Getting rid of stupid 38 special ring in 357 cylinder?

[Scotty454]

I have a 686 revolver that I've been running a lot of 38 special through. I tried scrubbing the hell out of the cylinder, but fired 357 brass still hangs up a bit, and is hard to extract after firing.

Any tips on how to remove the bull#### ring, or just more elbow grease?

 

[Frankiboy666]

Put a cotton swab on a drill and gently polish inside the cylinder with metal polish of your choice, i use Autosol, it came in a tube just like thoot paste. Works well for me

 

[cement head]

I was told you can take an old brass 38 cal cleaning brush and put some 0000 steel wool around it . oil the steel wool and put the brush on a cordless drill and polish the chambers. there is a cloth that you can remove lead from barrels with . you could cut a small piece and push it through your chambers. if your revolver is blued don't use it on the outside. I hear it takes the blueing off . the oooo steel wool with the oil should do it . from now on try using light 357 loads if you feel so inclined.

I was told this method was fine to use by an older gentleman one time at our club . he used to be a gunsmith so he said . correct me if this method is wrong . buddy said this helps when it comes to ejecting brass . so I'll bet it would pull the lead out.

 

[Gatehouse]

Yes, don't be afraid of superfine steel wool and oil

 

[gnmontey]

Any tips on how to remove the bull#### ring, or just more elbow grease?

Yup, soak with bore solvent and elbow grease will get it out. I shoot 38spl for the most part in my M19 and GP100, same problem.

A soak and a bronze brush on a cordless drill will do the trick as well.

M

 

[COREY]

What I have done that works well is to spray solvent in the chambers and let sit for 10-20 minutes and use a 375 bore brush with a pistol cleaning rod that does not rotate. Abut 15-20 strokes will usually get it all out.

 

[gewehr76]

Just shoot some copper plated or better yet FMJ 38 special rounds. Then just clean with copper brush.

 

[Abman]

Brownells sell a chamber brush for this problem,

 

[BillD]

What I have done that works well is to spray solvent in the chambers and let sit for 10-20 minutes and use a 375 bore brush with a pistol cleaning rod that does not rotate. Abut 15-20 strokes will usually get it all out.

Works for me too.

 

[tigrr]

When I want to shoot both the same day at the range I take a slightly peened 1/4" brass rod about 12 inches long. The sharp peened edge clears it out quite well. I used to have a peened stainless 1/4" rod but I was afraid it would mark the cylinder.

 

[Trinimon]

I use a phosphor bronze brush wrapped in some copper Chore-Boy scrubber chucked in a drill. Then a cotton patch with some Fitz on it on a bore brush in the drill to polish it back up.

 

[trebor2880]

I just reload 357 cases to 38 Special specs. Problem solved.

 

[silverfoxdj]

Brownells sell a chamber brush for this problem,

I have one of those it works pretty well..

 

[Ironheart]

Just take the cylinder off and run it thru the dishwasher....old school guy at work did it for me and gave it back to me in brand new condition I was shocked how mint it came out

 

[Suther]

I just reload 357 cases to 38 Special specs. Problem solved.

Only useful if he reloads. But if he does, this is absolutely the easiest (once he's got that ring gone this time)

 

[Scotty454]

Thanks for all the replies.

I only shoot plated/jacketed bullets, so no worries about leading. I'm in the process of starting reloading (My XL650's all ready to go), but I have a TON on .38 cases from all the factory .38 I shot last year. I don't have much for .357 brass, so I'm probably going to stick with .38 for now.

I actually have some copper chore boy pads at home, I'll try that out.

 

[mudgunner49]

Take a .357 case and flare the case mouth so that it fits tightly in your chambers, drill out the primer pocket so that it will fit a machine screw of the appropriate size then solder that to an old screwdriver. When you finish shooting, drop a little Kroil into your chambers and let it sit for 5 or 10 minutes then run the scraper into each chamber to get rid of the build up. Clean as per normal with brush and patch when you get home (or whenever you clean.

Re-flare as required...

 

[hatman1793]

Here's the definitive answer: Clymer makes a "delead" steel reamer that removes this ring. The reamer looks like a cutter but inserting and slowly spinning it in the cylinder removes the ring & any stubborn lead.

The reamer will not cut or remove any factory cylinder material.

 

[josquin]

Yup, soak with bore solvent and elbow grease will get it out. I shoot 38spl for the most part in my M19 and GP100, same problem...

If you can get suitably-sized rubber stoppers, plug the far (muzzle) end of the chambers, fix revolver vertically (or better, remove the cylinder if you have the correct size screwdriver for the front sideplate screw) pour a little Hoppe's/Ed's Red/whatever in each chamber, and leave overnight. Should scrub out fairly easily the next day. Also, it you do a lot of shooting in one session, take a nylon bore brush to the range and give the chambers a once-over every once in a while will help to reduce excessive buildup.

 

[Snider shooter]

I just reload 357 cases to 38 Special specs. Problem solved.

Just use 357 problem solved. I usually just soak my 686 with hopes for about 20 minutes. It normally shoots 357. Now what bugs is the discolouration at front of cylinder,I didn't believe the fellow when he told me to use an eraser , but it works.