Ever question your sanity after cleaning your revolver?

S

Smaug

New member
Don't get me wrong. I really like my SP-101 and revolvers in general.

But after a recent trip to the range, I had to admit to myself that with the Hi-Power, I could place the shots with better accuracy AND more quickly. but the real kick in the pills is that the SP takes 3X longer to clean on top of it.

I can accept the worse accuracy and slower follow-up shots because I am accurate enough, and fast enough. But then to have to spend 3X the time cleaning it on top of that just sometimes seems like a bit too much.

Before everyone rips into me, yes, I know the SP is capable of equal accuracy, but it is simply harder to make it happen with a revolver.

Thinking of a basic 1911 or an HK USP 45 for my next gun.
 
I think you're right that small revolvers require more work to shoot accurately, especially DAO models with trench sights, and that all revolvers are much more time consuming to clean to OCD levels of shine. Nonetheless, I like my SP101 DAO just as much as my Hi-Powers and other pistols, and find its upside more than balances out its downside. For instance, I like to think of the trigger practice I'm gaining. Shooting a couple of hundred rounds through the DAO 101, even a buffed out and lightly springed one, makes getting a clean pull my other triggers a lot easier.

Chris
 
Smaug,

I love my Hk, oozes quality and resilience. Have shot a 1911 recently a number of times...love 'em. Never understood the deal about the triggers until the first time I shot one. And recoil is nil, attributed to the all steel construction I presume. Planning on getting a Springer Loaded or TRP in SS very soon.
 
Well, there's clean, and then there's clean.

I used to clean any and all revolvers after any shooting so they'd look nearly new. I don't have the time or patience for that now, and, IMO, it wasn't necessary for the function or accuracy. Maybe even increased the chance I'll actually harm the gun.

Now, cleaning's not a pain, as I just give them a good wiping with Hoppes #9 as soon as I'm done shooting them, and call it good. Every thousand rounds or so, I'll run a patch down the barrel.

My 617 .22LR gets a bit more attention, as the chambers are a bit tight. In this case, I'll typically run a brush and patch through the chambers whenever I shoot it as well.

Life is much better now ;)
 
Sounds like you got alot of beefs with your wheelgun. You maybe should sell it to a nice home and get another autopistol to replace it. Your Ruger does not want to be the unloved stepchild, adopt it out to a revolver nut. Any volunteers?
 
Why do some people make a job out of a common chore? :confused: If you find so many faults and dislikes of a revolver vs the semi-auto then maybe you just aren't a wheelgunner.
 
Interesting post. I've always found cleaning my revolvers to be less of a pain than my semi-autos. Am I alone?
 
I DG'd the handgun skills test for my first time shooting a Security Six will full power magnum loads (this, after failing the test on 3 or 4 previous occasions with my Sig). All tests were taken at the end of 4 day intensive training sessions. The only drawback was that the cylinder got so freaking hot that it blistered my trigger finger every time I went back to "finger straight" at the ready position (DG'd the skills test with that severely blistered trigger finger). I find the "chore" of cleaning a revolver a lot more interesting than cleaning an auto.

Edit: Ooops, I didn't mean "failed the test", I meant "failed to score Distinguished Graduate on it".
 
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The only part that makes me question my sanity is that is seems to take hours just to clean out that cylinder.

I start cleaning the cylinder, it just seems that once I am done with one hole and rotate on to the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next, and the next...
 
and the next, and the next, and the next...

Actually, don't think that I have ever finished cleaning a revolver all the way; just don't apparently have the time or stamina!
 
I believe a lead remover cloth from Birchwood Casey would speed things up for you. Alot less futile scrubbing on the face of the cylinder and other places. That has been my experience. If you got a good organized kit and you are efficient, it shouldn't take any longer than 20 minutes to completely clean it. I don't think that is too unreasonable.
 
I'm with Azak that cleaning the cylinder chambers takes me the longest. Once that is done, the rest is quick. +1 on the lead remover cloth, but only if you have a stainless revolver.

Chris
 
The cleaning part actually makes me shoot the revolvers less. Doesn't help that I'm a Glock guy, and cleaning those is a breeze lol.

I always tell myself with the revolvers, "I'm just going to clean inside the chambers and the barrel." Then I end up noticing, "Well, the front of the cylinder needs a good soaking and brushing" and then "Oh my God, look at that back strap" and then "God dang, I can't quite get the front of the chambers, better take it apart...."

2 hours later, I'm ready to clean the next piece...... :o
 
I'll look into the lead remover cloth. But the burnt carbon on the cylinder isn't lead, how is it going to help? I'll try it anyway if y'all say it works!

AZAK, that is the part that gets to me, I can never seem to get the burn carbon inside the cylinder clean. Maybe they are flame cuts and not carbon build-up?

Maybe I'll look for a youtube video and find someone more efficient than myself for a model, hehehe.
 
The time "lost" cleaning a revolver, is the time "found" not having to police your brass at the range.

All things equal, I rather enjoy cleaning a revolver compared to the step and fetch for cases when I cannot shoot with a tarp off to the right.
 
I have become one with the crud on the front of revolver cylinders. I'll wipe off the loose stuff - if it's tenacious I assume D.B. Wesson or Sam Colt intended for it to be there. At least that's the case with the blued examples. Every now and again the OCD faerie will smack the back of my head and I'll "Scotch-Brite" the front of the stainless cylinders.

The OCD faerie will have much to answer for should I ever notice an 1/8" barrel / cylinder gap on my stainless revolvers.
 
My revolvers are always somewhat black on the cylinder face. I let some Hoppes soak on it and give it a brush for a few minutes. Then I wipe it. This even works with my revolver that only has a .002 B/C gap. I've never had it lock up doing this.

Yes, they take more time and are more difficult to shoot extremely accurately with speed. BUT they are a revolver! 'Ya can't bet 'em! :cool:

You can load them with huge "boom" loads that you can't get with a comfortably sized autoloader and you can download them without worrying about cycling. That flexibility is well worth the negatives.
 
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