lionelfan

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm going to give some of them a try. My latest acquisition, which was used to fill out an Amazon order to reach the $25 level for free postage, is S&W's Synthetic Safe Bore & Action Cleaner (14 oz aerosol). This is a volatile petroleum based product that is proving much more effective than the Outer's or MPro-7 cleaners at removing the carbon and lead desposits. The downside is that it has to be used in a well ventilated area.

I recently purchased a new S&W Model 617 with 4" barrel. This is my first revolver, as I have been shooting a Model 41 with CCI Standard Velocity ammo. Cleaning the S&W 41 has never been a problem. I would like to be able to say the same thing for the 617, but I can't. Using the same CCI rounds, there is, what seems to me, an extensive amount of gun shot residue that builds up around the breech area and the front of the cylinder. After the first 100 rounds, it started becoming more difficult to extract the spent shells and easily stage now rounds in the cylinder. The use of a bore snake through each of the chambers alleviated these two issues. Cleaning the fronts of the breech area and cylinder, however, are proving to be a more difficult challenge. I have tried 2 bore cleaners to date, Outers and M-Pro 7 Gun Cleaner. Following the instructions, leaving the cleaners on for about 5 minutes and using a tooth brush doesn't seem to help very much in removing the built up residue. Is stainless steel that much harder to clean than blued carbon steel? Is the search for a good bore cleaner going to be as elusive as finding a good car polish? Can anyone recommend a product that does a more effective job at removing the residue? One thing that I have found works, but it takes effort, is Maas metal polishing creme and a good supply of cue tips. I am hoping there is a better (easier) alternative, else I'm not going to enjoy shooting the 671 as much as I have the 41 from a maintenance perspective.

----------------------- I can second what Harry is saying. I recently joined this forum and submitted a request to the forum sponsors for a S&W 617. Within a few hours I received some quotes and within 24 hours I had 6! All were well below the MSRP on S&W's website. I had a few friendly and informational email exchanges with some of the FFLs. I started checking locations to see who was geographically closest to me. Ira at Legend Firearms also turned out to be almost in my back yard. He indicated he could get me the 617 at a very competitive price. I'm currently awaiting receipt of my purchase permit. I asked him if he would order it for me and offered to leave a deposit. Ira went ahead and ordered the pistol without requiring a deposit! We have not as yet met and this is my first transaction with him. Not too shabby and a nice step to establishing a trusted relationship. I hope to pick up the 617 in the next few weeks and fully expect to use Ira as my FFL for all of my future firearm purchases. -- Bill Z

I have a model 41 that I thoroughly enjoy exercizing. I wanted a wheel gun and the K22 (Model 17 Masterpiece) is what immediately came to mind. I looked at a friend's Model 17 that was about 20 years old...... A nice looking gun with a good feel. Unfortunately,it was a bummer for me, as the grip design was such that the knuckle on my middle finger would rub against the trigger guard! I tried a current encarnation of the Model 17, hoping that S&W might have tweaked the design, but alas, that was pure folly. Same knuckle interence problem with the currently available Model 17 version. I've had to shift my thinking to the model 317. Not a "classic" by any means, but it is sure a lot more comfortable in my hand! I'm trying to get used to the look of stainless steel, 10 rounds and a synthetic handle!