HELP NEEDED - .357 Magnum doesn't fit my S&W .357!

[mrvmax]

I agree that it is probably a ridge built up at the end of the .38 Specials. I have found that it takes considerable cleaning of the cylinder if you are using mostly .38's.

Keith

yep, this is it.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I agree that it is probably a ridge built up at the end of the .38 Specials. I have found that it takes considerable cleaning of the cylinder if you are using mostly .38's.

Keith

yep, this is it.

Yes it is and a standard bore brush may not take it out, depending on the amount of build-up. This may be the only legitimate use for a turbo brush. I've used one to clear .357 cylinders when a bore brush couldn't do the job.

Chas.

[K.Mooneyham]

I had buildup in the cylinder of my Ruger Vaquero from shooting .38 Specials. I tried to scrub it out with the usual brush/Hoppes #9 combo, but it just didn't do the trick. I got a .40 cal brush, and it moved some of it out, but still I had lead in there. The thing that worked pretty good for me was Kleenbore Leadaway. Its like a sheet of felt impregnated with some abrasive stuff. You cut a patch size piece and just scrub the chamber with it and it does pull a lot of lead and other stuff out of there. Hope you find something that works well for you.

[XinTX]

Also double check the box and make sure it does NOT say .357 Maximum

Highly unlikely. That stuff's rarer than 22LR on a shelf at Wally World. But I guess it could happen.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I agree that it is probably a ridge built up at the end of the .38 Specials. I have found that it takes considerable cleaning of the cylinder if you are using mostly .38's.

Keith

yep, this is it.

Yes it is and a standard bore brush may not take it out, depending on the amount of build-up. This may be the only legitimate use for a turbo brush. I've used one to clear .357 cylinders when a bore brush couldn't do the job.

Chas.

I should have added NEVER USE A TURBO BRUSH IN A BARREL!!

Chas.

[SQLGeek]

Charles, can you please elaborate on what a turbo brush is? I don't think I've seen one of those before and my Google searches aren't really finding me much either.

[LTUME1978]

I purchased a used 357 last year and the previous owner had only fired 38 specials in it. Same issue, could not get a 357 to chamber and could see a lot of build up in each chamber of the cylinder. I tried brushing with solvent with no success. Next step was to take a short cleaning rod (from a 3 piece set), screw the 38 cleaning brush in to one end and chuck the other end up in my cordless drill. Applied solvent to the brush, inserted in the chamber and turned on the drill. That got all chambers clean in a fairly short amount of time.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Charles, can you please elaborate on what a turbo brush is? I don't think I've seen one of those before and my Google searches aren't really finding me much either.

It's the size of a regular bore brush for each caliber, but it is made of stainless steel in a spiral pattern. They are terrible on a barrel, but they will clean a heavily fouled cylinder.

Chas.

[baldeagle]

scrub each chamber till the gun in gone.

I did NOT know it was possible to scribe the chambers of a revolver so much that the gun would be gone. Thanks for the warning.

[wheelgun1958]

Lewis lead remover.

[MoJo]

scrub each chamber till the gun in gone.

I did NOT know it was possible to scribe the chambers of a revolver so much that the gun would be gone. Thanks for the warning.

The comment was scrub each chamber not, scribe what do you scribe a chamber with? I meant till the gunK is gone. I'm old and, never did well in typing also, my spell checker can't read my mind. That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.

[rlytle_98]

Thanks for all the advice guys. It looks like I wasn't the only one that has had this issue.

Well, I cleaned the holy heck out of each one of the cylinders and it worked!!! It took me several times through the cylinders to finally get each one clean enough to get the rounds to fit. I actually resorted to attaching one of the scrubbing brushes to my drill to finish the last 2 cylinders because the first 4 took about 45mins. The drill made quick work of it after that.

I really appreciate all the feed back and solutions!

Tools used:
Gun Scrubber
Rem Oil
2 Scrubbing brushes
Black & Decker 18v Drill
elbow grease
and a lot of patience

[Charles L. Cotton]

You reminded me of a trick I use on really dirty barrels and cylinders. I wrap bronze wool (NOT steel wool) around a worn out barrel brush. It's then screwed into a cheap cleaning rob that had the handle cut off so I can chuck it into a drill. Dip it in solvent (like "Ed's Red") and it cleans a barrel amazingly fast.

Chas.

Thanks for all the advice guys. It looks like I wasn't the only one that has had this issue.

Well, I cleaned the holy heck out of each one of the cylinders and it worked!!! It took me several times through the cylinders to finally get each one clean enough to get the rounds to fit. I actually resorted to attaching one of the scrubbing brushes to my drill to finish the last 2 cylinders because the first 4 took about 45mins. The drill made quick work of it after that.

I really appreciate all the feed back and solutions!

Tools used:
Gun Scrubber
Rem Oil
2 Scrubbing brushes
Black & Decker 18v Drill
elbow grease
and a lot of patience

[carlson1]

Late to the discussion, but I have found Carbon Killer to clean just about anything.

[PBratton]

Late to the discussion, but I have found Carbon Killer to clean just about anything.

[ Image ]

I was pretty skeptical, until I saw that it was orange scented. Now I'm sold!