cylinder cleaning question

[bobcat93]

Hi guys, I know this isn't rifle related but I need some sound advise.
I have a ruger gp100 I shoot a lot of 38 special out of a 357 magnum cylinder. After a few hundred rounds I get a nasty lead / carbon ring in the cylinder. Is it safe to use an ultrasonic cleaner to help clean a blued cylinder

 

[hpshooter]

I have removed that ring in the past with a tool that used to be called the Lewis Lead Remover. It uses a brass screen "patch" and an expandable rubber plug to scour the lead and carbon out. It is meant to clean the forcing cone but works very well to remove the ring you are dealing with.

They are listed in Brownells in the cleaning section under a new name. Sorry that I don't remember the new name and I am not near the catalog for reference.

T W Hudson

 

[Preacher]

No problems at all with using a US cleaner on the cylinder..
Be sure to hang it, not lay it on the bottom of the tank...

 

[tmwinds]

I put a blued action into a ultrasonic cleaner. It really messed up the bluing. I suspect that it was the citric acid cleaning solution that did the damage.

 

[DHD]

I put a blued action into a ultrasonic cleaner. It really messed up the bluing. I suspect that it was the citric acid cleaning solution that did the damage.

That's exactly what it was. Try HOT water and dawn dishwashing liquid or the liquids intending for gun cleaning. The brass cleaners have the acids that really make a mess of blued steel. Ask how I know......

As far as the OP is concerned, a sonic cleaner will work only so far. If the carbon is hard enough that a good bronze brush won't get it, neither will the sonic cleaner. If the tool mentioned, Lewis Lead Remover is available, get it. I shot PPC (police practical competition) years ago, and certain matches I used my Service Revolver that was a S&W 686 with 38 Special 148 wad cutters. I got the same type of ring you descibe. The lead away cloths work well but it will also remove bluing.

My round counts back then were higher than what you are shooting I bet, so do what I had to do. Either load out of 357 magnum brass or clean it each time you shoot it so the ring doesn't get too hard.

 

[hpshooter]

Brownells part number for the .38 cal. lead remover is 516-101-038AK. It is listed in their #66 catalog at $19.99. The patches last a long time.

I have had mine since the late 70's and used it a lot.

It should remove anything left after ultrasonic cleaning without damaging the chambers n the cylinder.

 

[bobcat93]

Thank for all the helpful replies Ghent's,
I was using a 40 or 50 cal. Bronz bore brush, wrapped with lead remover cloth. Chucked in my cordless drill. I'm probably over cleaning it, but when I first noticed the ring it took a lot of work to remove it. Im just trying to find the easiest way possible to remove it. Looks like the lewis lead remover from Brownells is the ticket..
It was also suggested to use a solution of 50% vinegar and 50% hydrogen peroxide in my ultrasonic cleaner and after a few cycles..it will be clean..
Has anyone tried this?

 

[Preacher]

Vinegar probably won't do the blueing much good !!!!!
I use Simple Green full strength when doing gun parts...

 

[swd]

Anything acidic will be hard on the bluing. Dish soap or Simple Green in the ultrasonic works great.