To field strip Buckmark or no?

[Mr. Blue]

First 2,000 rounds or so, gun ran very well. Malfunctioned 5 rounds out of 100. I was happy with the gun but not thrilled with the malfunctions. Then at around 4000 rounds things got real bad and I was seeing 2 or 3 malfunctions every other magazine.
After watching reputable take down videos on the buck mark, I decided to take mine apart for a decent cleaning @4500 rounds. In the process a piece broke and I had to go to a store to replace it. Not a big deal, cost was $4.
After extensive cleaning, malfunctions remained. I sent it to browning and just got it back. I put roughly 1000 rounds through it with different ammo to see if the problem was still there. I had one malfunction in 890 rounds! 9 light primer strikes but all form the same federal ammo. So maybe the ammo?

Question: Would you recommend that I keep learning how to take it apart and clean it? How often? Do you know how to take them apart and still prefer to not really do it? Even after thousands of rounds? If I run into similar malfunctions, should I always send it back to browning? I know every one of you will have different opinions of what to do here, but I really want to hear from those that have owned buck marks for years and have had success running their pistols w/o malfunctions or more importantly, encountering malfunctions like I did, only to find a seemingly permanent resolution. Thanks!

[Raiderh20boy]

I run the snake through both mine and wife's Buckmarks after each Range session which consists of about 150 rds each. I break them down completely at 5-600 rds. for a good cleaning and have not had any issues that I feel were not related to types of ammo used. Probably over kill on the cleaning but worth it to me. Wild guess is probably over 20,000 rounds each and still on original parts.

[JagerDog]

What did you break that you could buy local at a "store" for $4?

[DArBad]

OP, I have a different opinion. Take out the barrel, scrub that bore from the breach end using the appropriate cleaning rod and brush. While you are at it, clean the breach end of the barrel thoroughly.

Squirt copious amount of your favorite cleaning solution before scrubbing. I don't know what makes people afraid to take out the Buck Mark barrel and cleaning it from the breach end, the way cleaning a barrel ought to be. It is not a revolver.

And since it is a 22 LR, clean it at least every 3-400 rounds. That's how I would do it. Others may have their own cleaning regimen. I am not a fan of bore snake, preferring instead the old fashion way of cleaning. And yes........I am OLD.

[Mr. Blue]

What did you break that you could buy local at a "store" for $4?

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004221716

[Mr. Blue]

Sound advice guys, I’m going to continue to take it down. Aside form the grips, I think that will be a whole other venture. As far as taking the barrel out to clean that, what would be the reason not to? A bore snake working just as well? I’ve had a lot of success with bore snakes, after running it through a few times I cannot find a blemish that makes it look used. Now deep cleaning the breach end makes sense as that often looks pretty grimy.

[JoyfulJoker]

I strip it and clean it every couple hundred rounds. No problems. 22lr is very dirty.

[newbie1234]

22LR is very filthy ammo, after around 200/300 rds I run a snake thru the barrel and wipe clean the tiny FEED RAM, using a piece cleaning path and a short wood chopstick or whatever works . Field strip and clean after every range trip, around 300-500 rds. Because I field strip regularly I did not remove the barrel, I keep the barrel on the frame and clean it.

[Robert1234]

If it's Federal American Eagle .22, try CCI Blazer ammo.

I've never seen any ammo, in my eight or so rimfires and a bunch of friends guns not fire more than Federal. Small sample, but it's these guns work on any other ammo without issue.

[Wordupmybrotha]

Am I reading this correctly? Cleaned at 4500 rounds, sent it to Browning, got it back, and it's been another 1000 rounds and you haven't cleaned it?

I usually clean mine after 2-3 range trips. I shoot about 100 rounds of rimfire per trip.

I rarely took apart the barrel; just used bore snake, which clened it just fine.

[stevebla]

Replace extractor with aftermarket can help with reliability. Keep the screws tight in front of and behind rear sight.

[Mr. Blue]

Am I reading this correctly? Cleaned at 4500 rounds, sent it to Browning, got it back, and it's been another 1000 rounds and you haven't cleaned it?

I usually clean mine after 2-3 range trips. I shoot about 100 rounds of rimfire per trip.

I rarely took apart the barrel; just used bore snake, which clened it just fine.

[Mr. Blue]

If it's Federal American Eagle .22, try CCI Blazer ammo.

I've never seen any ammo, in my eight or so rimfires and a bunch of friends guns not fire more than Federal. Small sample, but it's these guns work on any other ammo without issue.

[Mr. Blue]

Replace extractor with aftermarket can help with reliability. Keep the screws tight in front of and behind rear sight.

Thanks!

[Wordupmybrotha]

Sorry, maybe I didn’t explain myself correctly. I cleaned the gun at least every 500 rounds. Typically every 200. I took it apart and did a deep clean after there were malfunctions. Browning says not to even take the thing apart. It then got sent to browning and came back working well. I did 890 rounds in two days. Cleaned in between. I meticulously clean my guns. Cleaning is not the issue here. Its whether or not I should be taking it apart to do so. As the manual says not to. I have no idea how you can only shoot 100 rounds per trip, I enjoy shooting the gun a lot.

I see.
Here's an excerpt from a Glock manual to illustrate my point. The manual says not to disassemble beyond taking off the barrel and the recoil spring. Further disassembly should be done by a certified Glock armorer.
Disassembling the slide is easy peasy. I would be embarrassed to ask a Glock armorer to remove the extractor for me so I can clean it.

They probably said not to disassemble your pistol further to cover their butt, I don't know why.