I usually just brush it out, but can you stick your whole lower portion of a pistol (plastic part with trigger assembly -- receiver?) in an ultrasonic with some Simple Green to clean it better? Rinse in plain water and blow it dry with warm air? Never tried it, but I can't see what it would hurt.

There's one way to find out; but first how good is the manufacturer's warranty?

I don't see how it would hurt, unless the simple green isn't good for polymer.

Yep. You can toss a whole pistol (disassembled) into the ultrasonic, done it many times. It's recommended to then use an ultrasonic oil, but I never bothered. Be sure to remove wood handles if you have any, that's no bueno.

I never felt the need to do that to any pistol I own, no matter how dingy, but I can't see how it would hurt.

I guess we're not talking wheelguns here, are we?

I remove "the screw" on my Smiths and pull the yoke and cylinder and that's about as much access as I need. However, I am lazy, and if there were some other, simpler, more effective way to clean stainless revolvers that I don't know about, I'd be all over it like a cheap suit.

shinzen wrote:Yep. You can toss a whole pistol (disassembled) into the ultrasonic, done it many times. It's recommended to then use an ultrasonic oil, but I never bothered. Be sure to remove wood handles if you have any, that's no bueno.

Disassembled. You mean field disassembled I hope. I would probably be able to disassemble a trigger assembly but that really wouldn't be much of a time saver / process improvement. It would be thorough though!

What did you use for a degreaser? I'd imagine something mild like dish detergent or Simple Green would be best....

beaurrr wrote:I guess we're not talking wheelguns here, are we?

I remove "the screw" on my Smiths and pull the yoke and cylinder and that's about as much access as I need. However, I am lazy, and if there were some other, simpler, more effective way to clean stainless revolvers that I don't know about, I'd be all over it like a cheap suit.

You could easily clean the cylinder in an ultrasonic (they come off easily don't they?) and you could stick the barrel end of the gun in an ultrasonic solution. S&Ws though have that big hollow space around the frame and any liquid would collect there and be hard to dislodge. If you don't mind removing the screws and opening that hollow space you should be able to throw the whole thing in. Assuming like the one reply said, you don't have wood on your grip. But you can also take the grips off easily as well????

Aluminium and some degreasers don't play well with each other. Read up first.

As some others have said, I'm not sure why you'd want to clean the internals in such a manner, but YMMV.

senorgrand wrote:Aluminium and some degreasers don't play well with each other. Read up first.

As some others have said, I'm not sure why you'd want to clean the internals in such a manner, but YMMV.

Yeah, that's why I'd steer clear of something I use for steel parts frequently -- automatic dishwasher powder. It is highly alkaline and though a short exposure probably wouldn't hurt anything it could discolor the metal slightly. You wouldn't want to let it soak though. Stuff like dish soap or Simple Green is very mild.

Why? Because just brushing does not remove abrasive stuff that gets in there and also the gunpowder combustion residue can be corrosive. Anytime metal parts within the gun itself rub together you'll get metal particles that can be very abrasive. Then you have dust and sand that can get blown in there and it sticks around because of the light oil film on the metal parts.

Merkwuerdigliebe wrote:

shinzen wrote:Yep. You can toss a whole pistol (disassembled) into the ultrasonic, done it many times. It's recommended to then use an ultrasonic oil, but I never bothered. Be sure to remove wood handles if you have any, that's no bueno.

Disassembled. You mean field disassembled I hope. I would probably be able to disassemble a trigger assembly but that really wouldn't be much of a time saver / process improvement. It would be thorough though!

What did you use for a degreaser? I'd imagine something mild like dish detergent or Simple Green would be best....

Yeah, field strip. I have used the hornady stuff only, made specifically for the purpose.

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I guess I'm an Oscar to your Felix.

senorgrand wrote:Aluminium and some degreasers don't play well with each other. Read up first.

As some others have said, I'm not sure why you'd want to clean the internals in such a manner, but YMMV.

Yes, Simple Green definitely eats aluminum and many automatic dishwashing compounds contain chlorine in one form or another, which will destroy most steel alloys, particularly stainless.

A clean gun indicates a sick mind.

eelj wrote:A clean gun indicates a sick mind.

At least an OCD mind.

rolandson wrote:

senorgrand wrote:Aluminium and some degreasers don't play well with each other. Read up first.

As some others have said, I'm not sure why you'd want to clean the internals in such a manner, but YMMV.

Yes, Simple Green definitely eats aluminum and many automatic dishwashing compounds contain chlorine in one form or another, which will destroy most steel alloys, particularly stainless.

Hummmm, I've used automatic dishwasher powder on all type of steel with nothing but excellent results. Also many dishwashers have stainless interiors. So there might be more to this -- maybe specific types of stainless?

Simple Green says it's OK on aluminum for 10 minutes or under. But no matter, I can just use dish soap.