No machine was designed to be truly maintenance-free. Maintaining the M1911 is crucial to ensuring its longevity, reliability, and optimal performance. Regular maintenance helps prevent malfunctions, extends the life of the firearm, and ensures safe use. If your M1911 is a self-defense tool, then investing in routine maintenance is crucial to ensuring reliability. Here’s a basic guide on the best practices for maintaining the M1911.
The first step is getting to know the M1911. Not only do you want to know the nomenclature, but how it operates (see previous article for details). Field stripping is the process of disassembly, reassembly, and function checking for cleaning and inspection. Safety is paramount, so before you attempt to disassemble any firearm, ensure the firearm is unloaded and double-check your work. Once the firearm has been unloaded, it is safe to handle. Remove the slide stop by pressing the slide back to align the slide stop with the disassembly notch on the slide. Push the slide, stop the pin from right to left, and remove it. Separate the slide by pushing the slide forward off the frame. Continue to disassemble the slide by removing the recoil spring and guide rod plug. Finally, remove the barrel bushing and barrel from the slide.
Cleaning any firearm is a necessary task to ensure reliability, but cleaning is really to inspect for worn or broken parts. I start by cleaning the barrel, then move to the slide and small parts, and then finish with the frame. I use a cleaning agent with a small brush, and a terrible secret I like to share is I use good ole fashion, Simple Green. It works great and is easy to find almost anywhere. What I’m really doing is removing built-up carbon, dirt, and debris to more closely examine. Once I’m satisfied with my cleaning, I will apply a thin coat of good lubricant to all the moving parts. Reassemble in reverse order, then function check to ensure correct reassembly. It’s easy to get dragged into the weeds on this subject with your favorite cleaner, lubricant, and method. What’s important is routine cleaning, either at a certain round count or after every firing. I’ve strayed from cleaning after every firing, but I will reapply the lubricant regularly.
When it comes to inspection, I’m looking for excessive signs of wear and tear. Key areas are all the parts you disassembled. Start with the barrel and bushing. I next inspect the slide and frame rails for wear and cracks that could require more serious work or retirement. Probably the best thing you can do to ensure reliability is to replace the recoil spring every 3,000-5,000 rounds. This will ensure the correct spring tension to ensure proper cycling.
By following these maintenance tips and best practices, you can ensure your M1911 remains in top condition, providing reliable performance and longevity. Regular maintenance not only keeps your firearm functioning smoothly but also enhances safety and extends its service life.