Another Maintenance Thread

[SharpestJim]

Here's the new guy stirring up the pot by starting a (another) thread about firearm maintenance, specifically handguns and, even more specifically, 1911's. You know what they say opinions are like, don't you? Hint: Everybody has one. There was a post on the 1911forum.com forum and there were about 100 responses with very few opinions in common from one to the next.

How frequently does everybody clean their firearms? I first got into guns 30+ years ago and, back then, field stripped and cleaned my firearms after every shooting session. Since becoming a bit of a gun nut (again) a little over three years ago, I have done the same. I probably spend, on average 30 minutes to an hour per gun field stripping and doing my best to clean every nook and cranny. Some people say that this behavior borders on OCD. Others wouldn't think of putting a dirty gun to bed. I'm one of the latter.

But I read several posts on the 1911 forum that it really isn't good to frequently strip 1911's.

I'm sure that the opinions here will run the gamut from 'daily" to "never". but I know that there is a vast amount of knowledge and experience on this forum. I was curious as to what the REAL experts think.

Thanks!

[Caleb]

I used to be OCD about it, cleaning after every session and every so on for the ones that sit in the safe most of the time. Now, I'm lazy and probably clean around 200rds or so. The ammo nowadays is not corrosive unless you use surplus (not all surplus is corrosive ) so, no need to worry about a dirty gun in the safe. That's just me.

As far as causing more wear with field stripping too much. I don't see how that will cause more wear than actually shooting it....

[skosh69]

I'm with . I run a bore snake through the barrel, wipe down the outside and leave a nice coat of oil in the barrel after each trip. I'll field strip every few thousand rounds.

I've seen pics of 1911's with thousands of rounds through them, gunk everywhere and they ran fine with just a few drops of oil on the frame rails.

[sdmc530]

I clean mine after every range trip. Not so much because they need it but because I have OCD about it and its like therapy. I Do a complete break down about every 2 years maybe 3..... I like cleaning guns so its fun for me.

[milkmanjoe]

I wipe mine down and throw them in the closest river after a shooting

[SharpestJim]

Originally Posted by milkmanjoe

I wipe mine down and throw them in the closest river after a shooting

Someone on the 1911 forum (the "fake" 1911 forum) said that he gives them to his "old lady" to run them in the dishwasher. And that he expects her to put them away when she's done with them.

Not a very PC response. Must've been why I liked it!

[sdmc530]

Originally Posted by milkmanjoe

I wipe mine down and throw them in the closest river after a shooting

only because you HAVE to afterwords...

Originally Posted by SharpestJim

Someone on the 1911 forum (the "fake" 1911 forum) said that he gives them to his "old lady" to run them in the dishwasher. And that he expects her to put them away when she's done with them.

Not a very PC response. Must've been why I liked it!

is this before or after he gets his sandwich?!!

[Riverpigusmc]

perhaps our Chimp with a gun will tell what he really uses. He uses KY. A lot of it

[Lonestar grips.]

I add a little oil to the rails on my 1911's after I run them hard but I don't usually scrub the barrel out or strip it after every use.

[Lonestar grips.]

Originally Posted by Riverpigusmc

perhaps our Chimp with a gun will tell what he really uses. He uses KY. A lot of it

how do you know? personal experience?