First Cleaning 1911

[keystoneman 85]

Hey guys,

Just picked up my RIA Tactical and the thing has been bathed in cosmoline/grease. It's pretty funky. Whats my best approach at cleaning this thing prior to my first range trip?

My guess is ...

1) Field strip
2) Remove grips
3) Spray it down good with GunScrubber
4) Wipe out as much junk as I can and repeat 3 if necessary.
5) Lube with Break-Free CLP lightly everywhere and a little more so where the manual says to.
6) Reassemble
7) Wipe down with silicon cloth.

Missing anything or anything I should pay close attention to? I can say by far this is the dirtiest pistol I've ever received, I guess since most of my pistols are PLASTIC.

[ByAnyMeans]

What you described sounds like a solid cleanign prodecure for a new gun soaked in grease. Thne run it through it's paces at the range and see if anymore cleaning is necessary.

[Pointman73]

Second on that, good job buddy. I recommend dry lubes such as MD Labs XF-7 or Sentry Solutions. There are a few others that are high quality also. How about a range report?

[keystoneman 85]

Second on that, good job buddy. I recommend dry lubes such as MD Labs XF-7 or Sentry Solutions. There are a few others that are high quality also. How about a range report?

Can do. I hope to get out this weekend but with my busy schedule we will see. I should mention this is my first 1911 so I'm sure the field strip will take a few moments to get the hang of. Because nothing's as easy as my Glocks!

[PaBimmerGuy]

id detail strip it because it may have all sorts of gun in the mainspring housing.

i put all the parts in a tupperware box and fill it with varsol. let it soak and then take the parts out let them dry and then lube everything.

[harold63]

You can save a ton of money by pre-soaking with mineral spirits and using the gun scrubber to blow off all of the loosened grease and debris. Also, a large can of Prestone brake cleaner is cheaper than a regular size can of gun scrubber, at Wal Mart. They are basically the same thing. Been using the brake cleaner for years and my guns all look and function as new.

[keystoneman 85]

I got the gun all cleaned and lubed up. My first impressions on the gun are good, the sights are nice, the trigger is sweet, and it just feels great in my hand. The case it comes in leaves something to be desired but thats not a big deal, also the ACT mag it comes with is a piece of junk it doesn't drop free, it requires some help. Glad I got some Springfield magazines, these drop free and feel fantastic we'll see how they feed.

Field stripping the gun was easy and straight forward even for being a first timer. I believe I even got away without an idiot scratch.

Not the guns fault but on the downside is the fact that my VZ grips did not come with the ambi cut that I requested so I have an email in to VZ to see if I can get that corrected. (I know I could probably file the side down, but I'd rather not)

Pending a range session I have to say I love this gun. Hopefully it pleases me on the range as well.

Here are a few pics.













Side note: When I showed my wife the new purchase she commented: "That gun's not sexy, it looks more ... industrial!"

[pksea]

Did that Coor's Light have anything to do with the cleaning of the piece?

[keystoneman 85]

Did that Coor's Light have anything to do with the cleaning of the piece?

It feels weird to stand behind my bar and not have a beer.

[NorthphillyHu$tla]

nah mayne my glock nicer