Generic Cleaning for non 1911 Semi-Automatics.

[Clinotus]

{{Click any image for the larger image}}

Generic Cleaning for non 1911 Semi-Automatics.

Tools:
Aircan
Toothbrushes 3
Skewers
Rag
Patches
Cleaning Rod
Bore brush
Cleaning solvent (Clp)
Oil (Moly)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/0_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/0.jpg)


Step 1
Remove the magazine.
Check to make sure you have removed the magazine.
Observe all safety precautions such as confirming an empty chamber.

http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/1_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/1.jpg)

IStep 2
Retract the slide and lock it into place with the slide catch and turn the take down lever down from the 3 o'clock to the 6 o'clock position. While holding the slide firmly, release the slide catch and separate the slide from the frame.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/2_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/2.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/3_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/3.jpg)

Step 3
Remove the recoil spring which is wrapped around the guide rod, (the guide rod) and the barrel. Be cautious with removing the recoil spring as it is obviously under tension and can fly across the room or into ones eye.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/4_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/4.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/5_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/5.jpg)


You should have 5 pieces.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/6_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/6.jpg)

Step 4*
Take your bristle brush and push it through the barrel from the breech end, taking care not to push past the muzzle end. A neat trick to this is to keep your pointer finger on the muzzle end as a stopper. Pull it to and fro a few times to loosen any build up on the inside.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/7_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/7.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/8_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/8.jpg)



Step 5
Drop a few drops of cleaning solution/oil down the barrel. Set the barrel aside.

http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/9_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/9.jpg)

Step 6
With a tooth or other brush scrub the inner rails.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/10_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/10.jpg)

Step 7
Rotate the barrel. Keep set aside.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/16_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/16.jpg)

Step 8
Air Supply Greatest Hits--- Spray the entire frame with the air can to dislodge anything, paying careful attention to the mag well and the hammer area.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/14_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/14.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/15_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/15.jpg)

Step 9
Scrub the feed area, the area before the hammer, the mag well.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/11_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/11.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/12_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/12.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/13_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/13.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/18_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/18.jpg)

Step 10
Clean the breech end of the barrel, rotate the barrel again. Keep set aside.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/16_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/16.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/16a_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/16a.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/17_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/17.jpg)

Step 11
Grab the slide and brush it clean.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/19_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/19.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/20_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/20.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/21_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/21.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/22_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/22.jpg)

Step 12
Using one of the skewers wrapped in cloth and spotted with solvent, clean the inner rails on the slide..
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/23_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/23.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/24_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/24.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/25_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/25.jpg)


Step 13
Clean everything else on the slide with that method and with a finger as needed:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/26_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/26.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/27_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/27.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/28_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/28.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/29_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/29.jpg)

Step 14
The barrel at this point should be ready for your extended cleaning as we've allowed the solvent to work for some time. Wrap a patch around your brush and clean the barrel with a twisting motion to remove any buildup. Again do not pass the muzzle end, just pull it back out -or unscrew it and pass it through.

http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/30_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/30.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/31_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/31.jpg)

*Repeat 14 as needed until the cloth/patch you have used emerges clean. Be sure to alternate between the dry patch/cloth, the bristle, and the cloth/patch around the bristle.

Step 15
Most guns will require the following points for lubrication.

Lightly oil the Guide Rod, Barrel, Recoil Spring, and the Slide rails themselves – this can be done with your solvent as most solvents are also lubricants.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/32_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/32.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/33_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/33.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/34_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/34.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/35_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/35.jpg)

Matching points, along the tops of the rails, and the inner rails.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/36_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/36.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/37_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/37.jpg)
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/38_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/38.jpg)

Wipe excess oil off.

http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/39_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/39.jpg)

Step 16
Reassemble. No pictures needed.

Step 17
With a rag clean your baby off.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/40_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/40.jpg)

Step 18
Slide that baby back a few times to spread the love/lube.
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/41_small.jpg (http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/41.jpg)



*Please note: You can also push the brush through the muzzle completely.
My caution here is that you may not want to crest the muzzle and yank the brush back through the barrel – though this is my experience, see the last image below.

There are many schools of thought on the matter, and I have presented you with the one that I use.


The other options for cleaning the barrel are:

1) Push to the crest of the muzzle, twist the bristle to clean and then extract it backwards repeating as needed.
2) Push past the crest of the muzzle, unscrew the bristle from the rod, extracting the rod, reassemble the rod to the bristle and pushing it through again, never pulling the brush backwards. Repeat as needed.
3) Push past the crest and pull backwards, repeat as needed.


Crest:
http://230grain.com/images/articles/cleaning/crest.jpg

[Scarecrow411]

You're hands are much more feminine then I ever imagined.

[Clinotus]

You're hands are much more feminine then I ever imagined.

Its the Palmolive! Works wonders on the hands. :biggrin:

[MuttonChops]

He also enjoys a liberal application of lotion from time to time.

[Tetraptous]

I'm a boresnake + CLP sort of guy because I'm lazy, with a toothbrush for cleaning the nooks and crannies when I feel like it. I also usually use some lithium grease instead of oil on the slide rails, generally a good idea for stuff that slide unless you don't clean often, as dirt can accumulate in the grease.

The canned air I have never seen used to clean a gun before. I'll try it next time to clear out the supposedly "not user serviceable" parts of my XD.

[Clinotus]

I'm a boresnake + CLP sort of guy because I'm lazy, with a toothbrush for cleaning the nooks and crannies when I feel like it. I also usually use some lithium grease instead of oil on the slide rails, generally a good idea for stuff that slide unless you don't clean often, as dirt can accumulate in the grease.

Yeah, I meant to provide an addendum to this but haven't had the time to do so. I'd like to cover the greasing and the use of the boresnake. Boresnakes are great for both detail and the quick-clean at the range.

[Biaxident]

I'm a boresnake + CLP sort of guy because I'm lazy, with a toothbrush for cleaning the nooks and crannies when I feel like it. I also usually use some lithium grease instead of oil on the slide rails, generally a good idea for stuff that slide unless you don't clean often, as dirt can accumulate in the grease.

The canned air I have never seen used to clean a gun before.

Tetraptous cleans exactly like I do.