Field stripping a Colt Commander? Tools required?
- Thread starter Amadeus
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cratz2
Member
If it doesn't have a full length guide rod, it can be field stripped in about 20 seconds with just your hands and your wits... No paper clips required.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Commander Field-Strip
Howdy Amadeus,
Assuming that you're right-handed:
Stand the pistol muzzle up and grip the slide like a hammer in your right hand. Extend your thumb over the spring plug and push it in with the tip of your thumb.. Get a good purchase on the thing...It's under spring pressure and will fly out. Hold it in while you rotate the bushing clockwise.
When it stops, slowly release the plug until the spring is free. Remove the plug, and lay it aside. Push the slide back until the stop aligns with the takedown notch...the small, half moon-shaped notch. Push the slidestop
out from the right side until it clears the slide, and pull it the rest of the way out.
Caveat: Do NOT let the muzzle point directly at your face when you rotate the bushing clockwise. If the plug gets loose from your thumb, you can get "shot"by the plug. Angle it away from your face.
Pull the slide forward off the frame. Pull the guide rod and spring out from the rear. Rotate the bushing counter-clockwise until it stops and pull it out.
remove the barrel. Done!
20 seconds is a bit long. My time for a complete detail-strip, frame and slide...starting with an assembled pistol, is 52 seconds...but I've done it a
few thousand times over the last 40 years.
Luck!
Tuner
Howdy Amadeus,
Assuming that you're right-handed:
Stand the pistol muzzle up and grip the slide like a hammer in your right hand. Extend your thumb over the spring plug and push it in with the tip of your thumb.. Get a good purchase on the thing...It's under spring pressure and will fly out. Hold it in while you rotate the bushing clockwise.
When it stops, slowly release the plug until the spring is free. Remove the plug, and lay it aside. Push the slide back until the stop aligns with the takedown notch...the small, half moon-shaped notch. Push the slidestop
out from the right side until it clears the slide, and pull it the rest of the way out.
Caveat: Do NOT let the muzzle point directly at your face when you rotate the bushing clockwise. If the plug gets loose from your thumb, you can get "shot"by the plug. Angle it away from your face.
Pull the slide forward off the frame. Pull the guide rod and spring out from the rear. Rotate the bushing counter-clockwise until it stops and pull it out.
remove the barrel. Done!
20 seconds is a bit long. My time for a complete detail-strip, frame and slide...starting with an assembled pistol, is 52 seconds...but I've done it a
few thousand times over the last 40 years.
Luck!
Tuner
Treylis
Member
Actually, you can still field-strip FLGR-bearing guns without tools, if the FLGR isn't very tight or you just have strong hands.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
FLGR
Treylis said:
Actually, you can still field-strip FLGR-bearing guns without tools, if the FLGR isn't very tight or you just have strong hands.
Yep. If it's a one-piece rod that sits below flush with the bushing flange.
You can catch the edge of the plug with a thumbnail, or use the flat bottom of a magazine to depress it. Careful! That plug'll getecha!
Cheers!
Tuner
Treylis said:
Actually, you can still field-strip FLGR-bearing guns without tools, if the FLGR isn't very tight or you just have strong hands.
Yep. If it's a one-piece rod that sits below flush with the bushing flange.
You can catch the edge of the plug with a thumbnail, or use the flat bottom of a magazine to depress it. Careful! That plug'll getecha!
Cheers!
Tuner
I usually cock the hammer (mag out and chamber empty, of course) and apply the thumb safety when removing the plug.
It can be a little trickier to reassemble (lining up/getting the slide stop in), however (but with a bit practice it gets real easy).
It can be a little trickier to reassemble (lining up/getting the slide stop in), however (but with a bit practice it gets real easy).
Sean Smith
Member
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- Dec 28, 2002
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Obvious question is, how often do you need to set a land speed record field stripping your gun? I swear, some folks talk like they are about to head out to the Meuse-Argonne circa 1918 or something. Better get that gun apart and back together before the Hun gets you!
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