Sometimes the simplest fix is the right one, like hitting reverse when you're stuck. That dredge trick reminds me of @taylorc40 getting things moving again with basic logic. Why do we always try the hard way first?

Is splotchy blue really the end of the world? @the_lee, I get that it's annoying to redo work, but most gunsmithing mistakes are fixable with a bit more time. I've seen way worse where people try to hide errors instead of fixing them properly. Stripping it back like you did is the right move, even if it's a pain. It's not like you ruined the gun forever, you just had to learn the hard way. Sometimes the slow method is better from the start, but now you know.

No way you had a frayed wire just laying in your shed for days. That's actually kinda scary, man. One spark near that and you could've had a real bad time. Maybe the mess does help, but maybe also get that kitten a safety whistle. Pets really do see the world different, zeroed in on the weird little moving things we tune out.