thoughts while cleaning

[UncleEd]

Vern Humphrey,

My reference to the "ledge" as a limiting
factor for cartridge insertion was not
meant to discount the throat which
begins at that "ledge."

The .38 casing being about 1/10th of
an inch shorter than the .357 is what
allows for so much crud to build up
in front of what I called the ledge.
That, I think, is what we all understand.

Continuous use of .38s then obviously
creates a new "ledge" made of the crud.
And .357s won't fit.

And, obviously, chambers cut for .38s
only end that same approx. 1/10th of
an inch shorter, preventing .357s
from fully inserting. (Sometimes,
though, the chambers are cut a bit
generously and .357s will insert.
Same thing has happened with
.44 Spec. and .44 Mag.)

We're not really in disagreement.

 

[browneu]

I use Wipe Out for my cleaning. It does a good job and I can use a brush if I need to get more aggressive.

 

[.308 Norma]

Continuous use of .38s then obviously
creates a new "ledge" made of the crud.
And .357s won't fit.

Same thing has happened with
.44 Spec. and .44 Mag.)

Actually, that's one of the reasons I use .357 Mag cases for .38 Special loads, and .44 Mag cases for .44 Special loads - because when I'm out shooting, I don't want to have to stop and clean the "crud ring" out of my revolver's cylinder before I switch from shooting .38 Specials to .357 Mags, or .44 Specials to .44 Mags.

 

[UncleEd]

Just an extra word, or two , about cylinder
throats. Perhaps with today's new production
methods, the cylinder throats are a lot more
uniform than they used to be.

In the "Good Old Days" a six-shooter DA or SA
could easily have slightly different dimensions
in several or all the chambers!

The bullseye shooters of old sometimes would
mark their chambers as to which ones
produced the greatest accuracy.

A classic cylinder throat muckup occurred if I recall
correctly with S&W's Model 25s chambered
for the .45 Colt. By that time, the early 1980s,
nearly all .45 bullets were being slugged at
.451 for jacketed and .452 for lead. But
Smith nominally cut the throats for the old Colt SAA
ammo with .454 bullets.

If you listened closely upon ignition you could
hear (not really ) the bullets rattle, rattle,
rattle, bump and rattle down the throat and
finally into the gaping generous forcing cone.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Its NOT a good idea to clean your M14 while watching Full Metal Jacket.

Just trust me on this one........

But what about cleaning your AR14 while watching Norma Rae?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I use next size up bronze brushes on cylinders and proper size on bores. For .32 revolvers I use an 8mm/.338 brush; 10mm/.40 for .38’s; .50cal bore for .45 cylinders, etc. I also like using plain old Hoppes and cut up blue jeans for patches.

 

[JTHunter]

- - - smokeless powder burns about 3300ºF for that instant while it's contained.

With temperatures like that, how likely it either the "bluing" or the metal of the cylinder itself that is "colored" by the heat? There may not be any residue to be removed and it is a color alteration.

 

[CapnMac]

With temperatures like that, how likely it

Dunno, remember the exposure to that heat is going to be measured in, probably, microseconds.

The flame may last just long enough to "scortch" the metal--but, I've always seen just the hint of "fuzziness" or particulate debris. At a certain point, I would get to "skip it" and it would be "clean enough." If after a poke with a coffee stirrer to make sure there was nothing soft or gunky there.

 

[doubleh]

Try a bit of true copper Chore Boy wrapped in a bronze brush, dip in a good solvent and scrub it out. You can use the drill trick if it’s really stubborn

^ This. I don't own a Lewis lead remover as Chore Boy gets the job done easily. I look at stains inside the cylinder the same as I do on the front of the cylinder. They are only stains that cause no harm and will return just as soon as the gun is fired so why bother with them, Get the crud off and shoot the thing. Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I've used chore boy on an old brush but I also have a 1/4" brass rod that was ground down to have a hook on one end and a screwdriver type blade on the other. Either side is used as a scraper to remove lead.

My late father had the best method: "Son, clean the guns."

 

[SwampWolf]

The .38 casing being about 1/10th of
an inch shorter than the .357 is what
allows for so much crud to build up
in front of what I called the ledge.

Which is why it's worth trying to tap an empty .357 Magnum case through the chamber(s) having the "ledge". Sometimes the added length will let the mouth of the case cut through some of the crud buildup caused by shooting lots of .38 Special ammunition through .357 Magnum chambers.

 

[roval]

I'm not sure if its the right thing to do, but I've chucked up a cleaning rod in my cordless drill and run a bronze brush thru the chambers on my ruger security six after shooting a lot of 38s thru it. Its not perfect, there's still a visible ring, but when I'm done 357s drop right in

i started doing it this way after RC Model mentioned it years ago.

 

[Encoreman]

Have ya'll noticed how RC's name continues to pop up? He affected this site more than he probably knew.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Have ya'll noticed how RC's name continues to pop up? He affected this site more than he probably knew.

RC Model, patron Saint of Reloading.

If it could be said better, RC would have said it that way.

RIP, Stout Fellow.

 

[Boattale]

Clean with Bore Tech Eliminator. That pro shot lead remover impregnated yellow cleaning cloth is great too.