Cleaning a Semi Auto

[Narragansett]

Well I was at the range yesterday, and toward the end of my session, I got some fail to fire rounds on my Ruger MK 4. Well, I knew I had put a lot of rounds through it so I checked it last night. I had a buildup of crud on the bolt that spaced the firing pin back a bit.

So my question is how do you best go about cleaning a pistol like this? Is it toothpicks, dental pics, popsicle sticks and brushes or is it brake cleaner and compresses air? This looks like more of a job than a 1911.

 

[desi2358]

I normally clean my guns asap after shooting though I may let a 22 go a couple trips before cleaning. Easiest way to avoid fouling building up in the action is if I clean regularly. Now we used to get a lot of really dirty guns traded in at the store and those would get detail cleaned, strip it down so I can get at everything. Never been a fan of spray cleaning a gun, doesn't seem to get them clean enough for me. I may use a spray as a preliminary to soften or loosen up crud. I use a good cleaning solvent and despite trying about everything available over the years old Hoppes No. 9 still gets used the most. I use a brush dipped in solvent on most internal buildup and finish with cleaning patches worked into any hard to get spots. Small parts are brushed and cleaned the same way I do the receiver.

 

[Rule3]

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[rockquarry]

Well I was at the range yesterday, and toward the end of my session, I got some fail to fire rounds on my Ruger MK 4. Well, I knew I had put a lot of rounds through it so I checked it last night. I had a buildup of crud on the bolt that spaced the firing pin back a bit.

So my question is how do you best go about cleaning a pistol like this? Is it toothpicks, dental pics, popsicle sticks and brushes or is it brake cleaner and compresses air? This looks like more of a job than a 1911.

Well I was at the range yesterday, and toward the end of my session, I got some fail to fire rounds on my Ruger MK 4. Well, I knew I had put a lot of rounds through it so I checked it last night. I had a buildup of crud on the bolt that spaced the firing pin back a bit.

So my question is how do you best go about cleaning a pistol like this? Is it toothpicks, dental pics, popsicle sticks and brushes or is it brake cleaner and compresses air? This looks like more of a job than a 1911.

Unless you want to strip the gun down (seldom necessary), use a solvent soaked folded cotton patch held with a small bent tweezer type tool and wipe off the bolt face thoroughly, then spray with brake cleaner to remove the solvent. I do this every time I clean.

Brake cleaner removes all oil, so lightly wipe some oil/lube on the inside of the receiver where the bolt moves.

 

[Conduct03]

Spray on, dry high temperature Teflon lube is all I use on all my rifles and pistols.

 

[M1A4ME]

Don't know about brake cleaner but old Mk1 has a melted spot in a grip from carb. cleaner I used back in the mid 80's. After that I'd take the grips off if I wanted to spray it out.

The MkIXs are supposed to be way easier to put back together if you do detail strip the frame. Just watch that video and do it a few times.

.22's are about the dirtiest cartridge there is. They can really build up some crud if not cleaned correctly and often. I guess some guns don't care about the burnt/unburnt powder loading up the frames but some guns are affected by it.

If I don't shoot one enough to feel like it needs a complete tear down I use a combination of brushing and wiping to remove the crud. An old toothbrush will rake a lot of stuff loose from the bolt face, the grip frame/magazine well area and the inside of the receiver where the bolt travels (at least the part you can see.)

As another member stated earlier, the sprays usually strip oil off the metal so be sure to get more oil back on the surfaces of the gun to help prevent rusting.