Corrosive ammo + stainless steel + not cleaning for a few days = ?

[Bernie Lomax]

Well, it looks like I've got a problem.

I just got done ringing in the New Year with a few blanks fired from my revolver, a cherry stainless steel Speed Six that was barely used and in pristine condition when I got it. Problem is, I just noticed that these blanks are corrosive. I had assumed that they were was non-corrosive, since I thought that all domestically-manufactured ammo has been non-corrosive for decades now, but I guess I was wrong. Unfortunately, I don't have a bore brush to clean with and can't get one for a few days, at least.

Anyway, my question is this: if I leave it for a few days (maybe even a week) without cleaning, is it going to do any substantial damage to my gun? I know that stainless steel is not totally impervious to rust, but it is much more resistant, correct? Am I screwed or not? (Please tell me I'm not.)

TIA for any input anyone can give me.

 

[Chawbaccer]

I would improvise a way of cleaning it the best I could, use a bamboo skewer or a piece of dowel for a cleaning rod and push a wet paper towel thru the bore.

 

[Bernie Lomax]

BTT

 

[lobo9er]

windex and paper towel, soapy water, Q-tips combo of those would help you out. would WD-40 or like product help you? Or what about cooking oil? some ideas anyways

 

[BBBBill]

You need to do something immediately. Moisture in the air will begin to corrode your gun quickly. Corrosion of stainless is worse than carbon steel because of the more complex molecules. The pits, when they occur, will be larger.
Full disassembly to get all of the errant fouling is very important. It works its way into places you can't see, not just the bore and chambers. Windex or similar, very hot soapy water, and lots of scrubbing. When you are through, do it again.
If you don't know how to disassemble the revolver, holler back and one of us will walk you through it.
Not trying to scare you, but you really need to attack this soon before damage occurs.

 

[Jeff F]

Make a pull through out of a piece of heavy duty string or cord and pull a small piece of rag soaked in hot water through it, make sure you get the cylinders to. Dry it and you should be good to go.

 

[Waywatcher]

+1 on improvising.

Pencils, Q-tips, paintbrush, etc.

Cut up a T shirt for patches if you have to.

Use soap & water if you have to. Use a cooking oil afterwards to prevent rust.

 

[rcmodel]

If you can't do anything else, run some boiling hot water through the barrel and cylinder.
Hot water will take the corrosive salts out and will do no harm.
The heat will allow it to dry in fairly short order.
Spray it with some WD-40 if you haven't got anything else.

Still, it seems like if you own a gun, the money you spent on Happy New Year Blanks should have been spent on a cleaning kit.

rc

 

[Bernie Lomax]

windex and paper towel, soapy water, Q-tips combo of those would help you out. would WD-40 or like product help you? Or what about cooking oil? some ideas anyways

I have everything I need to clean it except for a bore brush and no gun stores are open today or tomorrow.

 

[rcmodel]

Walmart sells cleaning kits.
Pretty sure they are open today.

rc

 

[BBBBill]

Remove the grips. Boil some water. Add some liquid detergent. Suspend the gun and pour the water/detergent mixture on the gun. Scrub the bore, chambers, and anything else you can reach. Do it again and again. Rinse with some clear super hot water. Shake it out and dry with a blow dryer. I used to clean my M16 that way when the drill seargents weren't looking. Didn't have a blow dryer, but the super hot water evaporated quickly.
You really need to get the gun apart to reach the areas the the fouling blew into. Yoke, cylinder bore, trigger housing. The Ruger is easy to disassemble/reassemble once you've seen how.

 

[788Ham]

Like an old saying I heard years ago, "When the mind falters, the whole body suffers!" One of the first things I "always" do, buy a cleaning kit before I ever fire the first shot.