1911 Maintenance

[Rugerboy50]

Do you have to disassemble a 1911 everytime to clean and oil it?

[mr surveyor]

what is your definition of "disassemble"?

[USA1]

I field strip to clean after shooting.

By field strip, I mean remove the slide, barrel, guide rod and recoil spring.
This is usually sufficient to be able to reach, clean and oil all the vital parts.

[apostate]

I field strip to clean after shooting.

By field strip, I mean remove the slide, barrel, guide rod and recoil spring.
This is usually sufficient to be able to reach, clean and oil all the vital parts.

That's what I did when I carried 1911s. I detail stripped them once a year (and after special circumstances like going swimming with the gun) but for a normal cleaning, field stripping was sufficient.

[Pawpaw]

with USA1 & apostate.

[Rugerboy50]

what is your definition of "disassemble"?

Field strip it

I've been told you can remove the grips brush out the barrell and hit it with a cleaner then relude it without breaking the gun all the way down.

[The Annoyed Man]

with USA1 & apostate.

Me too..........except that I don't go swimming with my 1911.

what is your definition of "disassemble"?

Field strip it

I've been told you can remove the grips brush out the barrell and hit it with a cleaner then relude it without breaking the gun all the way down.

Not a good solution. Field stripping takes about 1 minute, and there are parts of the gun that you can't access if you don't field strip it. For instance, when are you going to clean and re-lube the rails? When are you going to lube the bushing to slide fit, and the barrel to bushing fit? When are you going to lube the barrel lugs and the barrel link? The guide-rod and spring? None of those parts can be accessed without field stripping, and they all require regular maintenance.

[ske1eter]

I normally field strip mine but it does depend on the number of rounds. I've *never* detail stripped any of mine. Maybe I'm negligent but blasting it with some crud cleaner is easier than knocking out all of the pins, etc.

[USA1]

Only takes about 5 mins to clean a 1911 anyway.

....unless you're like me and reeeally enjoy going over every
nook and cranny of that beautifully machined metal.

...perhaps that's TMI.

[AEA]

I field strip to clean after shooting.

By field strip, I mean remove the slide, barrel, guide rod and recoil spring.
This is usually sufficient to be able to reach, clean and oil all the vital parts.

Detail strip once a year or so, depending on rounds shot and/or storage conditions.

[MoJo]

Would you take a bath with your clothes on? Field strip it!

[Pawpaw]

Some people say you don't need to change the oil in your car, either. Just change the filter and add a quart of makeup oil.

I'm not doing that, either.

[SQLGeek]

Most semi-autos are so easy to field strip, there's no real good reason not to. Besides, there's something therapeutic about breaking down a machine, cleaning it up and putting it back together in perfect working order.

[68Charger]

Only takes about 5 mins to clean a 1911 anyway.

....unless you're like me and reeeally enjoy going over every
nook and cranny of that beautifully machined metal.

...perhaps that's TMI.

I do the same. I clean my baby after I shoot her and I tend to take 30 min doing so. Field stripping that is.

She just deserves to be cleaned. I spoil her so much.