Posted: 2/5/2008 8:04:51 AM EDT
|
Just curious, How often do you remove the extractor and clean the channel to "de-crud" the area. I'm wondering as to where the benefit is offset by the risk of de-tuning the extractor in the process. Thanks, |
bolt 
............ one of those Freudian slips.
it depends on the ammo used... the dirty crap (ie: wolf i dont use it but i have to clean some that do ) you gottaa clean more often.after YEARS of cleanning(stripping down) after every use. i just got lazy and i clean it (my para) about once a year (maybe twice) and you know something it STILL shoots like a SOaB.....? have some faith and you'll get it back in return. if you get a GOOD 1911 you shouldn't have to baby it. i know some of you are cringing (SGB) but, hey its how it goes. i think the krud keeps it tight. (fyi: i shoot about 200rds every other day) the one thing i do, do after every session is wipe the feed ramp and the breach face. the extractor is the only part (if your lucky) that will break about every 1 1/2 years. i just replace mine once a year. cut and tune.. 
|
|
Thanks gents. I clean after every use but the extractor and firing pin are in my "less than often" routine. Based on the responses I'm thinking a 500 round max should serve me well. That last response brings up an interesting point, what would most of you consider to be the life expectancy of this part? Thanks. |
I don't think he's talking about replacing it -- I think he's asking about how often to take it out and clean the channel. A lot of crud builds up in there in any pistol. But I've never found it to affect function. |
should of used the quote function 
|
Oh! Missed that.... I only replace the extractor when it breaks. I've had 1 extractor break on me at the 2200 round mark. A large part of the claw chipped off. It actually still worked (although it didn't extract the case it broke on) when I tried using it some more. That's the only extractor I've had break. I don't have a lot of high mileage on my pistols like others, but I've got one extractor with over 8k on it and it's going fine. |
I was initially asking about cleaning but then the replies got me curious about replacement as well. Just thinking how wise of an item it would be to have in a spare parts kit. |
|
I've never had a 1911 extractor break on me. I've normally replaced factory extractors first thing though and I always use the best quality aftermarket extractor I can find. That said, I also keep a couple of spares in my toolbox just in case. They haven't been tuned but that's easily done. I typically clean the extractor and channel every time I clean the pistol. It's just easier to get in the routine of cleaning that area and it lets me inspect the part for chips missing. |
How do you tune one?? |