Cleaning M&P semi autos

[Rastoff]

may I ask, do you field strip every time you shoot?

Yes, every time.

One thing that doesn't seem to have been covered is why you should field strip.

By just spraying a cleaner on the outside, without a field strip, you're not getting the full benefit of the cleaner. There are places you simply can't reach. The cleaner might migrate into these parts, but it won't remove the dirt and carbon buildup. So, field stripping is necessary.

A note on the video. He had far too much oil on the barrel. If you look you can see that the barrel is completely coated with oil. This isn't the end of the world, but it doesn't help. Further, it will attract dirt. Just a drop at the top of the muzzle is more than enough.

 

[raljr1]

I owned guns a long time before I bought a semi auto, largely because I too was intimidated by the takedown procedure. And I worked in machining, so I was very familiar with taking things apart. I just was afraid of messing up a pistol. I got over it and you will too.

Robert

 

[KELSW]

I have only been shooting for a little over a year . I can field strip all my firearms . That includes a CZ P-09 Shield 9 and M&P 2.0 and a PPQ . As others have suggested most other people are willing to help . Maybe take a basic gun course . The most difficulty with a Shield is reassembly , the recoil spring is pretty strong and you really need to learn to lock the slide all the way back with the slide stop . Another thing to watch for is to make sure your recoil spring is not crooked and is properly seated back in the slide . Good luck .

 

[Steve K]

I have four M&Ps and clean them after around 300-400 rounds. I wipe the heavy stuff off with a rag, clean with solvents, blast with Gun Scrubber, and relube with Break Free; works well.

 

[creekman]

so many cleaning videos show a lot cleaning the rails - using several products etc. the manual and the video on this thread just show 7 places to place a drop of lubricant- then reassemble. Maybe some are overdoing it.

at any rate, I am going to field strip my M&P Shield 2.0...y'all have convinced me. First time I will get a friend who shoots semis, and is the kind of guy who can do anything - fix cars, build decks, great working on house .....yeah, think it will not be too much of a big deal.
thanks for your help all. Creekman

 

[bigwheelzip]

think I thanked you one post past yours-oops. may I ask, do you field strip every time you shoot?

Your welcome. Your welcome again.

I field strip and clean all my guns, every time I shoot them. I usually put at least 150 rounds through anything I bring to the range, and that's enough to buildup carbon inside. But it's gotten to the point I enjoy the exercise as a Zen experience.

The man who introduced me to firearms a few years ago was an Air Force Colonel with a great gun collection who shot competitively. He said he only cleans guns when something stops working, and I was inclined to follow his advice until I met his father, an intimidating retired Marine Colonel with combat in Korea and Vietnam. He said to always keep your weapon clean.

 

[micocyco]

seems all say to field strip....well, how often--everytime I shoot, maybe every certain number of rounds fired?

My rule is no less than 200 rounds & no more than 500 rounds between cleaning. For sure don't go more than 1000.
& Yes I think you must learn how to field strip your pistol to clean it properly.
Good luck , be safe , happy shooting

 

[creekman]

found TWB Mil-Curm Grease in syringe on Amazon- is this it?

 

[Rastoff]

I like this stuff better: [ame="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00905AON4/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2TJ01QN1R91TO&colid=2U49XQWY69BNK&psc=1"]Amazon.com : Slip2000 Extreme Lure (3-Pack), 2-Ounce : Gun Solvents : Sports & Outdoors[/ame]

 

[dan323]

Here are 2 videos, one stripping and one cleaning.

M&P Shield Field Strip - Disassembly and Assembly - YouTube

Gun Cleaning Tips - Cleaning the M&P Shield - YouTube

 

[KELSW]

On lubing a gun I prefer grease over oil . The rails , top of barrel and hood around the hood , barrel mouth , tiny amount on trigger parts that contact the slide . A tiny bit where parts contact on the sear . The key is minimum . YMMV .

 

[GKC]

The M&P series are very easy to field strip...you don't need to do a complete disassembly to clean your pistol, and in fact the owner's manual says not to do it. I do one step further with striker fired pistols, and that is to remove the striker and clean out the channel on occasion. That doesn't have to be done often, and in fact many never do. There are some who put the nozzle of a spray cleaner into the firing pin hole and spray it full of cleaner, let it run out, and then dry it with compressed air. I don't like doing that, but some swear by it. You might also find a gun shop that can do a sonic bath...which will completely clean the pistol.

I find the M&P pistols very easy to field strip and reassemble. 1911s are easy, too, but I am kinda paranoid about reassembling them, because I don't want to get the "idiot scratch." (That's a whole 'nuther can of worms.)

Just watch the videos on YouTube, follow them along, and you'll do fine. You can't really hurt the pistol, and it will become very easy the more you do it. Good luck!

 

[KELSW]

I try to stay with pistols I don't need a PHD to field strip and reassembly lol .

 

[bigwheelzip]

found TWB Mil-Curm Grease in syringe on Amazon- is this it?

Your link went to Brownells, though it says Amazon. Brownells does carry it, as does my earlier link to Amazon. I get the syringe and refill it from larger containers when it runs out.

Brownells Mil-com page:

MIL-COMM PRODUCTS COMPANY MIL-COMM WEAPONS GREASE | Brownells

 

[Pisgah]

This post is another excellent opportunity for me to repeat my standard advice to folks who have bought a new gun with which they are unfamiliar. It comes in 3 parts, and they are:
1. Read the manual;
2. Read the manual;
3. READ THE MANUAL!

Not meaning to demean anyone's intelligence, but I have been fooling with guns of all types for close to 60 years now, and if I bought something new tomorrow the very first thing I would do -- before cleaning, before loading, before shooting -- is READ THE MANUAL. Even if it were a 1911, of which I have owned at least a dozen through the decades -- READ THE MANUAL.

A gun is a mechanical device that must be understood to work properly; furthermore, attempts at uninformed use may not only damage the gun but injure or kill you or someone else, so -- READ THE MANUAL!

I have a dear friend who has owned and flown the same Aeronca Champ airplane for 30 years now. To say he is highly intelligent and a pilot of impeccable skills and qualifications is a gross understatement. Yet, in his spare time you will often find him -- READING THE MANUAL!

 

[Horn]

I Do Clean After Firing My Pistols

think I thanked you one post past yours-oops. may I ask, do you field strip every time you shoot?

I do give my pistols a good cleaning and lubing after firing
them. Once a month I clean them even if not fired. Why? I enjoy
it.
Now, try to have a place set aside for caring for any you have with the materials for cleaning handy.....if where you live allows.
I use Mil-Comm products but it's not the only stuff out there. You can get anything you need at Walmart.
The more you field strip your Shield the better you'll get at it. You're going to find your Shield hard to rack and set the slide stop
to hold the slide back. If you have a problem, be sure your pistol s unloaded, empty the magazine (be sure it's empty!) insert the empty mag into the pistol then rack it. Make sure the slide stop is
up and then move the mag.
The one poster suggested you get some help. Good advise. Take your empty pistol to any gun shop and ask one of the guys to instrct you. If he just demonstrates how fast he is___go to a different shop who won't just show off how great he is......
Welcome to shooting. Enjoy your knew sport.
Stay safe.
Poli Viejo

 

[GusChiggins]

Trust me, OP. I’m not super mechanically inclined and my 2.0 Compact is a breeze to field strip and clean. Turns out to be a good way for me to wind down, even.

 

[NewToGuns17]

Own a Walther CCP AND be new to guns and let me know how you feel about field stripping lol. It gets easier but being my first gin the CCP intimidated me. The m&p I own are like a gods send. Lock slide back, flip lever down, release slide (pull trigger if you don't use the deactivation lever, I personally don't use lever) and then pull slide off. Recoil spring out, barrel out, reverse to assemble.

 

[Dad_Roman]

I clean every time the gun is fired.

I prefer Slip2000 products.

I prefer grease at the high pressure lube points and oil everywhere else. (Slip2000 ExtremeWeaponsGrease)

I admit to being a bit anal about cleaning and as anyone can see from the discussion above that cleaning is very subjective to each individual.

 

[Deadeye Dick]

It can be a little intimidating at first but once you've field stripped an M&P a time or two you will see that it is actually a breeze. Learning to field strip, properly clean and reassemble any firearm you own is very beneficial. It will help keep your gun running smoothly and give you a better understanding of how they work. It allows you to spot potential issues such as worn parts before they become problems and builds your confidence.

Take my word for it there is a greater danger of you wrecking a gun thru neglect than there is in you learning to field strip it and clean it properly.

As a side .. I wipe my guns down after every use and field strip & clean them after every 500 rounds or so.