38 Special ring in 357

[1972RedNeck]

I picked up an L frame 357 that I am guessing shot a lot of 38 special. 38s chamber and shoot fine. 357s have a little resistance to get them to seat in the chamber.

I worked the cylinder over for an hour with my .40 caliber bore brush and "gunslick 'nitro solvent'". Didn't help. Lightly scratched at it with a pick and it seems like it's lead buildup.

What's the best way to get it clean? Copper wool? Do I use the wool dry or with solvent or oil?

Never dealt with leading before...

[Recycled bullet]

You can get copper chore boy and wrap the strands around the cleaning brush or 0000 steel wool and wrap it around the cleaning brush lubricate it worth synthetic atf and then scrub. It may be beneficial to Chuck it into a cordless drill.

[MC 1911]

Shooters Choice Lead Remover works as well.

[4V50 Gary]

Stick with chore boy insead of steel wool. Copper is softer than steel.

Wrap the chore boy around an old, brass brush. The cleaning rod can be put into an electric hand drill too.

[Smoke & Recoil]

Cut saw teeth at the case mouth of a .357 Mag or .357 Max empty case, invent a handle at the primer end, then use that to clean the chambers.

[LeverGunFan]

If none of the suggestions work, there is a special tool just for that condition from an outfit called SliXprings.

[4V50 Gary]

Wasn't aware of it LeverGunFan.

[Outpost75]

Strip cylinder. Immerse and soak in ATF for 3-4 days. Then use your chore boy or ultrasonic cleaner.
Worst case use .378 chucking reamer from McMaster- Carr with ATF.

[LeverGunFan]

There is also the Big 45 metal cleaner that may help...

[Dfariswheel]

Instead of fooling around, do what gunsmiths do, use bronze chamber brushes.
These are larger in diameter and made of a much stiffer bristle.
We don't have time to fool around with soaking and other methods, we need it clean NOW and a chamber brush does it right now, and with no harm to the gun.

Usually, one pass through a chamber is all it takes........

https://www.brownells.com/tools-clea...amber-brushes/

Don't use stainless, they can damage the chamber.
If you try the Copper Chore Boy, make CERTAIN it's genuine 100% COPPER.
Many other brands are actually copper plated stainless steel and can damage a chamber fast.

[Shadow9mm]

take a 357 case, flare the case mouth till you can just get it in the chamber, tight fit. shove it up in there to scrape out the crud. You may need a small soft headed mallet, support the cylinder while doing this. Have a small dowel rod to get it back out. should scrape all the crud out.

[mehavey]

Soak in Kroil overnight.
In morning, wrap a chamber brush in Choreboy and scrub in both directions
w/ the brush halfway in/out of the cylinder mouth.

It'll come out... no matter what it is at that point.

[1972RedNeck]

Lot's of suggestions. Thank you. I will see what I can do.

[Shadow9mm]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

Lot's of suggestions. Thank you. I will see what I can do.

Good luck, those rings were always a massive nuisance. I got to the point where I only used lite 357 loads instead of 38s to avoid the rings.

[1972RedNeck]

Good luck, those rings were always a massive nuisance. I got to the point where I only used lite 357 loads instead of 38s to avoid the rings.

Yeah, I got there a long time ago. I just give any 38 brass away