Looking for care and maintenance for a S&W Model 17

[Pat Riot]

Hoppe's #9 is my go to cleaner. Can't abide the smell of ballistol. About the only thing worse to me is a dead skunk. Oil the innards and wax the outside had been my method since the late '60's and I have had no rust or bluing problems since adopting this procedure. Like already said, the cylinder face and the frame around it is clean for one shot only. Get rid of the easy stuff and don't sweat the rest.

It's funny some folks don't mind the smell of Ballistol. It smells like puke to me, especially the rags and patches covered with it and left in the garage trash can over night. It smells like the alley behind a bar after St. Patty's Day.

 

[Bazoo]

One thing I'll add is, use separate rags for cleaning and wipe down. If you have soot on a rag and wipe the outside down, it will scratch the bluing.

 

[J-Bar]

It smells like the alley behind a bar after St. Patty's Day.

Being your friend, I will not ask how you can make this comparison.

 

[doubleh]

It's funny some folks don't mind the smell of Ballistol. It smells like puke to me, especially the rags and patches covered with it and left in the garage trash can over night. It smells like the alley behind a bar after St. Patty's Day.

Never having been in an alley behind a bar on any day I can't compare the two smells.

 

[Pat Riot]

Being your friend, I will not ask how you can make this comparison.

Chicago, St. Patty’s Day 1980…actually, the day after. I woke up in a bar that my friend and partied in all night. They let us out the back into the alley. Oh my gawd, the smell. We headed back to the Navy base. Got showered up and headed off to Gunnery School.

 

[Walkalong]

It's funny some folks don't mind the smell of Ballistol

I'm not one of them.

 

[kidneyboy]

Lots of good tips here. I have a 17 no dash. It gets Ballistol inside and out. I leave the cylinders of 22 revolvers a little wet,

 

[cfullgraf]

I've been cleaning with Ed's Red home brew cleaner. Equal parts of acetone, Dexron auto transmission fluid, mineral spirits and kerosene. Search on line for the recipe.

For cleaning off the face of the cylinder, Hoppes #9 and a cloth cleaning patch. Soak the cylinder front and let it soak for a while. Then rub it with a soaked patch. Repeat several times a day for many days until clean. But like others have said, the first time you shoot the gun after cleaning you are back to square one.

Don't use paper towels. You would be amazed how abrasive paper towels are. (I used to work for a tissue company).

 

[Capybara]

Excellent advice all around, thanks to all of you and hope all of you have a Great Christmas Eve!