Cleaning your 642

[23JAZ]

What do you guys do to clean you 642 and how often do you do it?

[warpedcamshaft]

Most of the time:

1: Thread a bore snake through every chamber and clean all the chambers. 2-3 times per chamber usually does it.
2: Use a bore snake to clean the barrel.
3: Scrub all fouling/lead from the front side of the cylinder and most of the frame (forcing cone, bottom of top strap, firing pin hole area)

If I'm shooting mostly lead and carrying the gun, I'll do it every 150-250 rounds. I like my J-Frames clean, since they often end up in dress clothing.


I've had to do much deeper cleanings for various reasons, let me know if you need/want more details.

[Duelist]

Most of the time:

1: Thread a bore snake through every chamber and clean all the chambers. 2-3 times per chamber usually does it.
2: Use a bore snake to clean the barrel.
3: Scrub all fouling/lead from the front side of the cylinder and most of the frame (forcing cone, bottom of top strap, firing pin hole area)

If I'm shooting mostly lead and carrying the gun, I'll do it every 150-250 rounds. I like my J-Frames clean, since they often end up in dress clothing.


I've had to do much deeper cleanings for various reasons, let me know if you need/want more details.

Sounds about right. Nylon brush on the aluminum, not brass, unless you want the anodizing to depart.

[23JAZ]

Most of the time:

1: Thread a bore snake through every chamber and clean all the chambers. 2-3 times per chamber usually does it.
2: Use a bore snake to clean the barrel.
3: Scrub all fouling/lead from the front side of the cylinder and most of the frame (forcing cone, bottom of top strap, firing pin hole area)

If I'm shooting mostly lead and carrying the gun, I'll do it every 150-250 rounds. I like my J-Frames clean, since they often end up in dress clothing.


I've had to do much deeper cleanings for various reasons, let me know if you need/want more details.

Any specific points I should or shouldn't lube?

[SMD]

Unrelated to your question about lube, but in addition to what's already been said, I keep the area under the extractor star clean and dry. I also check that the little knurled nut out on the end of a S&W ejector rod is tight. Those two pieces of maintenance will mitigate against some of the more common revolver tie-ups.

[23JAZ]

Unrelated to your question about lube, but in addition to what's already been said, I keep the area under the extractor star clean and dry. I also check that the little knurled nut out on the end of a S&W ejector rod is tight. Those two pieces of maintenance will mitigate against some of the more common revolver tie-ups.

Great info. Thank you!

[23JAZ]

Most of the time:

1: Thread a bore snake through every chamber and clean all the chambers. 2-3 times per chamber usually does it.
2: Use a bore snake to clean the barrel.
3: Scrub all fouling/lead from the front side of the cylinder and most of the frame (forcing cone, bottom of top strap, firing pin hole area)

If I'm shooting mostly lead and carrying the gun, I'll do it every 150-250 rounds. I like my J-Frames clean, since they often end up in dress clothing.


I've had to do much deeper cleanings for various reasons, let me know if you need/want more details.

Much appreciated.

[warpedcamshaft]

Unrelated to your question about lube, but in addition to what's already been said, I keep the area under the extractor star clean and dry. I also check that the little knurled nut out on the end of a S&W ejector rod is tight. Those two pieces of maintenance will mitigate against some of the more common revolver tie-ups.

Yes... This is good advice.

Also, Always ensure your crane screw is tight.

Thats pretty much all you will need to do unless you take a swim with it or bury it in sand for some reason

[SAWBONES]

IME, bore snakes are capable of only the most superficial level of bore cleaning.

My own approach:
Using a toothbrush and M-Pro 7, I brush the front of the cylinder, the inner surface of the topstrap and forcing cone, and the recoil shield.
I don't worry about getting the front of the cylinder altogether clean, but I want to prevent any degree of buildup of firing residue that would impair cylinder rotation.

Carefully brushing the bore from the muzzle using a brass brush, M-Pro 7 and a rod with a conical muzzle guard, followed by M-Pro 7-soaked patches, followed by a couple dry patches (till clean), then an oil-soaked path and one more dry patch.

Takes only a few minutes after shooting.

[Chup]

BALLISTOL and for the face of the cylinder Flitz