DeepSouth
Random Guy
I had a experience recently that makes me rethink my cleaning process. Normally I just pull the slide, remove the barrel and recoil spring assembly, then blast every with gun cleaner wiping clean and using a toothbrush for cracks and such. Then clean the bore, relube everything, reassemble and finally step outside and fire a mag or two just to check function after reassembly, then in the holster she goes. (Yes that means I carry a "dirty" gun. And no, it doesn't bother me)
Recently when I went to preform the last steep....."fire a mag or two just to check function after reassembly"..... and I had 2 light strikes that did not fire. After repeating the cleaning, giving special attn to cleaning the striker and channel, I reassembled and gave her a few dry fires. At this point I heard a very weak firing snap...every time I dry fired. I kept trying to figure out what was going on and I finally saw a very small piece of red plastic in the firing pin hole. If you look at a dime the plastic was about the same size of Roosevelt's ear, like I said very small. I actually took a pic to prove how small it was.
So for the first time since I bought the gun (a KAHR PM45) I completely disassembled it to get the plastic out. Then I cleaned it all up and reassembled, re-lubed, and then she went back 100% reliable, of course. Before this I had never done more than a "field strip" cleaning to my carry guns, and I have felt this was sufficient until now. It even said in the owners manual to this particular gun, disassembling the slide could void the warranty.
I am just wondering how often do most of you detail strip and clean your carry gun? I mean completely disassembling and cleaning. To realize that a piece of plastic that size could potentially cost me or my family a life just puts a new light on things I guess.
BTW: I have absolutely no idea where the piece of plastic came from. Like I said I have never disassembled the slide. The gun has been to C&S and more recently to Mag-Na-Port, but it's hard for me to think they are responsible. I do pocket carry, but something would have to try very hard to get inside the striker channel. I just have no idea where it came from.
.
Recently when I went to preform the last steep....."fire a mag or two just to check function after reassembly"..... and I had 2 light strikes that did not fire. After repeating the cleaning, giving special attn to cleaning the striker and channel, I reassembled and gave her a few dry fires. At this point I heard a very weak firing snap...every time I dry fired. I kept trying to figure out what was going on and I finally saw a very small piece of red plastic in the firing pin hole. If you look at a dime the plastic was about the same size of Roosevelt's ear, like I said very small. I actually took a pic to prove how small it was.
So for the first time since I bought the gun (a KAHR PM45) I completely disassembled it to get the plastic out. Then I cleaned it all up and reassembled, re-lubed, and then she went back 100% reliable, of course. Before this I had never done more than a "field strip" cleaning to my carry guns, and I have felt this was sufficient until now. It even said in the owners manual to this particular gun, disassembling the slide could void the warranty.
I am just wondering how often do most of you detail strip and clean your carry gun? I mean completely disassembling and cleaning. To realize that a piece of plastic that size could potentially cost me or my family a life just puts a new light on things I guess.
BTW: I have absolutely no idea where the piece of plastic came from. Like I said I have never disassembled the slide. The gun has been to C&S and more recently to Mag-Na-Port, but it's hard for me to think they are responsible. I do pocket carry, but something would have to try very hard to get inside the striker channel. I just have no idea where it came from.
.