Cleaning M&P semi autos

[creekman]

I believe that somewhere on this thread, someone said they cleaned their mags. If I am correct, how to do so....and how often?
thanks

 

[NewToGuns17]

I clean my mags. I clean them when i get them and then once in a while when i'm bored. If you look at the bottom of your mag you'll see a little button. Get something that you can fit in the space where the button is (with the mag unloaded). I use a small screwdriver on my Swisschamp. You push it down and then slide the base plate off the front of the mag (the way the bullet faces in the mag). Keep your thumb over the bottom of the mag as you push the base plate off as the spring and base plate spacer pad thingie (technical term i made up because i can't think of the actual name) will push down. Remove the spring and followed and clean with your gun cleaner, then reassemble. It will only go together one way. My suggestion is lay it down on your work surface how it goes back together and in the right direction, but once you realize it can only go together one way you'll never forget. I'll see if i can snag a pic for you in a few mins.

 

[NewToGuns17]

1. Mag loaded
2. Mag unloaded and spacer removed (if 8 rd)
3. Mag prepared for disassembly
4. this is the button you will push
5. pushing in button, push it just enough to allow the base plate to slide, don't get your tool too far in or you won't be able to slide the base plate.
6. Base plate starting to come off
7. Capturing the spacer plate thingie with my thumb
8. showing what the button does with the base plate
9. on bottom of spring to show orientation
10. follower on wrong
11. follower on correct

Scrub it out with a brush and ballistol or whatever you have and make sure it's dry, it'll collect less ****

 

[bigwheelzip]

I believe that somewhere on this thread, someone said they cleaned their mags. If I am correct, how to do so....and how often?
thanks

The instructions and photos from NewToGuns17 will get you through.

If your concealed carrying, especially if your active and you holster inside the waistband in your humid locale, don't forget to consider the condition of the ammo you carry. The copper jackets of the Federal P9HST2 hollowpoints loaded in my Shield would oxidize green and leach after being carried in steamy conditions a while. I'd wipe them off every month or so, and replace them annually.

And while we're covering moisture maintenance, the Mag release button in the grip is coated steel. The coating can wear off, allowing the button to rust in it's hole, making operation difficult or worse (happened to me). I recommend removal of the button and applying a coat of grease or slide lube.

This video shows it clearly.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-hBgf__pXg[/ame]

 

[k31scout]

I pocket carry and the lint dust somehow finds it's way inside the frame so I clean it once in a while. The recoil spring is mighty stiff on my Shield and it takes more effort to engage the slide stop than my full size M&P's. Just man handle the slide back and disassemble it. You won't break it.

 

[Desertpilot]

This thread came at the right time for me. I recently purchased a Shield 45 Performance Center pistol. My previous EDC was an M&P 40C, so I am familiar with M&P pistols.

Cleaning frequency: Typically, I clean my weapons after each use. With this new gun, I wanted to find out if it would fire reliably without cleaning. I fired 100 rounds during each of 3 range trips (about a week apart). The gun performed flawlessly. Of course, it was quite dirty when I finally cleaned it. Since it is now my EDC, I will clean it after each use.

Disassembly for cleaning: I perform a normal field strip and also remove the firing pin. I've removed the extractor once. Not too difficult.

Mags: I also disassemble and clean the mags. I will note that the extended mag has a crazy attachment to hold the spring in the mag. You tube helped me out on that issue.

Marcus

 

[Mahalo_.32]

Ok, I guess I am going to be....... "That Guy"

With absolutely NO disrespect to OP or anyone else, this post title is precisely why I feel anyone to purchase or own a firearm of any kind a class should be mandatory with purchase that covers safety, operation, cleaning and storage.
I am sure many here will agree there are far too many people that have jumped onto the 2A bandwagon just like the many jumped on the Harley Davidson kick and can barely ride... For me it is all about education, safety and respect of a tool or machine.
OP, there are many videos that can help you to properly maintain your firearm and I truly hope you take the time to watch a few of these videos.
I wish all a very safe 2018

 

[Dad_Roman]

I will note that the extended mag has a crazy attachment to hold the spring in the mag. You tube helped me out on that issue.

Marcus

....welcome


Shane

 

[Will41]

This is what I do as well. It only takes about 10 minutes per M&P . Just watch some videos and take your time. It is really easy with some practice.

I field strip mine and clean guns every time I shoot them. For a gun like an M&P that is kind of like changing the oil on your car every 1000 miles. It isn't necessary to do it that often but doesn't hurt anything.

 

[Backlighting]

i like my guns just like my woman - clean and lubed.

LOL & I couldn't agree more.

 

[Sebring Pop]

The only thing I do different is I do not use steel wool I use brass wool (same thing but made of brass not steel) it does not take the bluing off like steel wool does.

 

[royal barnes]

If you are diligent about clearing the weapon and inspecting the chamber (visually and tacitly) to insure it is empty before pulling the trigger in order to remove the slide flipping the sear disconnect down seems akin to wearing a belt with suspenders. However, when we are discussing the possibility of launching a chunk of lead God knows where at 1200+ f/s a"belt & suspenders" approach doesn't seem like an unreasonable idea to me.

Those of us who carry a heavy firearm and/or have a bad back wear a dedicated gun belt and Perry’s suspenders. I hope I have not offended the fashion police. I do what works and makes things more comfortable......and I’m not alone.

 

[oljames3]

After 34 years in the field artillery, I feel guilty if I don't clean my pistol after use.

 

[creekman]

I can relate to being intimidated by field stripping. When I finally decided to leave my comfort zone of revolvers and buy a little P-238 semi-auto, I watched the counterman do a field strip, clean, and lube before he handed it over to me. I thought to myself "I can never do that".

It wasn't nearly as hard to do as it looked, and there is plenty of reference material available to help. It really needs to be field stripped to be cleaned and lubed properly, and you'll be more confidant that the proper attention is being given to the unseen recesses inside. Learn to disassemble and clean the mag also.

Once you field strip it, you will see that some of the surfaces will be shiny from slide wear. It helps to lightly coat those place with a slide lube. I use TW25B in a refillable syringe. It's slick and stays where you put it after the gun gets hot.

Amazon.com : Mil-Comm TW25B Grease 0.5 oz Reclosable Syringe : Hunting Cleaning And Maintenance Products : Sports & Outdoors

One of many videos on the subject.

M&P Shield 9mm Field Strip/Disassembly - YouTube

It will be fine once you give it a try. Good luck.

guess this shows I am new shooter-newer to semis. When you field strip, should you wipe off everything before lubing and putting it back together?

 

[NewToGuns17]

guess this shows I am new shooter-newer to semis. When you field strip, should you wipe off everything before lubing and putting it back together?

As much as you can if you aren't cleaning it, yes

 

[Targets Guy]

I clean mine after every range trip.

 

[creekman]

again, my new shooter ignorance -what is cleaning (have read manual) besides field striping and lubing -of course, I clean bore everytime I shoot....do you wipe everything clean, clean bore, and then lube all over again....appreciate you guys patience

 

[NewToGuns17]

What I do is I take out barrel, recoil spring assembly and slide. I spray it all with ballistol and let it sit in a little plastic pan for a few minutes. Scrub it down with a plastic bristled brush and wipe it down. The only place I seen to have to clean past that is the bore and the feed ramp. I take a look inside the frame at the magazine well and the sear housing block. If it looks dirty I hit it with that brush. If it doesn't clean well I spray it with ballistol as well and hit it with the brush. Wipe everything down very well and then oil with a good gun oil as the manual states. I clean my mags when I'm bored, otherwise I just wipe them. If you need photos just ask I'm happy to post them.

 

[Wireguided Marine]

Cleaning can be as quick or as long as you want it to be.

I believe in cleaning soon after you shoot a firearm. If it’s a busy day I’ll let it slide until the next day but a dirty firearm is wrong; I learned that in the Marines.

The gunpowder residue is hygroscopic, by leaving it where it is you allow more moisture to collect inside than if it were clean with a very light coat of oil in place. In my mind its worse than leaving the firearm bone dry.

Now none of this means you need to obsessively clean every piece so that it passes a white glove inspection. But you should clean the barrel and bolt face after every range session. You can take a quick look at the rest of the slide and check the frame at this time. Using your judgement you can clean the rest of the firearm as you see fit.

Doing that after every session does a few good things:

It gets you into the habit of having a clean weapon, especially if it’s what you may need one day to defend yourself. If you make it a point to clean it every time then you budget that time automatically in your mind.

It helps you to learn about your firearm. The first time I took the striker out of the slide it was hard, I never had a striker-fired pistol before. Now it is easy because I’ve done it.

It also allows you to perhaps spot when something is wrong, like a pin beginning to slide out.

It gives you confidence in your tool and in yourself. Using a firearm, whether on a range or in self defense, requires confidence. Taking apart and cleaning your gun is a small step in building that confidence. Practicing on the range as realistically as possible and taking courses by instructors is another, bigger step.

FWIW I use Hoppe’s bore cleaner for the barrel and bolt face. I have a can of Lubriplate grease that I bought for my M1 Garand that I use to dab a tiny amount on the four frame rails, the rest of the M&P gets a light coat of FMO-350 gun oil. But any oil made for firearms will do; the point is to clean it and keep it oiled.

 

[nanney1]

As a new gun owner, I noticed that it is second nature on the how to videos for a guy to rack the slide back and lock it into place. What is not shown, is the thumb pushing the slide lock at the time of the rack. Seems simple, but if you don't know, you don't know. And this step gets overlooked many times in field strip vids on youtube.