Guns come with all kinds of bells and whistles these days, but one thing holds true for me.
Quick, easy field stripping for cleaning is, as it has always been, one of my top demands of a firearm I am considering buying.
Why?
Guns need to be cleaned after they are fired, and guns that are easy and quick to field strip are much less of a pain in the tail to clean. Therefore, I am far more likely to choose that gun to shoot than I am one that is a pain to tear down.
First, a quick definition of what we mean by field stripping. A field strip is to take a gun apart into it’s major component groups to allow access to cleaning and lubricating the firearm. It’s not complete disassembly, but rather taking the gun down to easy-to-clean sub-assemblies (in most cases).
Unlike it’s Ruger Mark I-III stable mates, the Ruger SR22 is very easy to field strip. Shown here with the chamber locked open.
While this is not that big of a deal in this day and age with new guns, most (but certainly not all) of which are easy to field strip. In years past, many guns were anywhere from “a pain” to “virtually impossible for anybody but an armorer or gunsmith” to take apart and clean. Even some military handguns (especially German designs) were a pain in the tail to strip.
If only EVERYBODY had followed the lead of John Browning and his revolutionary ‘easy to strip’ guns like the (in many ways yet to be equaled) 1911 .45. Many guns between the 1911 and modern era were just plain nightmares to disassemble for cleaning.
Eventually, even the one-zillion-parts-per-gun oriented Germans came up with a semi-auto handgun, the Walther P-38, that could easily be field stripped.
Most new handguns are easy to field strip, but not all. In fact, up until the Mark 4 model was released, one of the most popular handguns on the planet, the Ruger .22 (Marks I through III) were a stone-cold pain to take apart. That changed with the Mark IV, which is now very simple.
One of the most popular “cheap” handguns out there, the Hi Point 9mm, is another that’s a pain to field strip. Hi Point recommends taking it apart for a full cleaning every 1500 rounds. I think that’s crazy, myself, and I field strip mine every time I shoot it. Honestly, I don’t shoot it much because it IS a pain (and heavy, and not my favorite gun by a long shot anyway).
Semi-auto rifles are a mixed-bag when it comes to ease of field stripping. The most popular self-defense oriented guns are all easy to disassemble and clean… the AR-15, AK-47/74, SKS, Ruger Mini, M-1 and most popular bullpups come apart quickly and simply (not surprisingly since all are based to some extent or another on military designs).
Having said that, perhaps the most popular gun in the USA, the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22, is a pain in the tail to field strip as are most of it’s competitors. I personally would much rather shoot a S&W M4 .22 than a 10/22 simply because of ease of cleaning.
If you are new to guns, make easy of field stripping one of the top priorities when shopping for a gun. You won’t regret it.
Ouch! Sounds like my former SKS.
I just purchased a 10-22 last weekend. I’m not disappointed. I only purchased one. My future purchases will be what I originally went after, Mossberg Plinksters which have AWESOME sights, BTW. I haven’t even fired the darn thing, but I am already disappointed because there is a breakdown version of the Ruger 10-22, and an AWESOME backpacking stock for it. But the price of that would be $500 vs. $200. I would not have done it at this time. It is just wishful thinking.
I’m a guy on a budget. I should have stuck with the Plinkster to avoid all the other upgrades.
The 10/22 is a great gun, I do knock it just a bit because there are easier guns to field strip, but really it’s not that bad once you get used to it. Reliable & common as dirt (i,.e. parts availability is good), relatively accurate and inexpensive.
I have both the regular and take down versions, I like both. The take-down is by far the “best” take-down gun of the type, but it has disadvantages as well (it’s much heavier than other take-down options, for example)… still, I like mine a lot.
Guess I’m an inadvertent glutton for punishment, as I own all three that you mentioned. Yes, the takedown for the Mark III is an odd, long dance. I’ve gotten kinda used to it, but do tend to avoid the full takedown. Barrel swabs for routine cleaning. Still, it’s enough of a bother that I covet the Mark iv. Just can’t justify buying it.
I really like the 10/22 as my main varmint stopper. It, too, gets barrel swabs and Q-tips around the chamber/bolt with full take-downs less frequently.
The C9 hasn’t been as troublesome as others describe. The “doll’s head” hasn’t given much trouble. But, as a backup to a backup, it doesn’t see that much action.
I think it’s odd that they only recommend stripping down the C9 every 1500 rounds… for most C9 owners, that’s “about never” since most people who own one don’s shoot it that often. I have several C9’s as my SHTF “you have no gun, here’s one to use” type loaner guns, several are still new in the box. I should get them out and work them up, but… there’s lots of things I should do that I don’t get done…