Which is harder to clean?

[Flint]

I own both an original 2nd Model S&W Russian, and  2 Ubertis...  I shot both today, the original with Black Powder loaded 44 Russian ammo, and one of the Ubertis with Smokeless (231) loads.

I cleaned the S&W in about 10 minutes or less, totally spotless.

I cleaned the Uberti in somewhat over a half hour, using a Lewis Led Remover and wire brush in the bore and chambers, and razor blade scraper (on the breech face).  Short of using a power drill motor, cleaning smokeless residue is a real chore, if you want it "really" clean, including the carbon rings in the cylinder and lead in the bore....  I have yet to see lead in a black powder bore.  And I consider 231 to be a fairly clean burning powder.

[Coffinmaker]

I know it's late.  I'm Tired.  Thinking hurts.  butt ..........

Didn't you just answer your own question??  Did I miss something??  Was this a trique question??

Coffinmaker

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I always say that Black Powder clean up is easier than Smokeless, although it is also messier.

Just my favorite water based BP solvent and a few swipes of a bore brush and bristle brush and BP fouling melts away.

And for some reason that I have not yet figured out there is never any leading with BP.

Smokeless definitely requires more elbow grease.

However....................I never sweat cleaning up with Smokeless. I usually just put the gun away. Smokeless residue does not cause rust, at least not in my experience. And I gave up trying to clean the carbon rings off the cylinder of revolvers fired with Smokeless long ago. Just not worth the effort.

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[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Thank you Driftwood,

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who uses the "benign neglect" cleaning method with smokeless.

Reverend Chase

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I discovered that doing some follow-up shooting with BP gets rid of the "carbon rings". I'm not sure of an explanation but BP cleanup makes it gone.