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Old 01-27-2012, 02:54 PM   #1
Mosin_Nagant_Fan
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Default Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

I know that the 1911's ruggedness and complexity gives it its reputation as a reliable and tough firearm, but how long does it take you to break it down, clean and reassemble? Just curious because I might get one in a couple months, depending on any dire straits that might happen between now and then.

It takes me about 1-3 minutes to detail clean my XD9, 2 hours to clean my PC, 3 hours to clean a 30 year old game console and 1 hour and a box of band-aids to clean my dog.
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Old 01-27-2012, 09:21 PM   #2
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

Never timed it but I'd say about a minute to field strip it, 4-5 minutes to clean it well, another minute to reassemble it. Not long.
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Old 01-28-2012, 01:01 AM   #3
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

I'd say I have it naked and bathed in less than 8-10 minutes.
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Old 01-28-2012, 06:52 AM   #4
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

A bit longer for me. I'd say 30 minutes is typical, but I rather enjoy the process so I'm not rushed.
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Old 01-28-2012, 07:47 AM   #5
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

About ten minutes. Never timed it.
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Old 01-28-2012, 09:50 AM   #6
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

I'd say about 10 minutes if I just do a quick cleaning. Especially since I tore out that stupid 2-piece guide rod and put in the standard short one with the solid plug. Goes much quicker.

Then I just oil it up and put it all back together.
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Old 01-28-2012, 12:12 PM   #7
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

You mean you have to clean them? Oh no. I guess I will have to look into that. Learn something new every day!
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Old 01-28-2012, 12:25 PM   #8
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

DD, if you don't get out and shoot them you don't have to clean them. I am using the winter weather as an excuse. But when I do clean them it is just seconds to disassemble or reassemble but it depends on how fanatical I get when I am cleaning, could spend half an hour messing around some times.
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Old 01-28-2012, 12:29 PM   #9
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

Spending time with old friends is always more fun. Cleaning my 1911's is akin to fishing with an old pal or drinking a tot on the back porch while you tell Sea Stories. Don't buy one unless you want to spend that sort of time with it.
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Old 01-28-2012, 02:26 PM   #10
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

As above, I can easily push through it in less than 10 min. But, I find cleaning to be part of the overall shooting experience and like to take my time when possible.
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Old 01-28-2012, 02:36 PM   #11
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

I'm sure I could get it done in under 10 minutes, but I'm one of those that take my time with most things. Probably less than 30 minutes, never checked how long I spend at it. There's only 40 something parts to the whole gun, and you don't break it down that far to just clean it up after a trip to the range.
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Old 01-29-2012, 11:27 AM   #12
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

Well more than 10 min. but less than 30 min. All depends on how many rounds I shot that day.
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Old 02-09-2012, 09:07 PM   #13
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

Sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes more -- then there are the times when I start swapping grips, and slide stops, and bushings, and ...
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Old 02-27-2012, 04:07 PM   #14
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

Few minutes, well under 10, if done right after I get back from range and I'm not distracted by TV.
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Old 02-27-2012, 06:44 PM   #15
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

20 to 30 here for most anything.
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Old 02-27-2012, 08:41 PM   #16
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

after 100 rounds, about 30 minutes to strip, clean,and reassemble plus admire my work. this includes removing firing pin and extractor.
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Old 02-27-2012, 08:54 PM   #17
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

Quote:
Originally Posted by garydude View Post
A bit longer for me. I'd say 30 minutes is typical, but I rather enjoy the process so I'm not rushed.
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Old 03-01-2012, 07:40 PM   #18
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

Cleaning my guns is like cleaning the house...bahhh
But cleaning my 1911s is an intimate almost religeous experience..I guess its love,respect and the worship of a piece of history...the guys on iwo Jim a and at the bulge..old JMB at the drawing board...you can't get this stuff everyday in 2012...
So to answer your question, I can do it in 10 or less minutes like most of my guns...but when I'm with anjolina Jolie, I want the night to last man...so my old slabsides gets some extra petting, gazing and just, just respect with a smile..
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Old 03-01-2012, 09:33 PM   #19
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

"It takes me about 1-3 minutes to detail clean my XD9, 2 hours to clean my PC, 3 hours to clean a 30 year old game console and 1 hour and a box of band-aids to clean my dog."

Sounds like you never tried to clean a cat


After a generous lubing with SBGO and a good wipe down, it doesn't take but about 20 minutes for the Colt and a little longer for the Kimber after a day at the range.
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Old 08-09-2012, 06:22 PM   #20
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

A little off the course, but when I was a hard charging Marine..(1958)We were setting around after a day on the pistol range, and the subject came up. About 8 of us put up $2.00 apiece.We field stripped about a dozen 1911's and piled the parts in a heap on a table. The Marine that assembled a complete pistol and held it in the air with the slide locked back won the pot. Probably another 10 or so Marines were the cheering section and made side bets. I won the pot with 38 seconds. The trick was fishing out the correct parts from the pile.
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Old 08-09-2012, 09:22 PM   #21
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenley View Post
A little off the course, but when I was a hard charging Marine..(1958)We were setting around after a day on the pistol range, and the subject came up. About 8 of us put up $2.00 apiece.We field stripped about a dozen 1911's and piled the parts in a heap on a table. The Marine that assembled a complete pistol and held it in the air with the slide locked back won the pot. Probably another 10 or so Marines were the cheering section and made side bets. I won the pot with 38 seconds. The trick was fishing out the correct parts from the pile.
Hah we used to see who could assemble their M4 or SAW blindfolded because we always saw that in movies. Helped when we were out in the field, cleaning them at night -- so as to not kill our nightvision batteries we would do it by touch.

Last edited by Wolfrage; 08-09-2012 at 09:25 PM..
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Old 08-09-2012, 09:29 PM   #22
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

at the range I'll do a quick 2 minute wipe down and bore swab on pistols when I'm finished; 1911 gets the slide removed and everything wiped, bore snaked with solvent, earl on the slide/rails. Glock gets cleaned once a year whether it needs it or not, hahaha

After I get home, I probably spend about 40 minutes detailing every part (if I take down the entire thing; I usually only do that about once a month lately. If I'm just doing the slide and assembled frame, about 10 minutes or so I guess.
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Old 08-09-2012, 09:44 PM   #23
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

I spent somewhere between 45 min and an hour cleaning one for the first time today, but I have always been slow with such things. In this case I wanted to make sure I got all the factory oil off then coated everything with SBGO before going to the range.

Field stripping a 1911 takes me 15-30 sec. Reassembly maybe takes me 2-3 min on a good day.
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Old 08-10-2012, 12:59 AM   #24
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

About 20 seconds to field strip, 4-5 minutes to detail strip. Cleaning time depends on the amount of crud and where it is. Reassembly 1 min from field strip, 7-8 from detail strip. More time if blindfolded. But I have cleaned at least two or three 1911s.

(Field strip times assume GI pistol with standard guide rod. Detail times assume GI pistol with no firing pin block or target type sear.)

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Old 08-10-2012, 06:19 AM   #25
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Default Re: Breakdown, cleaning, and reassembling, how long does it take you to do so?

The Shortest Cycle on the Dish Washer is about 20 Minutes

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