How important is your knowledge of the piece's mechanics.?

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P95Carry

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I guess part of this hinges on how fastidious you are/mean to be ... regarding cleaning and maintainance.

I know a few guys who I think couldn't care squat what the piece's internals are like!! They just shoot.!

Me? I want an ''exploded'' of every piece I have (ideally) ...... the better to understand the workings and ...... to enable easier cleaning and take down.

My issue of DBI ''Exploded Firearms Drawings'' is way outa date - 3rd edition .... approx 1982 I think .... must get me a new one.!!! Is there one available??
 
I'm with you on wanting to know what goes on inside the weapon. If I know how the parts interact, and what they are supposed to look like, then I should be able to spot something wrong before it becomes something big enough to stop function. Not always, but sometimes.

Having said all that mouthful, I have to admit that I just plain enjoy tearing things apart and fixing them. I'm one of those kids who took the lawn mower apart, the radio and darned near everything else I could get my hands on as a child. The problem was getting them back together again! Drove my dad crazy, but I have gotten better at it over the years:)

Took high school autoshop and got a two year degree in automotive/diesel mechanics, also took some courses in machine shop and worked the field for a while. I work on my own vehicles for basic maintenence, and the same around the house. Used to make extra money on the weekends from people at work doing tuneups and brake jobs in my driveway.
 
If the worst happens and I get a failure in mid-fight, I want a blueprint and diagnostics flashing through my brain in an *instant*. While heading for cover. At a dive.

I have the sort of mind that can take, fr'instance, a particular car or bike engine that I've wrenched on and build a scale 3D image of it in operation in my head. Really good "internal graphics processing". Downside: I'm *terrible* with mental math.

Anyways. I want to be able to do that for any gun I own, instantly.
 
How DO guns work anyway?! :D Actually, I have an exploded diagram of a CZ75B (my first gun) framed and hanging on the wall next to me right now. I just think that it looks cool though, don't quizz me! With my head for these things, I feel lucky that I can clean all my guns! :D
 
Great topic!!!!

Somewhere,,and it's up to each person I guess to find that spot,,is that spot between:

- Blissfully unaware and content to do your own thing.

- Being the one NOT tugging at your cheek making noise when the lights go on.
 
The mechanics are one of the things that attracts me to firearms. I think that's why I prefer auto-loaders. I'm the kind of guy who reads the manual cover to cover whenever I buy something. If that doesn't have enough info I'll go looking for more.
 
Like Jim...
I can usually draw the internals in my head before I am comfortable with it.

Whether gun, plane, auto, bike or whatever.

I started taking things apart at an early age...
First project was my crib.

Sam
 
My preference is to have as much information about the gun as possible. Original manuals, expanded drawings, parts lists and a list of information other shooters have acquired. I hate spending time trying to do some modification only to find out someone else has already worked out how to do it or has done it and found out it sucks.

I also like to get as much info about the firearm's history as possible. Especially given that I like old guns to start with. If I hadn't acquired a C&R years ago, I'd probably have enough money to retire now.
 
I like to know what's inside and how they work. I've taken most all of my guns apart (and once you've done a dozen different types, you learn the principles by which they are held together and operate).
 
I inherited being mechanical inclined and a curious nature. not a good combo for a 2 y/o whom finds the tool kit for grandmother's pedal driven Singer Sewing machine. :D I will never live that story down. If a child is quiet...child is into something. That was me.

Yes I want to know how my guns work. As others have stated I can picture in my mind what is going on. I still have a lot to learn, and I'm still curious.
 
Knowing things like how a magazine safety works, which way the cylinder in a revolver turns, or whether or not you can second strike a stubborn primer can be very useful.

Also, having a basic knowledge of the internals can help you rapidly determine if a malfunction is minor (can be dealt with in a hurry on the spot) or is going to require major attention (which means you had better run like the wind.)
 
I like the mechanical aspects of firearms. I enjoy taking them apart (putting them back together can be a challenge on my temper though!) and seeing how the parts interact.

I also love the simplisity of revolvers and bolt action rifles. Very elegant machines.

It reminds me of those traps Wild E Coyote would build:

Let's see, I press this. That releases this. That rotates this, which releases this, which slides here, which cause this to hit that....
 
I'm the "exploded diagram" type, too.

For me, it's a cleaning issue. Gun manufacturers never recommend any more than a field strip for cleaning (which IS what I do most of the time), but 3-4 times per year I break 'em down completely.

It absolutely amazes me how much crud I get out of my guns when I do this. Most of those parts weren't designed to be a sooty black color, you know! :p

Cheers,
ChickenHawk
 
I guess I am an exception to the trend

I've been shooting over 40 years now and really do not care about the technical "innards" of my guns-other than they work when needed. So far that's worked just fine for me. I work hard to make suere my guns are clean and "spiffy" but, if my gun needs work I take it to a really competent gunsmith. Good shooting;)
 
Well, - you know 'Zen and the Art of Firearm Maintenance' and all - the first thing I did when I got my first 1911 was to buy the best Gunsmithing manual I could (and the DVD) and started to tear it apart. I don't ever expect to actually do any difficult work on my gun ........I leave that to the experts....but, I think it's a good feeling to know how your gun works - that if it doesn't for any reason...you have at least some idea why.

Besides, its FUN
:)
 
It reminds me of those traps Wild E Coyote would build
Click to expand...
Although Wile E. Coyote is my namesake and hero, I would never purchase a gun from the Acme Little Giant Company of Walla Walla Washinton. :D

But to return to the topic at hand, even though my Para LDA has been great, if my department allowed single actions I would certainly carry a simpler gun.
 
I know enough to...

For HG's......field strip, and do some minor mods (grips, springs, etc.).

For LG's...I did replace the FCG in my SAR-1, which I enjoyed...no more trigger slap. I am competent enough to do my own base and optics installations (without drilling and tapping) and have improved my bore-sighting skills so that it's usually no more than 3 or 4 shots to zero.

I'm happy to leave the more complex stuff to the pro's...gives them a much needed source of revenue.

CZ52'
 
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