Step by Step Instructions Please!

[Jade Falcon]

Hey folks,

I've tried looking online, I've tried reading the pathetically scarce S&W manual, and I've tried reading the gun-cleaning kit directions, on how to clean my S&W M642 Airwieght. I just shot it for the first time a couple days ago, and I'm just now getting to cleaning it. I have a .38 Caliber Gunslick Brand cleaning kit which I've never used before, and I've never cleaned a revolver before. The cleaning kit has:

-Aluminum Cleaning Rod
-Gun Oil
-Nitro Solvent
-Phosphor Bronze Bore Brush
-Cleaning tips: 1 slotted, 1 jag
-Wool Mop
-Cleaning patches

I thought this would be pretty cut and dry, however, there's no pictures or anything, showing or labeling parts of the revolver, which would make it easier for me to understand. If someone could perhaps give me step by step directions, as well as pictures showing the steps, then I would be eternally thankful. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

[gruntmedik]

1) Assemble cleaning supplies, and newspaper or suitable alternative. An old toothbrush, or purpose made cleaning brush. Q-tips and pipe cleaners are very helpful.

2) Put newspaper on work surface to protect from solvents.

3) Make sure firearm is unloaded.

4) No ammo in same room cleaning takes place.

5) Reconfirm firearm is unloaded, leave cylinder open.

6) Put slotted cleaning tip on cleaning rod.

7) Fold 1 patch, making triangle--slide into cleaning tip--place aside.

8) Pour a small amount of cleaning solvent into a suitable wide-mouth container. (I use an old tuna can) This prevents contamination of the remaining solvent.

9) Dip patch into solvent, making patch wet, but not dripping.

10) Run patch thru barrel completely, then pull back thru.

11) Repeat with each chamber in cylinder.

12) Let sit for about 5 min.

13) With old toothbrush/purpose cleaning brush, dip in solvent and, with barrel pointed down, clean breach face, top strap, forcing cone area, and cylinder. Make sure to depress ejector rod and clean underneath. Wipe with clean rag.

14) Remove slotted tip, replace with bronze brush.

15) Dip brush in solvent.

16) Push brush thru barrel completely, then pull back. Repeat 5 or so times.

17) Re-dip brush (see why the seperate container for solvent?), and repeat for each chamber.

18) Replace brush with jag tip and clean, dry patch. Center patch on jag.

19) Run patch thru barrel and each chamber--clean patch for each. Green or blue color on patch means copper.

20) Now you can repeat with clean patch on jag, but you can move jag back and forth in barrel/chamber in a scrubbing type motion 5-10 times.

21) Repeat #15-20 until satisfied, or no green/blue on patch.

22) With clean rag, wipe down entire firearm, using Q-tips, pipe cleaners as needed.

This is the way *I* do it, and does not mean it is the only way. Hope this helps.

[JWP]

Originally posted by gruntmedik
1) Assemble cleaning supplies, and newspaper or suitable alternative. An old toothbrush, or purpose made cleaning brush. Q-tips and pipe cleaners are very helpful.

2) Put newspaper on work surface to protect from solvents.

3) Make sure firearm is unloaded.

4) No ammo in same room cleaning takes place.

5) Reconfirm firearm is unloaded, leave cylinder open.

6) Put slotted cleaning tip on cleaning rod.

7) Fold 1 patch, making triangle--slide into cleaning tip--place aside.

i just fold in half and insert

8) Pour a small amount of cleaning solvent into a suitable wide-mouth container. (I use an old tuna can) This prevents contamination of the remaining solvent.

use eyedropper to put solvent on patch or use the wipeout type foam and squirt directly into barrel



9) Dip patch into solvent, making patch wet, but not dripping.

10) Run patch thru barrel completely, then pull back thru.

i use brass brush in barrel/cylingers first - then patches with solvent

11) Repeat with each chamber in cylinder.

12) Let sit for about 5 min.

or longer

13) With old toothbrush/purpose cleaning brush, dip in solvent and, with barrel pointed down, clean breach face, top strap, forcing cone area, and cylinder. Make sure to depress ejector rod and clean underneath. Wipe with clean rag.

14) Remove slotted tip, replace with bronze brush.

15) Dip brush in solvent.

16) Push brush thru barrel completely, then pull back. Repeat 5 or so times.

17) Re-dip brush (see why the seperate container for solvent?), and repeat for each chamber.

18) Replace brush with jag tip and clean, dry patch. Center patch on jag.

19) Run patch thru barrel and each chamber--clean patch for each. Green or blue color on patch means copper.

20) Now you can repeat with clean patch on jag, but you can move jag back and forth in barrel/chamber in a scrubbing type motion 5-10 times.

i never do this back and forth in the barrel/chamber - all the way then back all the way etc


21) Repeat #15-20 until satisfied, or no green/blue on patch.

22) With clean rag, wipe down entire firearm, using Q-tips, pipe cleaners as needed.

This is the way *I* do it, and does not mean it is the only way. Hope this helps.

great directions, mine slightly different as noted

[Bren]

Originally posted by JWP
great directions, mine slightly different as noted

i never do this back and forth in the barrel/chamber - all the way then back all the way etc

It's fine to scrub with a patch (although I guess you could cause minor scratches by rubbing brass, copper, sand, etc., particles around), the real problem is if you try to do it with a brush - the brush definitely has to come all the way out the end each time.

[Jade Falcon]

Thank you for the great directions! Just one question: do I clean from the breech end, or the muzzle of the barrel?

EDIT: I'm assuming I clean from the breech-end. Also, when would I use the wool mop that came with the kit? Are they for certain types of barrels?

[GRR]

Originally posted by Jade Falcon
Thank you for the great directions! Just one question: do I clean from the breech end, or the muzzle of the barrel?

EDIT: I'm assuming I clean from the breech-end. Also, when would I use the wool mop that came with the kit? Are they for certain types of barrels?

Barrel from the muzzle end on a revolver. If you want to work from the breech, you might want to try a Bore Snake. I swab and clean the chambers from the breech end. Don't know of a really good use for the wool mop.

[glockfixer]

The best use i have found for a wool mop is to help fill a garbage can. Just my own feeling. My father uses them to apply solvent into the bore and cylinder.