I plan on spending more time on the range this summer with the Taurus revolvers I wrote about in my previous post, “Revolvers for Personal Protection.” In preparation for the dreaded firearm cleaning event that comes after those fun days on the range, I decided to learn more about how to clean a revolver when it wasn’t terribly dirty.
Sponsored by Taurus
I began my research by visiting Taurus’s YouTube Channel. Caleb Giddings, the marketing manager for Taurus USA, has a series of how-to videos about various revolver topics. I went right to the “Taurus How-To Series: Medium Frame Revolver” and decided to start with the Taurus 82 medium frame revolver.
Before we even get started, I want to share this Taurus manual PDF that Caleb sent me. Pages 42 through 51 contain exploded views of revolvers with a parts list. It’s an excellent resource for any questions you may have once you begin cleaning your revolver.
How to Clean a Revolver
First, as you would any time you work with a firearm, confirm that your revolver is empty. Check the chambers and make sure you can see light through the barrel. Also, look around and verify that there is no ammunition in the same room.
Begin by using a soft rag to wipe down the outside of the revolver and remove any dirt or debris.
Cleaning the Cylinder
To clean the cylinder, spray both the top and face with solvents, then brush the face with a metal brush (be sure to brush down and away from the revolver).
Then, push on the extractor and hold the star up. Brush under the star to remove any fouling.
Then, with the muzzle pointing up, use the brush to clean all the fronts of the charge holes. Make sure to rotate the cylinder until all are clean.
Use a rag to remove any excess solvents on the outside and run a bore snake through all the chambers (charge holes) to remove the rest. Or, you can run dry patches through the chambers if you don’t have a bore snake.
Cleaning the Frame
First, clean the area where the firing pin protrudes through the frame and makes contact with the primer. Like before, spray some solvent on the area and use a brush to scrub away any debris. Then, remove any extra solvents with your rag.
Next, clean the forcing cone where the bullet enters the barrel. Spray the area with solvent and then brush at a 30- to 45-degree angle to get all edges. Wipe away the extra solvent.
Don’t Forget the Barrel!
Clean the barrel with a bore snake to remove any fouling. Then wipe down the entire exterior surface and make sure all the solvent is removed. Again, if you don’t have a bore snake, pull wet and dry patches from the back of the gun to the muzzle area, alternating with wet and dry until finally clean.
Lubricating a Revolver
The following are the parts of a revolver you will want to lubricate. When adding oil, give it time to work its way into the mechanisms with gravity first. Also, wipe off any excess oil left on each part.
1 Ejector Rod—Add a drop of oil on the ejector rod, then work it back and forth.
2 Face of Cylinder—Add a drop of oil at the cylinder’s seam. Wait a little bit, then spin the cylinder to distribute it evenly.
3 Firing Mechanism—At full cock, add a drop of lubricant on the face of the hammer (where the hammer and sear interact) and on the side where there are wear marks. Cock and release 6-12 times to spread lube.
4 Trigger—Place a drop of oil on each side where the trigger and frame come together, and dry fire 6 to 12 times.
Finally, double-check your gun for extra lube and wipe it off as needed. If you plan on storing the revolver, rub a light coat of lube over the gun with your finger.
A Pointer from Caleb
I reached out to Caleb to see if he had any extra words of wisdom about cleaning a revolver. He said: “A revolver isn’t like a modern striker fired 9mm where you can just sort of clean it whenever you want. Wheelguns are extremely tolerant of neglect, but not abuse. You need to regularly check things like the yoke screw, the ejector rod, and other screws to make sure they’re still tight. If you shoot lead ammo, you need to have a method to remove lead fouling from the forcing cone to keep the cylinder from binding up.”
Find Taurus’s full line of revolvers here.
Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and GTM Original. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino
