Lee in Quartzsite
Member
My M&P 45 is over 10 years old. My M&P 15 is over 20 years old. The mags in both function just fine and show no indication of weakened springs. Just sayin...
Lesson today with cleaning and lubricating
- Thread starter Lucifer
- Start date
My M&P 45 is over 10 years old. My M&P 15 is over 20 years old. The mags in both function just fine and show no indication of weakened springs. Just sayin...
The 4 year number is from the OP's remark on the last time he took the magazines apart, which would mean the springs are at least that old.
Thought mentioning the dependence on how much the OP shoots would make the connection to how many times the springs have been cycled, but I guess you didn't get it
The 4 year number is from the OP's remark on the last time he took the magazines apart, which would mean the springs are at least that old.
Thought mentioning the dependence on how much the OP shoots would make the connection to how many times the springs have been cycled, but I guess you didn't get it
For clarity and avoidance of any confusion, during the pat 4 years, I have shot only twice annually with the Shield 45. I usually only shoot 50 rounds per sessions, so I have only 400 to 500 rounds through the Shield 45.
When I took apart the Shield 45 magazines there was an excessive amount of black soot covering the INSIDE top one-third of the magazine. I suspect blow back gases from firing the Shield?
While shooting, as the follower was rising up to the last round being fired, the spring is at its weakest and contacting with the black soot, it created enough friction that the spring/follower could not push the last round up fast enough to be picked up by the slide.
After I throughly cleaned the inside of the magazine and removed all the black soot, I proceeded to fire 100 trouble free rounds; 230 grain and 185 grain.
After firing the 100 rounds, I took the magazine back apart and was amazed as to how much black soot re-appeared, so another cleaning was in order.
Bottomline what I was reporting that not cleaning the inside of the magazine regularly after shooting can/may/could result in malfunctions as I experienced.
Hope this clarifies and confusion?
The 4 year number is from the OP's remark on the last time he took the magazines apart, which would mean the springs are at least that old.
Thought mentioning the dependence on how much the OP shoots would make the connection to how many times the springs have been cycled, but I guess you didn't get it
And you would be right! I didn't get it . . . . Missed that info.
In April I used white Lithium to lubricate a 9mm semi. Around October things came to a standstill as bullets failed to feed into the barrel. Serious situation as my guns are not for decoration. Lots of gun cleaner, brushes, wipes, and yes a toothbrush. Made sure a whole clip would feed through flawlessly before I was finished.
Both of us learned a valuable lesson before it got us killed. Lithium grease does not belong on a gun unless we are preserving the weapon.
Both of us learned a valuable lesson before it got us killed. Lithium grease does not belong on a gun unless we are preserving the weapon.
Magazines need to be cleaned and lubed regularly. After cleaning with a good quality CLP, wipe clean, and use a dry lube inside the magazine body, on the spring, and follower. Dry lube will lubricate without collecting dirt, dust, gsr, etc.
Daryl Licht
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Carry guns can get pretty nasty, particularly if carried IWB. After I've carried one for a week or two it's cleared, stripped, cleaned and lubed. Be sure to clean out the holster as well. I have taken them out and shot them before cleaning all the lint and gunk off just to be sure they are going to work. The magazines are cleaned as needed after shooting. Most are not hard to take apart and get any trash or firing residue out, the biggest exception I've found to that being the Shield .45 7 rounders. Whoever designed that floorplate setup should be punched in the face repeatedly.
Was at the range one time with an old friend who had carried a LCP forever in a pocket holster. While we were there he decided that since it had not been fired in a long time that he'd give it a shot. His carry gun wouldn't fire at all. Good thing he learned that lesson at the range instead of in a dark parking lot somewhere.
Was at the range one time with an old friend who had carried a LCP forever in a pocket holster. While we were there he decided that since it had not been fired in a long time that he'd give it a shot. His carry gun wouldn't fire at all. Good thing he learned that lesson at the range instead of in a dark parking lot somewhere.
Doug M.
Member
I think it was Rob Leatham (who is far better qualified than me) who said if your gun does not work when dirty, there is something wrong with it. (Which ever competition shooter it was, he meant DIRTY; thousands of rounds between cleanings.) I'm too OCD to go that far, but it is worth knowing.
When I got my Shield, I read the owner's manual front to back before I took the pistol out of the case. These crazy engineers suggest certain things for a reason. Sometimes, the manual will shock you; for example, Wilson Combat is very insistent that their pistols not be cleaned until you have run 300-500 rounds through them. Pat Rogers (RIP) had a large number of ARs that were rarely cleaned, not more than once a year. He did that mostly for knowledge, achieving somewhere over 40K in "Filthy 14". He was very careful to use almost entirely military grade (BCM in his later years) and had no malfunctions related to dirt. Dryness? Yes. (I dd the math with him; a typical year of data involved 500,000+ rounds down range in classes.
When I got my Shield, I read the owner's manual front to back before I took the pistol out of the case. These crazy engineers suggest certain things for a reason. Sometimes, the manual will shock you; for example, Wilson Combat is very insistent that their pistols not be cleaned until you have run 300-500 rounds through them. Pat Rogers (RIP) had a large number of ARs that were rarely cleaned, not more than once a year. He did that mostly for knowledge, achieving somewhere over 40K in "Filthy 14". He was very careful to use almost entirely military grade (BCM in his later years) and had no malfunctions related to dirt. Dryness? Yes. (I dd the math with him; a typical year of data involved 500,000+ rounds down range in classes.
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If you only have the two magazines that came with the gun, you need more magazines. Vet the ones you carry, clean and load them, then use the others for practice. Go to the range on New Year's Eve and burn through your carry ammo, reload those mags and keep on truckin'. 
The black soot at the top of the mags is normal. Unless it gets really thick, it shouldn't impact the magazine's function. If it does, the fix is fresh magazine springs. I've had to replace the magazine springs in all my M&P magazines, .40 and .45, and the need became obvious when the slide failed to lock back on an empty mag - they still fed the last round. I don't have a Shield, so I can't speak to that.
The black soot at the top of the mags is normal. Unless it gets really thick, it shouldn't impact the magazine's function. If it does, the fix is fresh magazine springs. I've had to replace the magazine springs in all my M&P magazines, .40 and .45, and the need became obvious when the slide failed to lock back on an empty mag - they still fed the last round. I don't have a Shield, so I can't speak to that.
Alk8944
US Veteran
kbm6893
Member
I clean my magazines after every range session, without fail. I do not use grease or oil in them. I used to (like 30 years ago) spritz the springs with a dry lube. Never gave me a problem but don't do it anymore. Even though I have many mags, I generally only take 2 to the range. Less to clean that way.
I use grease in the slide rails. Just a tiny dab and then rack the slide to spread it around. Never have me a problem.
I don't shoot my striker fired guns much, although I do carry them. They've always worked. Range time has seriously come down in the last year or so. So fed up with ammo price and reloading components availability that I hesitate to shoot what I have so my .22's have been getting some more range time.
Striker channels should be clean and dry. Same for firing pin channel on hammer fired guns. I generally blast into the firing pin hole with non chlorinated brake cleaner and then blast compressed air into the firing pin hole. Lots of sludge comes out from where the extractor is. Gotta be careful cleaning the area around the firing pin hole so no solvent drips in there. Always hold the slide muzzle down so gravity helps keep it away. I also use the brake cleaner on the slide. Removes all lubricant and grease so I can apply a fresh amount. When I buy a used 3rd gen, I always change out the firing pin spring and I've seen some real gunk in that channel.
I use grease in the slide rails. Just a tiny dab and then rack the slide to spread it around. Never have me a problem.
I don't shoot my striker fired guns much, although I do carry them. They've always worked. Range time has seriously come down in the last year or so. So fed up with ammo price and reloading components availability that I hesitate to shoot what I have so my .22's have been getting some more range time.
Striker channels should be clean and dry. Same for firing pin channel on hammer fired guns. I generally blast into the firing pin hole with non chlorinated brake cleaner and then blast compressed air into the firing pin hole. Lots of sludge comes out from where the extractor is. Gotta be careful cleaning the area around the firing pin hole so no solvent drips in there. Always hold the slide muzzle down so gravity helps keep it away. I also use the brake cleaner on the slide. Removes all lubricant and grease so I can apply a fresh amount. When I buy a used 3rd gen, I always change out the firing pin spring and I've seen some real gunk in that channel.
gwpercle
Member
Who would have thought it ...
My Dad ... after every outing ...even if I didn't fire a shot ...my gun got cleaned and lubed ... then we could eat supper and then we could go to bed ...
That Old Man had some old tired saying about "Cleanliness being next to Godliness " I was thinking that I bet the Lord didn't have to clean and lube his gun ... but I knew better than to say that ... my smart mouth had gotten me in trouble before and I didn't want him to send me to bed without Supper !
Kinda glad he taught me to clean & lube after every outing ... keeps all my firearms in tip top shape and good working order ... Thanks Dad !
Gary
My Dad ... after every outing ...even if I didn't fire a shot ...my gun got cleaned and lubed ... then we could eat supper and then we could go to bed ...
That Old Man had some old tired saying about "Cleanliness being next to Godliness " I was thinking that I bet the Lord didn't have to clean and lube his gun ... but I knew better than to say that ... my smart mouth had gotten me in trouble before and I didn't want him to send me to bed without Supper !
Kinda glad he taught me to clean & lube after every outing ... keeps all my firearms in tip top shape and good working order ... Thanks Dad !
Gary
neorebel
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I wipe my firing pin assembly with a wipe down rag. So, it has a VERY light amount of lube on it.
Wherever metal touches metal I use Lubriplate 105. It does not freeze and I used it on all of my duty weapons, they all functioned perfectly in our cold Missouri winters.
You might give it a try.
Wherever metal touches metal I use Lubriplate 105. It does not freeze and I used it on all of my duty weapons, they all functioned perfectly in our cold Missouri winters.
You might give it a try.
GEEZ......I've got magazines with original springs that are 40 years old and still work perfectly. So I don't agree with you.
Doug M.
Member
WSP had problems with strikers sticking. I can't recall the details, but a
friend of mine was an armorer for them and gotten assigned to do nothing
but address that issue for a couple of months.
friend of mine was an armorer for them and gotten assigned to do nothing
but address that issue for a couple of months.
Lee in Quartzsite
Member
Same here only the oldest is 22 years old. I've got AR mags that have been loaded for 10 years that still function fine.
Okay, what am I missing. I have been told that you never, never, never ever put any lube in a magazine, PERIOD. I have never ever put any lube in any of my mags. I shoot hundreds of rounds every year through my duty gun ( probably close to 1k). I wipe down the mags and sometimes I will pull them apart to WIPE down the inside but, never put any kind of lube.
Where are you people learning to put any kind of lube inside a mag. Wow, just stunned. I use lithium grease on my AR but, not any pistols or revolvers. Either Ballistol or Frog Lube with a Q-tip and sparingly. If it shines I put a small amount of lube on it. In 22+ years of duty, I have never had a FTF (feed or fire) due to a dirty firearm. Actually not 100% true, when doing a combat load my 1911 mags fell into the dirt and gummed up my 1911 after many rounds of shooting. Aside from that, no problems.
Where are you people learning to put any kind of lube inside a mag. Wow, just stunned. I use lithium grease on my AR but, not any pistols or revolvers. Either Ballistol or Frog Lube with a Q-tip and sparingly. If it shines I put a small amount of lube on it. In 22+ years of duty, I have never had a FTF (feed or fire) due to a dirty firearm. Actually not 100% true, when doing a combat load my 1911 mags fell into the dirt and gummed up my 1911 after many rounds of shooting. Aside from that, no problems.
Lock n' Load
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My new Sig P365 380 owner's manual recommended a light coat of CLP on the mag springs and exterior of the mag but none on the inside of the mag or follower, then let both dry and give them a gentle wipe to remove excess. This is the first such suggestion in a manual for any other pistol I own but thought I'd try it. After 700 rounds fired, no failures of any kind so far. I clean and lube after every range trip, no matter how many rounds fired as my Dad ingrained in me. I also inspect and touch up all my firearms (if needed) monthly when not shot. Haven't yet seen any serious gunk build up in the mags or on the springs that won't come off with just a good wipe down. I'm keeping a close eye on it though.
Over the past 4 years I've watched 100s of videos on cleaning and lubrication, firearm training, instruction, and just about all aspects of firearm use for defense.
I watched a video recently with a man stating he was about to complete firing 1,500 rounds through his new pistol. What was somewhat disturbing to me is he bragged about NOT ever cleaning or lubricating the handgun.
He also was needlessly dropping $50 empty magazines on the concrete floor he was standing on.
What is the objective or purpose to fire 1,500 rounds through a self-defense conceal carry type handgun and NOT clean or lubricate the gun?
I watched a video recently with a man stating he was about to complete firing 1,500 rounds through his new pistol. What was somewhat disturbing to me is he bragged about NOT ever cleaning or lubricating the handgun.
He also was needlessly dropping $50 empty magazines on the concrete floor he was standing on.
What is the objective or purpose to fire 1,500 rounds through a self-defense conceal carry type handgun and NOT clean or lubricate the gun?
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