Cleaning Compact Polymer Frame Pistols

ChasHam · September 15, 2018, 07:30 AM

As I mentioned in another thread (Feeding new Ruger….), I’m quite happy with my new .380 LCP II and 9mm EC9s. But I’ve found something I don’t like, especially with the super-compact LCP II-— gun cleaning.

These are my first compact polymer frame pistols— actually my first polymers period, After I got back from the range, I figured I’d give them a good cleaning. It’s never taken me very long to clean any sort of gun. I’ve got it down to a well honed routine..

I was surprised though that It ended up taking me far longer that I was expecting with these two little guys.

How do you ever get your fingers. a patch or a tool down into all those tiny nooks, crannies, channels and grooves in the slide and frame? I would expect that the situation is similar with most brands and models of compact polymers- not just these.

My cleaning kit includes a wide assortment of gun brushes, tooth brushes, patches, rods, old t-shirts, Q-Tips, etc. and i ended up using most of them. Still can’t get some Hoppe’s #9 residue out of some of the more difficult corners!

Good thing these are carry-much, shoot-little guns...

Kvon2 · September 15, 2018, 07:57 AM

If a can of compressed air and q-tips can't get it done, then its not meant to be done

FITASC · September 15, 2018, 08:17 AM

^^^^ Yep, Q-tips and a can of computer cleaning compressed air, maybe an old toothbrush as well.

JDBerg · September 15, 2018, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasHam:

Good thing these are carry-much, shoot-little guns...

IMHO carry-much, shoot-little guns are not a good thing.

K_Mac · September 15, 2018, 09:14 AM

I too do not buy the carry much shoot little philosophy. I shoot my LCP often and clean it regularly. It does not take much to keep the striker channel and trigger mechanism in good shape. If you are looking for spotless perfection, good luck.

Edit: The LCP has a hammer and is easier to clean than my striker fired guns. I guess I need some more coffee!

ChasHam · September 15, 2018, 03:29 PM

Good suggestions about the compressed air. Thanks!

Instead of using my can of computer cleaning air though, I’ve got an electric air compressor with a small tank in the garage that I use to top up my car tires. Now I can deploy what I always considered a useless needle nozzle in its accessory kit.

I agree that a carry-much, shoot-little gun is not the best. What tipped me to accept it though was the old saw about the best personal defense gun being the one you have with you rather the Government Model in your bedside drawer or glove compartment.

Guess I’ll be shooting it more than I was planning to, though…

luger fan · September 15, 2018, 04:05 PM

Polymer safe Gunscrubber.

FITASC · September 15, 2018, 04:25 PM

Sorry, but the little guns are made for more carry than shoot; they will NOT take the abuse of a lot of shooting like a full size all-steel gun

Dewey68 · September 15, 2018, 05:02 PM

And I thought I was anal about cleaning my guns!

K_Mac · September 15, 2018, 05:10 PM

FITASC how many rounds do you think it takes to wear out an LCP? I have no idea how many mine has shot. Several thousand between me and the previous owner who also shot it regularly. If/when it fails I will buy another. I would not carry a gun that I was not perfectly comfortable with, and that only happens with use.

TunnelRat · September 15, 2018, 05:46 PM

If you're really worried about wearing out a gun, buy two. Shoot both to ensure function, and then dedicate one for training and practice. I do this with anything I'm serious about carrying.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

JDBerg · September 15, 2018, 07:22 PM

My Walther PPS-M2 is a great carry gun that I regularly shoot a couple hundred rounds through at the range. I couldn’t feel comfortable with a CCW or EDC that I couldn’t shoot competently.

**JohnKSa** · September 15, 2018, 08:18 PM

If you use something like Hornady One Shot or Hoppes Gun Medic, you can blast it in there to get rid of the loose stuff, hit it with a brush before the carrier dries to break up the harder stuff, blast it again, shake it off, let it dry and you're done.

No need to remove any of the cleaner/lubricant residue because the wet part of it evaporates and what is left is a dry lubricant that provides corrosion protection.

Alternatively, you can clean with your normal techniques and then blast it with One Shot when you're done to get rid of any remaining solvent/cleaner that is in hard-to-reach spots.

druryj · September 16, 2018, 04:51 PM

Do NOT use Brake Cleaner on a polymer frame, unless you want it to be damaged.

FITASC · September 16, 2018, 05:29 PM

Quote:

FITASC how many rounds do you think it takes to wear out an LCP? I have no idea how many mine has shot. Several thousand between me and the previous owner who also shot it regularly. If/when it fails I will buy another. I would not carry a gun that I was not perfectly comfortable with, and that only happens with use.

Don't know, but the last thing I want to happen is have it fail when I really needed it to work......... I'm not saying not to get comfortable with it, but it is NOT a range toy meant for thousands of rounds.

Quote:

Do NOT use Brake Cleaner on a polymer frame, unless you want it to be damaged.

Correct, but for barrels it is awesome

September 15, 2018, 07:30 AM	#1
ChasHam Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2018 Location: Deep South Posts: 130	Cleaning Compact Polymer Frame Pistols As I mentioned in another thread (Feeding new Ruger….), I’m quite happy with my new .380 LCP II and 9mm EC9s. But I’ve found something I don’t like, especially with the super-compact LCP II-— gun cleaning. These are my first compact polymer frame pistols— actually my first polymers period, After I got back from the range, I figured I’d give them a good cleaning. It’s never taken me very long to clean any sort of gun. I’ve got it down to a well honed routine.. I was surprised though that It ended up taking me far longer that I was expecting with these two little guys. How do you ever get your fingers. a patch or a tool down into all those tiny nooks, crannies, channels and grooves in the slide and frame? I would expect that the situation is similar with most brands and models of compact polymers- not just these. My cleaning kit includes a wide assortment of gun brushes, tooth brushes, patches, rods, old t-shirts, Q-Tips, etc. and i ended up using most of them. Still can’t get some Hoppe’s #9 residue out of some of the more difficult corners! Good thing these are carry-much, shoot-little guns...

September 15, 2018, 08:17 AM	#3
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	^^^^ Yep, Q-tips and a can of computer cleaning compressed air, maybe an old toothbrush as well. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

September 15, 2018, 09:14 AM	#5
K_Mac Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2010 Posts: 1,850	I too do not buy the carry much shoot little philosophy. I shoot my LCP often and clean it regularly. It does not take much to keep the striker channel and trigger mechanism in good shape. If you are looking for spotless perfection, good luck. Edit: The LCP has a hammer and is easier to clean than my striker fired guns. I guess I need some more coffee! __________________ "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Benjamin Franklin Last edited by K_Mac; September 15, 2018 at 09:51 AM.

September 15, 2018, 04:25 PM	#8
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	Sorry, but the little guns are made for more carry than shoot; they will NOT take the abuse of a lot of shooting like a full size all-steel gun __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

September 15, 2018, 05:10 PM	#10
K_Mac Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2010 Posts: 1,850	FITASC how many rounds do you think it takes to wear out an LCP? I have no idea how many mine has shot. Several thousand between me and the previous owner who also shot it regularly. If/when it fails I will buy another. I would not carry a gun that I was not perfectly comfortable with, and that only happens with use. __________________ "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Benjamin Franklin

September 15, 2018, 07:57 AM	#2
Kvon2 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2016 Posts: 757	If a can of compressed air and q-tips can't get it done, then its not meant to be done

September 15, 2018, 03:29 PM	#6
ChasHam Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2018 Location: Deep South Posts: 130	Good suggestions about the compressed air. Thanks! Instead of using my can of computer cleaning air though, I’ve got an electric air compressor with a small tank in the garage that I use to top up my car tires. Now I can deploy what I always considered a useless needle nozzle in its accessory kit. I agree that a carry-much, shoot-little gun is not the best. What tipped me to accept it though was the old saw about the best personal defense gun being the one you have with you rather the Government Model in your bedside drawer or glove compartment. Guess I’ll be shooting it more than I was planning to, though…

September 15, 2018, 04:05 PM	#7
luger fan Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2018 Posts: 150	Polymer safe Gunscrubber.

September 15, 2018, 05:02 PM	#9
Dewey68 Junior Member Join Date: May 16, 2010 Posts: 6	And I thought I was anal about cleaning my guns!

September 15, 2018, 05:46 PM	#11
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,212	If you're really worried about wearing out a gun, buy two. Shoot both to ensure function, and then dedicate one for training and practice. I do this with anything I'm serious about carrying. Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

September 15, 2018, 07:22 PM	#12
JDBerg Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2015 Location: PA Posts: 1,835	My Walther PPS-M2 is a great carry gun that I regularly shoot a couple hundred rounds through at the range. I couldn’t feel comfortable with a CCW or EDC that I couldn’t shoot competently. __________________ Words to Live By: Before You Pray - Believe; Before You Speak - Listen; Before You Spend - Earn; Before You Write - Think; Before You Quit - Try; Before You Die - Live

September 15, 2018, 08:18 PM	#13
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,990	If you use something like Hornady One Shot or Hoppes Gun Medic, you can blast it in there to get rid of the loose stuff, hit it with a brush before the carrier dries to break up the harder stuff, blast it again, shake it off, let it dry and you're done. No need to remove any of the cleaner/lubricant residue because the wet part of it evaporates and what is left is a dry lubricant that provides corrosion protection. Alternatively, you can clean with your normal techniques and then blast it with One Shot when you're done to get rid of any remaining solvent/cleaner that is in hard-to-reach spots. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

September 16, 2018, 04:51 PM	#14
druryj Member Join Date: May 6, 2010 Posts: 80	Do NOT use Brake Cleaner on a polymer frame, unless you want it to be damaged.