1911 owners

I don't think I ever have. I've been into the guts twice as part of my tinkering on the action and obviously I've cleaned it at the same time. But other than that I've only hosed it out with brake cleaner followed by a light spritz of CLP to re-coat and lube the parts. To get better access for this I did remove the MSH each time. But that's as far as it went other than the usual field strip.

Um.... I likely removed and cleaned the firing pin at least one of those times as well.
 
+1
twice a year, depending on how many rounds I put through it..... But field strip every return from the range....doesn't always need it, but just habit, like to put them away clean and inspected......
Import
 
It is an easy gun to detail strip. Why not? (I am speaking of the non schwartz, 80, finkelmann etc ones- just the basic GI style)
 
i don't put a lot of rounds thru my 1911 so it just gets a fieldstrip cleaning. Besides, I have to admit I'm a litte intimidated about conducting a detail strip on it.
On the other hand...I'll detail strip my G21 just when I'm bored:). Its almost too easy and takes very little time!
 
It's not particularly hard. But there is likely a 1,000,001 guides on how to do it online. Take it apart, you are guaranteed to get it back together.
 
i've done it a bunch of times, to clean, look at and understand, and to do trigger jobs on both my 1911's.

takes about 60 seconds to tear down, maybe 5 to reassemble.
 
Tis true, really pretty simple once youve done it once, other pistols are much more complicated, my gp6 for example..... Just lay stuf out in the order they come out , and as waynetheman said. There are loads of reassembly tubes out there....
Import
 
IMHO, it's a good idea to do it a couple of times when you first get a particular 1911.

First, it's very easy to do and, on a standard-pattern 1911, no tools are required apart from removing the grip screws.

Second, if you have a problem at the range, you'll have a much better understanding of the parts & function of the gun, and be able to fix it.

Third, knowing the internal parts of your gun will allow you to spot wear & potential problem areas that need to be addressed, often before an issue becomes a serious problem.

Fourth, you'll get a true appreciation of John Moses Browning's elegant design. I still marvel at the brilliance and simplicity of it when I detail strip my 1911's. I'll often take one of my .45's out & detail strip it while watching TV, just because it's fun to do. And, of course, it costs nothing to detail strip it.
 
When function is impaired, it's time to clean. Or before a big match requiring utmost reliability. Otherwise, "if it ain't broke ....". Even carry guns (if you could) get carried a lot and seldom shot.
I saw far too many good guns ruined by stupid, over zealous cleaning when I was serving.

I find that 500 rds is a good standard, depending on how dirty the powder is.
 
I tear them down for a field strip or detail strip whenever I get a chance, usually after a trip to the range. I agree 100% with what was just said about over-zealous cleaning, especially in the service. However, I only use light chemicals and scrub with old t-shirts so there is no damage done. I clean them often because they are my guns and I enjoy cleaning them, it is not at all a question of reliability.
 
basic cleaning and lubejob = after every session
complete (every single piece taken apart, cleaned and lubed) cleaning = before every Lvl2 or higher match
 
field strip - every 2000-3000 rounds. big window i know, but im not exactly anal about when I do it, its more "well there is so much carbon that it kind of looks like sand in the gun and I am bored..." as the benchmark of when its done. I never put anything except plated bullets down the barrel (this included cleaning brushes)

detail strip - once a year
 
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