner for this process. The heat of baking evaporates the water, leaving the oil.
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