Cleaning without disassembly?

JMcDonald · 04-20-2008, 03:25 PM

Just as the title asks, can you clean a semi-automatic without disassembling it?

My GF has a 702 plinkster and, for the life of me, I can't get the two pins out of the receiver to take it apart. Ive tried pressing it out with a bench vice and hitting it with a punch / hammer. At this point Ive gone about as far as I can with what I have before I would be concerned about damaging the assembly. The pin on my Maverick 12g could be pushed out with even a writing pen, so this seems odd to me (though, these pins probably see quite a bit more stress, so maybe they are just tighter).

Eventually Ill take it somewhere (whether its to a friend's shop who have nicer tools to press it out, or a gunsmith, or whatever), but for simply cleaning it after a day's shooting (it only saw like 80-100 rounds today), is it acceptable to maybe spray it out with some solvent (WD40, or something else like that) to dissolve the grime inside it, and then relubricate it with silicone or something like that?

Ive found only a few threads around forums with this topic, and did see a few people saying they have used this method for years with no problems on various guns, but I wanted to ask specifically to get better answers.

Thanks!

Sooner Shooter · 04-20-2008, 08:19 PM

On my Ruger Mk 11 Auto 22 pistol I like to use the Powder Blaster or similar product. Then lubricate when it dries. This stuff can be pretty harsh on some surfaces. Many prefer the ritual of cleaning but I think for the amount of shooting that I do, this method is sufficient. If you know someone that has taken their auto apart and familiar with it just watch them and learn the ins and outs.

big boomer · 04-20-2008, 08:33 PM

We spray them down with cleaner and g-96 and use q tips and pipe cleaners and gun snakes and we don't have to take them apart.

billy · 04-20-2008, 08:36 PM

compressed air is a great help also after using aerosol gun cleaners.

JMcDonald · 04-20-2008, 10:04 PM

Ok, well I at least know its acceptable to do.

And, I don't have a problem reassembling, as I have a HiPoint carbine that I take apart to clean. It is just that I physically can't get this thing open!

Fatstrat · 04-22-2008, 02:12 PM

Well, IMO you get do a "fair" job w/o dissassembly. And get by w/it for a long time. But I believe there are ALWAYS spots you can't get to from the outside that eventually will need cleaning.
I bought a .22 pump recently that was sold cheap as a non fuctioning, but complete "parts gun". It was absolutely FILTHY. Didn't appear anyone had cleaned it at all in years. If ever.
A good cleaning made it function better, but still not perfectly. The bolt would not reliably lock up in firing position. Took it back apart and discovered the problem. The TINY LITTLE bolt release spring tucked away in a little recess in the trigger group area was totally gunked up. After cleaning it, rifle functioned perfectly.
In this case I bought a vintage collectible rifle worth about $200.(maybe + on a good day) for less than $100. Because it wouldn't work because no one had cleaned it properly. I'd hate for you to eventually have this kind of problem.
Anything that has been assembled, can be disassembled. You just have to find out HOW.
I would say you probably have alot of time before it would become an issue. But I would encourage you to try to find out how to disassemble the rifle for an occasional thourogh cleaning.
Try asking over @ the Rimfirecentral.com Mossberg forum. The guru's there can probably be of help. They've help me alot.

SgtKnuckles · 04-22-2008, 05:35 PM

~ARE THE INTERNALS REALLY CLEAN~(eliminating that Question) Take a Can of WD40, and Flush out the Slide Bolt (right up the firing pin, and Ejector ect.) Brass Brush the Chamber, and Barrel, and Flush every Bit of the Gun Body, Trigger assembly, and Barrel Out, and Hose the Mag internals to... Dirty Powder get Blown into every nook, and cranny... Use WD40, and pull back the Extractor and back Flush it out... Make sure the small looped end of the Mag Spring is at the top, and facing forward... Put numbers on your Mags so you know which ones work... Its a GOOD Mag spring, Slide Bolt spring, and a Clean Gun that creates the Correct Timing for a Auto Loader to work right...

Remember: any Shinny Parts & Wear Spots you see under the Slide Bolt, and Internal Rail, and in the Action Body, are asking for GUN OIL...!!! The Gun will tell where it wants OIL... Clean Every 200 Rounds, or after every Trip to the Range...

I would tell you what Teflon Oil to use... But every body's got there Favorite oil... The Gunner's would just start Flaming this Post...<:-((

~Remember Air is the Magic in Gun Cleaning~
I have Never Been able to Properly Clean the Internals of a Automatic with out using a Air compressor and a Blow Gun... (just to many hidden parts that you can't get to clean any other way)(Soak the Gun down, and Blow it Clean)...

~Get These, and be in Gun Cleaning "Nirvana"~
AIR BLOW GUN WITH 4'' NOZZLE
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42939
RUBBER TIP AIR BLOW GUN
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3962
FLEXIBLE TIP BLOW GUN
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
~Get Your Size~You will love them~NITRILE GLOVES, ExLg (PACK OF 100)
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

You can relate this to all the Guns you Clean...
I think you will find #47 Nicely Done by someone you all Trust...
~Class Is In Session~
Educational Zone #47 - Cleaning a Semi-Auto Pistol
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu47.htm

04-20-2008, 03:25 PM	#1
JMcDonald Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 382 Trader Rating: (0)	Cleaning without disassembly? Just as the title asks, can you clean a semi-automatic without disassembling it? My GF has a 702 plinkster and, for the life of me, I can't get the two pins out of the receiver to take it apart. Ive tried pressing it out with a bench vice and hitting it with a punch / hammer. At this point Ive gone about as far as I can with what I have before I would be concerned about damaging the assembly. The pin on my Maverick 12g could be pushed out with even a writing pen, so this seems odd to me (though, these pins probably see quite a bit more stress, so maybe they are just tighter). Eventually Ill take it somewhere (whether its to a friend's shop who have nicer tools to press it out, or a gunsmith, or whatever), but for simply cleaning it after a day's shooting (it only saw like 80-100 rounds today), is it acceptable to maybe spray it out with some solvent (WD40, or something else like that) to dissolve the grime inside it, and then relubricate it with silicone or something like that? Ive found only a few threads around forums with this topic, and did see a few people saying they have used this method for years with no problems on various guns, but I wanted to ask specifically to get better answers. Thanks!

04-20-2008, 08:19 PM	#2
Sooner Shooter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 593 Trader Rating: (0)	On my Ruger Mk 11 Auto 22 pistol I like to use the Powder Blaster or similar product. Then lubricate when it dries. This stuff can be pretty harsh on some surfaces. Many prefer the ritual of cleaning but I think for the amount of shooting that I do, this method is sufficient. If you know someone that has taken their auto apart and familiar with it just watch them and learn the ins and outs. __________________ Save the drama for your mama!

04-22-2008, 05:35 PM	#7
SgtKnuckles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 141 Trader Rating: (0)	~ARE THE INTERNALS REALLY CLEAN~(eliminating that Question) Take a Can of WD40, and Flush out the Slide Bolt (right up the firing pin, and Ejector ect.) Brass Brush the Chamber, and Barrel, and Flush every Bit of the Gun Body, Trigger assembly, and Barrel Out, and Hose the Mag internals to... Dirty Powder get Blown into every nook, and cranny... Use WD40, and pull back the Extractor and back Flush it out... Make sure the small looped end of the Mag Spring is at the top, and facing forward... Put numbers on your Mags so you know which ones work... Its a GOOD Mag spring, Slide Bolt spring, and a Clean Gun that creates the Correct Timing for a Auto Loader to work right... Remember: any Shinny Parts & Wear Spots you see under the Slide Bolt, and Internal Rail, and in the Action Body, are asking for GUN OIL...!!! The Gun will tell where it wants OIL... Clean Every 200 Rounds, or after every Trip to the Range... I would tell you what Teflon Oil to use... But every body's got there Favorite oil... The Gunner's would just start Flaming this Post...<:-(( ~Remember Air is the Magic in Gun Cleaning~ I have Never Been able to Properly Clean the Internals of a Automatic with out using a Air compressor and a Blow Gun... (just to many hidden parts that you can't get to clean any other way)(Soak the Gun down, and Blow it Clean)... ~Get These, and be in Gun Cleaning "Nirvana"~ AIR BLOW GUN WITH 4'' NOZZLE http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42939 RUBBER TIP AIR BLOW GUN http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3962 FLEXIBLE TIP BLOW GUN Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices ~Get Your Size~You will love them~NITRILE GLOVES, ExLg (PACK OF 100) Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices You can relate this to all the Guns you Clean... I think you will find #47 Nicely Done by someone you all Trust... ~Class Is In Session~ Educational Zone #47 - Cleaning a Semi-Auto Pistol http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu47.htm Last edited by SgtKnuckles; 04-22-2008 at 06:24 PM.

04-20-2008, 08:33 PM	#3
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 761 Trader Rating: (0)	We spray them down with cleaner and g-96 and use q tips and pipe cleaners and gun snakes and we don't have to take them apart.

04-20-2008, 08:36 PM	#4
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 10,865 Trader Rating: (0)	compressed air is a great help also after using aerosol gun cleaners. __________________ i'll keep an eye out for ya!

04-20-2008, 10:04 PM	#5
JMcDonald Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 382 Trader Rating: (0)	Ok, well I at least know its acceptable to do. And, I don't have a problem reassembling, as I have a HiPoint carbine that I take apart to clean. It is just that I physically can't get this thing open!

04-22-2008, 02:12 PM	#6
Fatstrat Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 84 Trader Rating: (0)	Well, IMO you get do a "fair" job w/o dissassembly. And get by w/it for a long time. But I believe there are ALWAYS spots you can't get to from the outside that eventually will need cleaning. I bought a .22 pump recently that was sold cheap as a non fuctioning, but complete "parts gun". It was absolutely FILTHY. Didn't appear anyone had cleaned it at all in years. If ever. A good cleaning made it function better, but still not perfectly. The bolt would not reliably lock up in firing position. Took it back apart and discovered the problem. The TINY LITTLE bolt release spring tucked away in a little recess in the trigger group area was totally gunked up. After cleaning it, rifle functioned perfectly. In this case I bought a vintage collectible rifle worth about $200.(maybe + on a good day) for less than $100. Because it wouldn't work because no one had cleaned it properly. I'd hate for you to eventually have this kind of problem. Anything that has been assembled, can be disassembled. You just have to find out HOW. I would say you probably have alot of time before it would become an issue. But I would encourage you to try to find out how to disassemble the rifle for an occasional thourogh cleaning. Try asking over @ the Rimfirecentral.com Mossberg forum. The guru's there can probably be of help. They've help me alot.