There are four handguns that more or less live in my range bag: My Ruger MkIII 22/45 and my Para LTC9, which serve as understudies for my CCW 1911s, and my K-22 Target Masterpiece and a 2" Model 64 (stainless .38 Special K-frame, for those who don't speak S&W) that are my revolver trainers.
And when I say "live in my range bag", I mean that they come out to get shot at the range, and then sit in there until the next range trip. (Well, the K-22 usually gets wiped down with oil every couple weeks in deference to its age and blued finish.)
Every three or four months, though, I get to feeling guilty and pull them out to be stripped and cleaned. This means that they are filthy: The Para going sometimes 600 rounds between cleanings, and the 22/45 as much as 3,000 or more.
With the Para and the revolvers, it's not too bad, but the 22/45 is a blowback-operated rimfire, and the action gets an amazing amount of gunk vented back into it over that time. Today it is time to attack the built-up cack in the interior of the Ruger. Perhaps with an air chisel.
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14 comments:
With all the guns you own, maybe you should invest in a Dunk-Kit and write up a review based on your results with it.
3,000 rounds of cheap bulk .22 would make for "an amazing amount of gunk vented back into it".....
I was thinking a solvent soak, too...... a couple hours in break free or Hoppes for the barrel/receiver ..... not sure if that would be good for the polymer grip frame......
When I first started shooting (with my own guns), my guns got a thorough cleaning every time I went to the range, and every-so-often when I didn't get to the range for a while. It was scrub scrub scrub, check with a clean q-tip just like the armorer did when I was in the Marines, and scrub some more if the q-tip came back with even a spot of anything. Now, I realize how rediculous that is. My guns just get a wipe down with a nice oily rag every so often and a good cleaning when they actually need it. My CCW gun gets a little more attention to make sure that lint etc doesn't gum up the works in case I need it, but the whole q-tip/white glove treatment is for the birds.
BTW, I was considering purchasing a Para LTC9 for use as an understudy for my regular CCW piece, but after buying a Para GI Expert to play with at the range and being massively dissapointed in it, I'm not sure I could trust another Para. Tam, what are your thoughts on the Para LTC9?
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Brake Cleaner. :D
Strike Hold does a pretty good job.
An ultrasonic cleaner.is a very handy thing, and as you can see, a "handgun sized" one is not horribly expensive. They do a ridiculously good job both on assembled firearms and individual parts. As you probably know already, most gun shops and copshops have been using them for years and
The smell of Hoppes is strong, so it might be a good outdoors/garage utensil. Plain old #9 works great in an ultrasonic cleaner.
WV Rethroni. In 2012, we will probably be rethroni-ng Obama.
As a Proponent of the Big Bang Theory, I recommend Dynamite.
Well now I don't feel so bad about leaving my Buckmark in the range bag.
+1 to the ultrasonic cleaner. My old indoor range let me use one once a month to clean my handguns. It's amazing how much a deep cleaning improves the pull of a J-frame trigger.
I've had the idea of an ultrasonic cleaner in the back of my mind for some time, but it kind of feels like cheating. :) Is there a model/brand that is preferred among the wise hands here?
Discobobby,
I use the one at Coal Creek Armory. Hence the 3-4 month cleaning interval. ;)
Oh the joy of the MkIII 22/45 reassembly. I used up my life allotment of swear words the first couple of times.
It needs to get a bath this weekend.
I used to love cleaning my guns and did so religiously. Now I have a tendency to do exactly the same as you. The only problems I have are that my 22/45 is a gemtech integral and I'm forced to clean it at least ever other trip, immediately after shooting if I put water in it.
Disco: The link above leads to one "buy it now" on ebay for a bit over a hundred bucks, and it's handgun sized. I see them all the time new, there are also some available on the used market that are long gun size. very, very nice. I garbagepicked mine from my dentist.
"I'm a bad shooter."
-Tam
"She's like the best one here."
-Todd Jarrett
There is video to prove it.
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