Cleaning recommendations

[Joepa]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum and a new 1911 owner. I bought the Kimber Gold Match II. I was wondering if everyone field strips their gun for every cleaning. I've heard different opinions on this. Any advice on cleaning this gun would be greatly appreciated! In case it's important, I'm shooting 230 grain unjacketed lead rounds. Thanks!

[Recon]

Joepa:

Welcome to the forum.

I field strip my Team Match everytime I clean it as I like to relube everything.

I clean it after each trip to the range which is usually a minimum of 250 rounds.

[myanof]

I do the same as Recon. I would also add that you are shooting uncoated lead bullets which shoot dirtier than jacked or coated lead. This means you should pay special attention to the barrel after you shoot and swab it really will with a wire brush and some good cleaning solution. I personally use Hoppes to clean and Breakfree CLP to Lube my 1911s. Another good product is Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber. I blow out the rails and under the slide with it. Its fast and effective, but be sure and lube whearever you spray it. For a 1911, yes definately field strip it each time you shoot if you want a reliable gun.

[larryf1952]

I field strip and clean for each cleaning after about 300 rounds or so. After 2 or 3 shooting sessions...probably around 700 to 800 rounds, I detail strip the pistol and give every part a thorough cleaning, inspection, and lube. I've had people tell me, "you'll wear the gun out more by cleaning it than by shooting it!", but I won't live for the 500 years that that might take, so I'm not worrying about it. :D

[Joepa]

Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate it. I've talked to a few people that never field strip their 1911s. The Kimber manual says to. Even the gun shop owner that sold me the gun says it's not that important. Like I said, conflicting info. I'm field stripping mine every time. How difficult is a detail strip and how important is it? The book says not to do it.

[docgary]

I field strip and clean after every 100 rds or so. Good habit to get into!
But, IMHO, the MOST important post-shooting maintenance on Kimber guns is lubing!! Ya gotta drench that Kimber in whatever lube/oil your using. The recent Gold Match II with the external extractor have a high incidence of FTE because of a poorly designed ejector part. If you keep that sucker lubed (even during shooting, say every 2 mags-along the exposed barrell and rails)you may be saved from the FTE gremlin.

(I know that the manual says not to over lube-- DISREGARD!!!!

[Gordon]

I'm also new to the Kimber. I have a new TLE, blued, and it only has about 250 rds through it. Out of the box it shot great without any malfunctions using the Kimber Mags. The manual states not to use grease. Only use oil. So I used copious amounts of oil on the slide and went to the range. I notice most here recommend a grease for lube. Can someone expand on the use of grease vs oil on the Kimbers. Thanks.

[docgary]

IMHO, I would think that an oil would be the most popular substance for lubrication of handguns. My use of gun grease is limited to my shot gun (no rifles) The more I get involved in the shooting world, the more opinions and choices I find offered by others. Some use oil, others use gease - some shooters concoct their own mixtures ( ie auto trans fluid) some swear by FP-10, others only use Miltec-1, calling it not an oil but a conditioner.

Bottom line - ya gotta keep that gun lubed! Modern guns have tight tolerences and the last thing ya want is galling of the parts.

On one of my first trips to my indoor range, a well known senior master shooter came up to me and, without a word, started dripping his homemade oil concoction on my exposed barrell! He said, 'Your gun is dry! Ya gotta keep it wet!' I thought he was a crazy nut until I got to know him. After numerous problems with my Gold Match II, (FTE,stove piping) , I always keep it drenched!

Of course, if areas of lube are collecting massive amounts of dirt and its drippin all of over the place, you've overdone it! :D

[shakakan]

1911 are very particular about their lubrication. The long bearing surfaces, and very tight tolerances demand good lubrication. With lubrication comes dirt, but it cleans easier. The 1911 is a great gun (the best I opine), but it has its quirks just like any other gun (notice I said quirks, not problems). Its one real quirk is lubrication. Lubricate it well and often, and your broblems will be many fewer are much farther between.

[Sifu]

Joepa -

Welcome to the forum. If you are range shooting like most of us, you may want to clean your pistol when you return home from the range since you don't know when you'll be shooting it next. It's always a good idea to clean your weapon after a day of shooting, whether 100 or 500 rds. I carry a Bore Snake in my gun bag so I can run it through the barrel a few times after I've burned up all the ammo for the day. I wipe down the weapon and the mags with a diaper while it's still warm. When I get home, I break out the cleaning kit. Squirt some Break Free CLP on and brush the debri loose. I then hose it down with Gun Scrubber. I use a Q-tip to apply MILITEC-1 grease to the slide rails and MILITEC Synthetic Metal Conditioner to the barrel, frame & slide exterior and wipe it down with a soft diaper. That's it. Lubrication where I need it and no mess.

If you go to www.militec-1,com (http://www.militec-1,com) and request, they will send you a sample of their product. This is what used by the USMC uses in the middle east to protect our weapons against sand and dust. Check it out.

[eddailey]

WOW!!! You guys clean your guns a LOT! I’ve got a Gold Match and the top end comes off every 1000-1200 rounds… maybe. I “detail strip” every 5000-7000 rounds.

Of course I compete with it and that many rounds equates to about 2 weeks worth of shooting and I’m VERY fussy about how clean burning the powder I shoot is. I’ve had the gun a couple of years now and have run 30k+ through it, “it takes a licking and keeps on ticking”!

Ed