I've had a few friends ask me how to properly clean and lubricate a weapon. I will try to demonstrate the best way to do these tasks, as my 50+ years of experience have taught me.
First off, let's get the "WD-40" question out of the way. For some reason that I simply cannot understand, some folks have an unreasonable hatred of WD-40 and even say things like "I'd never put that stuff on my firearms!"
I've been using WD-40 as a cleaner/solvent and rust preventative for 50+ years and have never had a single bit of rust or any other problem with it. Maybe it is that some folks don't know what to use it for.
Regardless, it is my primary solvent when I clean guns.
Today, we are going to clean my Colt Python, .357 Magnum revolver.
It is a true work of art and about the most accurate revolver I've ever shot.
I start out by spraying it with WD-40 to use as a solvent to remove soot, unburned powder, and other residue.
I use so much WD-40 that I buy it by the gallon and use an old hand sprayer to apply it to the gun.
I then use some good old Hoppes #9 to clean the cylinders and the barrel.
I use a bronze bore brush of the proper caliber.
I like to give each chamber of the cylinder 4 or 5 stroke to loosen all residue from the pistol.
Then I give the bore 4 or 5 strokes with the brush and #9.
With a revolver, it is necessary to clean from the muzzle.
You should be careful to try not to damage the muzzle with the bore brush rod.
Keep it in the center of the bore.
Then we use a patch with the proper bore rod tip to push the tight-fitting patch through each cylinder.
Then push a clean patch through the bore.
I then spray WD-40 on the front of the recoil plate.
Then I use an old toothbrush to scrub the plate really clean.
I also spray WD-40 on the cylinder star and scrub it clean.
You should also push the ejector to the rear and scrub under the ejector to remove and unburned powder from under that area.
I may go to more trouble than some people do, but I then spray the inside of the cylinders and barrel with WD-40 and do the cleaning once more with dry patches.
I then lubricate the revolver.
I place a small drop of oil in the ejector rod.
It doesn't take much.
And a small drop on the cylinder star area.
I then spray the exterior of the pistol with WD-40 and wipe it down with an old cotton tee shirt, to leave a very light film of oil to prevent rust.
Conclusion:
This whole process only takes me about 5 minutes and I do it as soon as I get back from the range. I don't sleep in the house with a dirty firearm.
I have revolvers that I have shot many thousands of rounds through over the years, but if you looked at them in person, you would hardly be able to tell that they had ever been shot.
Shooting a firearm won't usually be the thing that wears them out.......it will be neglect in cleaning that will do them harm.
Take good care of your firearms and they will last several lifetimes.
First off, let's get the "WD-40" question out of the way. For some reason that I simply cannot understand, some folks have an unreasonable hatred of WD-40 and even say things like "I'd never put that stuff on my firearms!"
I've been using WD-40 as a cleaner/solvent and rust preventative for 50+ years and have never had a single bit of rust or any other problem with it. Maybe it is that some folks don't know what to use it for.
Regardless, it is my primary solvent when I clean guns.
Today, we are going to clean my Colt Python, .357 Magnum revolver.
It is a true work of art and about the most accurate revolver I've ever shot.
I start out by spraying it with WD-40 to use as a solvent to remove soot, unburned powder, and other residue.
I use so much WD-40 that I buy it by the gallon and use an old hand sprayer to apply it to the gun.
I then use some good old Hoppes #9 to clean the cylinders and the barrel.
I use a bronze bore brush of the proper caliber.
I like to give each chamber of the cylinder 4 or 5 stroke to loosen all residue from the pistol.
Then I give the bore 4 or 5 strokes with the brush and #9.
With a revolver, it is necessary to clean from the muzzle.
You should be careful to try not to damage the muzzle with the bore brush rod.
Keep it in the center of the bore.
Then we use a patch with the proper bore rod tip to push the tight-fitting patch through each cylinder.
Then push a clean patch through the bore.
I then spray WD-40 on the front of the recoil plate.
Then I use an old toothbrush to scrub the plate really clean.
I also spray WD-40 on the cylinder star and scrub it clean.
You should also push the ejector to the rear and scrub under the ejector to remove and unburned powder from under that area.
I may go to more trouble than some people do, but I then spray the inside of the cylinders and barrel with WD-40 and do the cleaning once more with dry patches.
I then lubricate the revolver.
I place a small drop of oil in the ejector rod.
It doesn't take much.
And a small drop on the cylinder star area.
I then spray the exterior of the pistol with WD-40 and wipe it down with an old cotton tee shirt, to leave a very light film of oil to prevent rust.
Conclusion:
This whole process only takes me about 5 minutes and I do it as soon as I get back from the range. I don't sleep in the house with a dirty firearm.
I have revolvers that I have shot many thousands of rounds through over the years, but if you looked at them in person, you would hardly be able to tell that they had ever been shot.
Shooting a firearm won't usually be the thing that wears them out.......it will be neglect in cleaning that will do them harm.
Take good care of your firearms and they will last several lifetimes.
