Help a new 1911 owner with cleaning tips and products please!

[SDmtnbkr]

Hi all... So the only experience I have cleaning a pistol was my Beretta service M9 that was obviously well worn in and had no concern with taking care of the cosmetics of the gun. I also had no say in what we used to clean it... gov issued CLP and brushes were the norm. And we cleaned them every other day because the sand in Iraq gets everywhere.

Now I just bought a brand new 1911 and would really love some helpful tips!!

- Should I be cleaning it after every range trip? Or is that damaging to the gun?
- Should i be using a wire brush to get all the carbon out or is the plastic bristle brush enough?
- Should I be using the bore brush that comes in the case or is there better ones I can buy?
- What type of gun cleaner and gun oil do you use?
- I just bought a $15 Gun Slick kit at my dealer, is that ok, or is there a better kit?
- Anything specific about this gun that I should know about?? It's a SA TRP.

I've been watching the **** out or youtube vids, but would love to have a discussion on it to get better feed back.

Thanks for any help!!

[P Funk]

Nice!
That TRP is a deep dive into the world of the 1911.

Do a quick search on 1911 idiot mark/scratch. You'll be happy you did (and so will your TRP).

[peacedivision]

50 people will give you 50 answers to this one hehe.

What I use.

Otis cleaning kit
Brass brush
Nylon brush
Hoppes 9
Gunscrubber
Remoil
Hoppes precision oil
Boresnakes

[SoCalSig1911]

Nice 1911 you bought there!! I have had a Sig 1911 GSR for about 7 years now and I have used various types of cleaning kits and oils, cleaners, etc.. I would say the best combo is Mpro7 gun oil for the moving parts/springs, except for the slide rails, on that i use slide glide lite. With that combo the gun will operate smooth as butter. I would say get an Otis .45 cleaning kit and those 2 products for oiling. For cleaning before oiling i use a brass brush dipped in some Hoppes 9 to remove any buildup in the barrel and then wipe it clean and then apply the lubricants. I personally clean my guns after each range trip because i like a nice clean gun in the safe and i know it will operate as it needs to when I need it to work. You wont be doing any damage to the gun by keeping it clean, just don't overdo the inside of the barrel IMO.

[skosh69]

50 people will give you 50 answers to this one hehe.

What I use.

Otis cleaning kit
Brass brush
Nylon brush
Hoppes 9
Gunscrubber
Remoil
Hoppes precision oil
Boresnakes

+1....to all of what he said!

[windsheer]

Clp works good to for cleaning. Watch a video on how to take out the trigger. Which is the last part to come out of the frame, thus a complete detail strip minus the sights. I clean up the internals about every 2000 rounds of range work or less if I shoot outdoors in the dirt. If it's windy dusty and I get coated I will take out the trigger so to speak. Hppes 9 is great for cleaning a gun with no chrome. I use moble one to lube things up on all my stuff. Wath Dave Severns you tube videos on how these are hand fitted and his comparisons from one gun to the next from the inside out. I take of the slide and clean up everything the best I can after 300 rounds or less.
So now that you have one what are the next 5 that intrest you. ?

I want a springfield pro /rail, a stainless no rail TRP a Less Baer thunder ranch. A nighthawk comander size with a bob. And a Wilson combat CQB with a rail.

[razr]

Mpro7 products for cleaning, safe but expensive. Or hoppes 9 solvent.
Also look at Lubri-kit, one of the best oil and greases out there. I have used many and got good results with this one.
Nylon brush, get a bore snake and use it after every range trip 100-200 rounds fired. Field strip every 500 or so.
Dont clean your gun like youre gonna eat with it.

[ZX-10R]

IF you use it regularly you will get marks...Don't worry about it. I don't plan on selling anything soon.

[tacticalcity]

My cleaning kit includes the following and only the following.

1. Boresnake.
2. Wilson Combat Bushing Wrench for breaking down a 1911 with ease.
3. Toothbrush
4. Soft Cotton Rag
5. Giant bottle of Cleansoil (All in one cleaner that works great. I literally would not let anything else touch my guns. I love it that much).

I clean my guns thoroughly after every range trip whether they need it or not, and it do so with ease. You would be hard pressed to find somebody who takes as good a care of the guns when they get them home, yet trains with them so hard it almost counts as abuse on the range. They might be beat to hell, and have massive round counts...but they are all clean, oiled and run flawlessly. And considering how much abuse they see, the Cleansoil keeps them looking like new.

Youtube.com is your friend for learning how to break it down and put it back together without damaging it. A scratched slide from holster wear is fine, idiot marks are not so acceptable. Because they are avoidable with knowledge and care.

Haven't tried this guy's method but it looks like it would work. At the very least it explains what an idiot mark is, and what causes it.

[Brandon04GT]

CLP, Borefoam and WC Ultima-Lube are all the fluids I use on my guns.

[Spdjunkie]

Now I just bought a brand new 1911 and would really love some helpful tips!!

- Should I be cleaning it after every range trip? Or is that damaging to the gun?

* Yes & No
- Yes, you should give it a wipe down and clean the grit leftover from fired rounds. Yes, As it gives you time to make sure the weapon is properly oiled & functioning for your next trip or storing or HD. Usually why most clean/lube at the same time, goes hand in hand.

No, Leaving it for short periods of time between cleaning will do nothing = Of course this is round/environment dependent. Not as common these days, but just dont use corrosive crap & stick to factory loads or your own. Carbon is the killer for function/accuracy. Mix All that Carbon with Oil/Grease and its No Go. With any auto firearm make sure the ejector is clean and free of build up/crap.

The Yes & No: Cleaning will not damage your firearm "IF" done properly. You can do more damage by improperly cleaning than any wear induced from normal firing. Mainly, the Barrel Crown: Dont Pull that Hard Brush Back over the Crown: Goes out the same way the bullet does & not back. You might not see the damage the first, second, etc. time, but repeated brush abuse will damage/wear down a properly cut crown.

- Should i be using a wire brush to get all the carbon out or is the plastic bristle brush enough?

IMHO: "Wet" BRASS Brush; NO-Steel. "Dry" Nylon can damage steel as well over time: example-Fishline. Perfer BRASS

- Should I be using the bore brush that comes in the case or is there better ones I can buy?

- Boresnake for the Range
- Dewey with BRASS Jags/Brush for Detailed Cleanings

Also, Q-Tips A LOT of Them


- What type of gun cleaner and gun oil do you use?

Oil for most areas:
- FP10
- Slip2000 EWL

Grease/Lube for the Slides:
- Slide Glide
- Mobile 1 Syn. Grease Mixed Down with FP10

Carbon:
- MPro7 [Prefer]
- Hoppes 9

- I just bought a $15 Gun Slick kit at my dealer, is that ok, or is there a better kit?

- Never had one, so: N?A

- Anything specific about this gun that I should know about?? It's a SA TRP.

* Pick Up some Quality Magazines with Extended Base-plates to use with the Factory Mag Well.

- Wilson Combat 47D
- Tripp Research 8R-45-RG

Recoil Spring:
- Make sure to change these out periodically or based on round count
- Std. Recoil Spring Weight: 16 lbs.
- +P: 18-18.5 lbs.

^ fwiw/.02: I stick with NON+P with any 1911, personal preference. Reason: I train/shoot NON+P, so anything Defense matches. No need to swap between range mode and defense mode.

I've been watching the **** out or youtube vids, but would love to have a discussion on it to get better feed back.

^ Look up 1911 "Idiot Mark"
- If you are handy with a Needle File, you can make a relief in the Slide Stop for the plunger pin. Basically guides the pin back on a ramp so the Slide Stop Pushes Straight Down. Makes life easier, but more a luxury than a necessity.

Thanks for any help!!

ANYTHING Above is IMHO/.02

btw: CONGRATS on a Fine 1911 ! Enjoy !

[SDmtnbkr]

Thanks for this input everyone! I've heard it's best to field strip it right when i take it home because the manufacture will load it with grease..... is that true?

[Spdjunkie]

Thanks for this input everyone! I've heard it's best to field strip it right when i take it home because the manufacture will load it with grease..... is that true?

^ I would, you never know what it has or doesn't have.

[SDmtnbkr]

^ I would, you never know what it has or doesn't have.

Thanks! All your input has been great!

A scratched slide from holster wear is fine, idiot marks are not so acceptable. Because they are avoidable with knowledge and care.

Haven't tried this guy's method but it looks like it would work. At the very least it explains what an idiot mark is, and what causes it.

I've heard about this, thanks for helping understand what it is! I will def take care not to do anything that will damage my gun!

Dont clean your gun like youre gonna eat with it.

Great advice, thanks!

[Spdjunkie]

A scratched slide from holster wear is fine, idiot marks are not so acceptable. Because they are avoidable with knowledge and care.

^ Agree,

* Wear from Use: Fine, Wear from Abuse: Fail