Colt Diamondback .38 questions

D

Desert_Seagull

Inactive
I just recently inherited a nickel plated 4" Colt Diamondback, one of the finest looking guns I've ever seen. This is a superb specimen, and I'm just dying to shoot it. My question is this: what ammo (commercial or handload recipe) would be the easiest on this gun. Additionally, what is the correct cleaning procedure for nickel plating? I don't want to use anything abrasive or corrosive. Thanks for your replys.
-Desert_Seagull
 
Great revolver! It should be fine with any 38 Special load and even a limited diet of +ps. Clean the firearm as all others but don't leat the Hoppes sit on the nickel. Wipe it off. I wish I was lucky enough to have that piece. Regards, Richard.
 
DS---
Congrats on your excellent little revolver. The Diamondback is the same frame size and action as the Police Positive and Detective Special, with the addition of a heavier barrel. Therefore, it should stand up to any loads you'd use in either of those. If you want to load it up for home defense or even limited carry, I'd put in the 158 gr. LSWCHP +P from Remington or Winchester. It is perhaps the best of the .38 Special loads, is accurate, and not unduly hard on the equipment or the shooter.

I'm really more concerned with keeping the finish nice. Heed Richard's advice about leaving ANY solvent on the surface. They WILL lift the nickle right off the steel if left on for too long. It is better to leave the pistol dirty than to improperly clean it. It is not usually necessary to scrub the barrel with bronze brushes to get it clean. And NEVER use stainless steel brushes. Tight fitting patches with Hoppes should do the job, then swab it dry and leave a LIGHT film of something like RemOil or Breakfree on it.

Gentle loads for practice: Standard velocity 158 gr. lead, or the 148 gr target wadcutters. These are mild and accurate. Another load which will not discolor front of the cylinder so badly is the 130 gr. FMJ--Remington does it with a RN flat point, and Winchester-USA sells it with the FMJ RN, just like the old military load. And, even if you do use the jacketed bullets, do NOT use copper solvent on a nickle platted gun--The steel is usually first plated with copper and then with nickle, so the copper solvent will get thru any scratch in the rather soft nickle and attack the copper beneath.

Really, that is such a nice little revolver, you might want to use something else for either conceraled carry on your person or as a car gun.

Best regards,
RR

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---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
 
Do NOT use any cleaner containing ammonia, including Hoppe's. Ammonia will not harm nickel, but if it can reach the copper under cladding, it will eat the copper and the nickel will peel.

(Nickel will not plate on steel, but copper will. So manufacturers first plate the gun with copper, then add the nickel. If the copper is dissolved, the nickel is like a roof shingle with no tar.)

Jim
 
My Diamondback was/is my very first centerfire pistol and I still have it 21 years later. I cannot even begin to think of the number of rnds I have fired with it, literally it must be in the 100,000+ range.

Anyway back to the cleaning question. I clean mine with Hoppes #9 cleaner with a bronze brush and put a piece of chamies (leather) over the recoil shield to protect it from the cleaning jag. I am pretty agressive with the cleaner. I then completely wipe the diamondback down with Hoppes #9 lube oil till it glissens with oil and then store it in a leather zipper case. The case is pretty saturated with Hoppes and it keeps it very clean. My finish has only shown wear on the barrel where the holster rubs and the top strap where the heavy use has started to cut a pretty deep furrow into the strap.

My only compaint about the Diamondback is that once I got use to the butter smooth action, I could never buy another revolver. They all seem so rough. I even sold off my Python about 13 years ago (to buy wedding rings) for this reason.

Enjoy the Diamondback. I will never part with mine!


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P229 Sport and 357 SIG, H&K P7PSP and 9MM, Dual Perfection!!
 
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