Zach S Re: the Kimber Polymer
That's the Kimber I want...everytime I see one I drool! I jujsty have to get Kimber's attention to my one remaining Kimber, get it fixed right, then maybe I'll feel comfortable buying Kimber again. I also drool over the Warrior! That's a though decision.
Okay, re: cleaning. I'm fanatic about cleaning. Here's my break-in procedure:
1) Purchase pistol
2) Break down to most finite pieces including extractor, etc...ALL 57ish pieces of the 1911. Clean thoroughly and lube liberally. On certain high-wear pieces I use Moly.
3) Reassemble.
4) Fire 50 rounds of ball
5) Break down to major pieces and clean thoroughly
6) Reassemble.
7) Fire 50 rounds
8) Repeat through 500.
9) After 500 rounds fired, I break down and clean every 100, adding oil at 50 rounds.
But, my pistols look new even with several thousand rounds fired through them..the moly makes a huge difference.
My experience with my pistols leads me to assert that it is more important to clean a Kimber than a Colt. Why? Tightness. Kimber even brags (rightfully) about their precision tightness. That's what I LOVE about Kimbers. My Gold Combat is like a vault. My TLE/RL 5" was even tighter! So, I HAD to clean them frequently. The Colts are not near so tight in the rails and so concern me less. All the same, they all get the same loving care.
By the way, if you're interested in what 1911s were intended to fit like, grab hold of a Colt WWI reissue. They are not overly tight. They function flawlessly...mine does, I should say. Wouldn't it be great to hear JM Browning's take on this? Someone should look through the manual that comes with a reissue...what did the Army and Browning recommend for cleaning? They provide a reprint of that original document with the pistol. If I get time, I'll try to find it. Kind of like a voice out of the past.
Doc2005