Detail Stripping. Why?

[MaterDei]

I'm curious.

I hear people talking about the ease or difficulty of field and detail stripping a weapon. The reasons for field stripping are easy, cleaning being the most common.

What I’m curious about is why people detail strip their weapons. I can count on one hand the number of times that I’ve detail stripped a weapon and it has always been for repair or to improve something like the trigger. I’ve never fully detail stripped anything.

So, why do you do it?

 

[JImbothefiveth]

To clean it.

 

[frogomatic]

I completely dissasemble my guns when I clean them. I have a few reasons. A detail strip allows me to inspect parts individualy and in any lighting I want. It's easier to see if an individual part is worn or broken. Several times I've discovered a soon-to-be problem and corrected it before it caused me an issue.

I like my guns to be very clean. Detail stripping allows me to clean EVERYTHING. This is important to me, as I know that most lubricant will collect dust/grime/residue/ect... and when the lube collects enough debris it will become very thick and and will no longer do its job properly.

Finally, I like to take stuff apart and put it back together. Been doing it for as long as I can remember. It's just part of who I am.

 

[DHJenkins]

I don't have X-ray vision, so I detail strip every now and again to make sure nothing's about to bust.

 

[ArmedBear]

Ever shoot a black powder revolver?

Otherwise, I don't fully detail strip guns unless I'm fixing them or suspect they might need fixing.

 

[Superlite27]

I'll usually perform a simple takedown on my 1911's and AR to inspect and clean.

But once a year, I'll detail strip in order to thoroghly clean and inspect.

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

I need something to do on a Saturday night.

 

[Marcus5aurelius]

I always detail strip my firearms after shooting. Best way to clean, inspect and get to know your firearm inside and out.

 

[sm]

MaterDei,

I'm with you on this.

More gun are messed up from over cleaning and improper use of tools to clean and take down.

Blackpowder, I can understand.
I can accept a gunsmith taking a new offering down to learn about it, even some gun owners.

Somehow we manage to have firearms, in working order, in museums that were not taken completely down after every use, that were not subject to dunk kits, ultrasonic cleaners, wonder solvents and lubes.
Oh, and these guns are wood and blue.

*smile*

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

Because it allows me to get into the firearm more proper and get that sum'bitch cleaned up and make sure all parts are functioning as designed. Also I do a detail strip when installing aftermarket parts because I am having to do it anyway.

Damian

 

[jr45]

I need something to do on a Saturday night

Sounds like me...I rarely detail strip any of my firearms. When I do, it after shooting 1200+rds.

 

[saltydog452]

Why not?

Better than television and Hoppes smells good...except when it is spilled on the carpet. That will upset your domestic tranquility.

Re-assembly of a detail stripped 228 or CZ75 makes me appreciate JMB.

Local 'smith grins when I walk in with another 'basket case'.

Anyone want to buy a bag of parts that used to be a Star BM? He refused to touch that one.

salty

 

[mljdeckard]

I would say, if you don't know enough about your gun to detail strip and rebuild it, don't try it. Field stripping is good enough for the vast majority of gun owners. If you REALLY want to get into it that much, get some help, or at least a couple of books on your gun, so you have a fundamental idea of what you're doing.

 

[zt77]

I don't detail strip any gun unless I'm going to store it for a LONG time, it just got soaking wet, or i just bought it.
heck most of the time i dont even clean the bores out...not that i need to as i cast most my bullets and get zero leading and practically zero carbon build up.
but even the ones i shoot jacketed bullets out of and after all these years they still shoot the same.....

 

[PPGMD]

I detail strip my guns at least once a year. It allows me to inspect to wear, replace springs, and put grease on the action components.

My competition guns are detail stripped twice a year since they need more lubrication on the action parts, since they were tuned already, and don't need any additional wear on the sear and action action parts.

 

[franconialocal]

When I was issued my AR-15 for duty I immediately took it apart (detail clean) for inspection/cleaning. Let's just say that the guy who it was issued to before me should be ashamed of himself. Did the rifle still function properly given the conditions?.....yeah, but to me it's the whole "attention to detail" philosophy......why do 1/2 a job, IMHO?

 

[PTK]

Somehow we manage to have firearms, in working order, in museums that were not taken completely down after every use, that were not subject to dunk kits, ultrasonic cleaners, wonder solvents and lubes.
Oh, and these guns are wood and blue.

Agreed! The ONLY time I completely disassembled my 1871 Beaumont-Vitali rifle (produced in 1874) was upon purchase, to make sure it was all in working order. Since then, all it gets is a proper cleaning after each use.

 

[Hawk]

So, why do you do it?

The green stuff was still alive and I was afraid the stink would get worse and more stuff would start to grow.

But I've only done it once. Then again, I've only molested the STI once - the things we'll do on a bet...

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=60449&d=1183845179

 

[ArmedBear]

Somehow we manage to have firearms, in working order, in museums that were not taken completely down after every use, that were not subject to dunk kits, ultrasonic cleaners, wonder solvents and lubes.
Oh, and these guns are wood and blue.

And they were used with black powder and/or corrosive primers/caps/ignition charges as well.

But I have to say, I often look at an old muzzleloader or cap-n-ball revolver in a museum, and wonder how in the world it was kept in that condition. Often they show signs of heavy use, but they're not all rusted.

How did the oldtimers keep a Colt Navy from turning to a bucket of rust?

They didn't have modern cleaning solvents, compressed air, blow dryers, or even WD40.

Seriously, does anyone know?

 

[General Geoff]

Kerosene or other simple petroleum as a solvent.

Animal fat/grease for storage/preservation.

 

[Walkalong]

Because we like too.

 

[proud2deviate]

I detail strip to learn more about the firearm, and because it's fun (then again, I've never tried to detail strip a DA revolver or a lever gun, and I don't plan to. I understand those are a tad more reluctant to go back together.)

 

[Brian Dale]

I like to tinker with gadgets.

Seriously, I've only detail stripped a couple of things, and they were mechanically simple weapons. It was to look at how they worked, shortly after I'd bought them.

My Dad's voice: "Do not take the side plate off from a Colt double action revolver." Yeah, he generally spoke in bold-face type like that when he gave important instructions. The implication was that untutored fingers and curiosity could end up being expensive. I'm satisfied to report, thirty years later, that I have never taken the side plate off from a Colt DA revolver.

 

[PT1911]

that rush of "OH S*#T, I think I just messed up"

 

[AKElroy]

I am not good mechanically, so I used to start to sweat when I would take my guns apart. After being warned about slam fires in some surplus guns I bought (SKS's), I tore them down & realized it's not that hard to get them back together. When I started getting FTF's in one of my Glocks, I took it all the way down & actually got it back together after a good cleaning. Now I take stuff apart just to see how it works, and to remove all the oil I used to think belonged there. What's the worst thing that can happen? Their is no shame in taking a gun in a bag to your local GS for re-assembly.