Just a minor point to avoid confusion. The "man spring" on a 1911 is the spring at the lower rear of the grip that operates the hammer, inside the small housing that forms the lower part of the grip backstrap. The large spring under the barrel is the recoil spring
Quick question on 1911 barrel cleaning versus Glock. On your Glock cleaning video, you generously spray Ballistol all over the barrel inside and out, let sit, then wipe down later. Do you do the same Ballistol procedure with a stainless steel 1911 barrel? Thanks in advance.
@everready19373 there's a notch on the inside of the slide.when you rotate the bushing to the right(when facing the cannon) the notch lines up with a little crack,allowing it to be taken out...maybe not exactly like i said but that's what i see.
Awesome video. I don't have a .45 yet but now I'll be ready for when I do. Not as complicated as I imagined it to be (i'm a Glock and XD guy so I'm spoiled).
Excellent Video, thanks for posting. My Uncle who is an old Army Vet needed his Colt G'ment Model 1911 cleaned and I told him I would do it for him and this video helped me to be able to field strip and clean it up nice to be able to get back to him. Thanks Again!
Thanks showing that the barrel link should be down (forward)!!! Smith and Wesson's manual doesn't mention that anywhere and neither did other videos I watched. I had it pushed back and could not get my gun to go back together. Very frustrating. Spent quite a while trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, then I watched your video. After seeing the proper way to do it, it took me less than a minute to complete the reassembly. Very, very helpful.
You're the man, Hickok! I just got my first 1911, an RIA GI model, and your vid made it way easy to take it down. I always wanted a 1911 since I was a kid, and watching you have so much fun with em really was the last straw...hadda snag one! Keep up the awesome work, brother.
Hi Hickok, all of your videos are a great source for the gun buyer, since you tend to make a lot of small comments that speak to your experience. One thing I have noticed is that you rarely let the slide release freely on an unloaded gun. You usually allow it forward softly using your left hand. Is there a reason for that, or is is simply a polite habit? Just curious if allowing the slide to slam forward in an unloaded gun could damage it over time? Happy Thanksgiving !
Hickok comes through once again.....Recently got my first 1911, stripped it down, but was having a little trouble re-assembling it....reviewed this video, went back down to the dungeon & had my 1911 put together in about 2 minutes flat.
Hickok45, just wanted to say THANKS! I recently purchased a 1911 (my first handgun) and was a bit nervous about the first field strip, but after watching this video...and actually having it playing AS I was doing it - was GREAT!
Thank you sir for the video. I purchased a 1911 .45 on Saturday. I have never owned one before and was not familiar with the basic field strip procedure. I own other weapons of other calibers just not a 1911 so I was looking for a video to learn how to break it down. This video is great for the precise detail and expert instructions.
Hickok45 i was just browsing and i just got a Mossberg 500 28" barrel and my little brother found it. What kind of trigger lock do you recommend? I really don't feel like buying a whole gun case.
I just bought a new Sig Sauer1911,was a little nerve about taking my pistol apart..After watching this video,I had no problems..Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us..Hickok your the best..
Got a Sig Scorpion last week and 1K rounds. Can't wait to get to the range. Like the cautionary section at 5:30. Mahalos for the help and advice... Hickok45. Aloha
Great video! My buddy Ron always used to keep his handloads in the exact same Party Mix containers. He passed this year but I still keep the handloads he passed on to me in those plastic containers. That's cool.
I just got one of the Colt 1911 100th anniversary guns. It's just like yours just has some 1911-2011 stuff on it. Took me a LONG TIME to disassemble it and then put it back together.
Hi, do you have to rack the slide before stripping it? Also, you say to keep the barrel link down when putting it back together so that the holes align..cutlery lover says to keep it up..in his video, his 1911 has an extended guide rod though. Is that the reason for the difference?
Some minor comments... (not meaning to be a smart ass...) That's not the plunger tube. That's the guide rod spring plug. That's not the mainspring. The mainspring is located in the mainspring housing at the rear of the grips and its function is to supply a spring load on the hammer. The spring you're referring to is the guide rod spring.
The plunger tube is located on the same side of the pistol as the slide stop.
Very educational and informative. The good thing is seeing how a professional does it makes it much easier if you are evaluating a model to operate. The best 1911 field strip video I have seen.
Kimber makes a .22LR conversion for Series 70, 80, Govt. and clone models. Do you have any experience with these conversion kits? I'm thinking about getting one for my Gold Cup Trophy but would like to know your insight on them.
Thank you very much for this video- I followed your video step-by-step never having taken apart or cleaning a firearm before, and it all worked out, thanks to your concise directions.
@TimmyJ1597 to test force of spring depends on how much the spring is compressed. if you would like to know the force you must first research the spring constant from the manufacturing website or owner manual, then multiple that constant with the distance compressed (in correct units). pressure is just force divided by area of contact.
Just brought my first handgun, a 1911, home, thanks for taking the time to make this vid it really helped. God bless the republic, much respect from this Aussie.
Thank you ! thank you ! thank you ! Finally a field strip video I can actually see ! Thanks for the good lighting conditions and not having a black table or a black shirt in the back ground. So many people have no clue about how important that is. Not a clue !
very nice video hicock45. I was at a local gun show Saturday and was blown away on asking prices for original 1911's. This one guy had a few ww1 1911's one of which was an original black army 1911 in around 95% shape, and he wanted over $2400!! Nice guns though...I am thinking on getting a Springfield if i decide to get a 1911.
hey hickok, i've seen people take the slide off by removing the slide stop first and then taking the spring and plunger out. i know thats not by the book but does it hurt anything?
I'm a left wing liberal Californian and I think that's one of the most beautiful guns ever made, specifically the WWII GI issue. I don't personally understand why we switched to the 9mm. The 92FS is a great gun but I can't stand the double action, nor would I use it over a .45 in combat. Keep up the videos. Nice M1 btw. :)
I have a few glocks, Beretta and a XD tactical .45 and soon a para 1911. Any incite on why i cannot shoot with glocks??
Ive been with you since day one. Your the glock guru and help would be sweet cause my lady friend can sure out shoot me with her G17 and sometimes makes me look bad to my buds. My career involves me handling firearms (a lot) and i know how to shoot.. just not glocks ;) Love watching your vids... beats "nutn" ha
If you are having trouble lining up the barrel link I have found a golf tee works really well. It is almost the perfect diameter so you don't have to wiggle it around all you have to do is insert it and the link is lined up.
I loooove your videos, my friend. You have put a lot of time and effort into your marksmanship skills and it shows.
I hate to correct someone who knows 10X more about shooting than I do, but what you're calling the mainspring is actually the recoil spring. The mainspring is held captive in the grip (mainspring housing) of the 1911 and isn't a part of basic fieldstripping.
Thanks again for the entertaining videos that you provide! :-)
I inherited a 70 Series Combat Commander and it came apart just like your video says. Videos like yours are what make it easier to understand and enjoy. Thanks, Augie
That's a lot easier than I understood it would be. Some people I know spoke to a great complexity in breaking one down. Nice to see the details of the breakdown. Thanks.
I started watching this video and you were turning the bushing, I turned my back to put away a dish and heard you say something about the "main spring" and thought, "HOLY MOSES, That was fast!" For a second there I thought you really had stripped her down to the guts. Then I realized you meant recoil spring.
That Colt is beautiful and there's nothing like seeing a take-down on one of the oldies.
Geez, Limalife, you not only do the laundry and empty the dishwasher while messing with guns; you also try to watch gun videos while cleaning up the kitchen! If you lived in the South, you could be elected mayor of any city without any problem! Yep, I meant recoil spring; I rarely dig down deep enough to even see the main spring on a 1911. I'd rather take down three Colt SAAs to the last screw and five Glocks to the last pin than completely disassemble a 1911. A gap in my education!
These days the computer practically lives in the kitchen with me. In between messaging, gun talk, research and everything else I'm making breakfast, feeding the kiddo, doing dishes.... it never seems to end! It's a good thing I like my kitchen because I live here. It's a good place to test out holsters too. ;)
another informative video hickok! excellent lighting. i love the ease of take down with a g.i. guide rod. that flgr almost cost me my eyes and a friend a bottom tooth! :)
i must say i love your videos you have many of the guns i wish i had ive been trying to talk my dad into letting me buy a 91/30 however he thinks that i dont deserve to buy a gun yet even though i already own one : /
Yeah, it's my bad, my Kimber Pro Carry II uses a takedown tool to come down. I have a Colt that takes down like a regular 1911, but my Kimber is different, but it only has a 4" Barrel. Sorry about that, wasn't sure that the full sized Kimbers were the same...
I started to used the Ed Brown for this video, but then I figured a standard 5" gun might be more useful to more people than a custom gun. Although there's nothing too different about the Ed Brown. He does not use the full length guide rods as do many other custom gun makers.
I typically remove the firing pin stop, firing pin and spring, and extractor whenever I clean it. 1911s are dirty pistols, as you know, unlike Glocks. Folks new to 1911s may want to look into disassembling these guns and cleaning as recommended.
Also, it may be worth noting that the OPEN end of the recoil spring points forward, the closed end contacts the guide rod.
5 stars again. thanks for taking the time to make them. Wish more folks on you tube would make some decent videos like yours, including myself lol. anyway, good videos!
There is a tool that makes it a bit easier to turn the barrel bushing while depressing the spring. It also has some funtions on the AR-15 as well, and should cost less then $10.00. Some people may be interested in that if you own both.
Great video, hickok! Teaching must be in your nature. Could you maybe do a video on a functionality check of the 1911, i.e. grip safety, thumb safety, disconnector, half cock, etc? I'm from Birmingham and now live in IL. Your videos always make me feel a little closer to home.
Great vids, i have a couple .45 acp's i have a Springfield champion and i have a kimber stainless with the full length guide rod, its a bit of a pain in the ass having to use a pin i have a piece of stainless steel mig weldering wire i use to compress the spring. I love the way the Kimber shoots so i dont mind dealing with it. What i would love to see if you have it is any tips you have for taking apart a ruger mark 2 .22 cal... i dont know if im doing it wrong but its a pain in the ass for me
First thing I did with my Kimber was yank out the full length guide rod and replace with a standard GI rod and standard bushing plug. Much easier to disassemble and no downside in performance, at least for me.
Hi Hickock - I do it the same way. Nice Colt. How would you compare it with others like Springfield Armory GI or Mil Spec? or even Kimber? Do you shoot it much or is it a collector's gun. Thanks Sir. Sincerely,d JAMES.
i wish mine was that easy i have to use a stupid tool kimber gives u and im also guilty of scratching under that slidestop pin i wish i would have known this before it hapened but at least the scratch is covered up by pin
I had a custom 1911 I competed with many years ago, and it had the full length guide rod. I had to use a little pin or paper clip to get it apart. I didn't really enjoy that. It was a high-dollar compensated model, so I lived with it.
For me personally, I will never, ever have a full length guide rod on a standard, carry 1911, but that's just me. Lot of people have them and don't mind it. The general consensus is that it does little or nothing for accuracy. Ed Brown seems to agree.
i agree i hate how kimber does that u pay that much for the gun and have to use a tool that is cheap lookin i do love the barrel that's on my kimber pro model it's fat at the end supposed to help with accuracy i guess it's a bushing barrel really nice
I've watched each and every 1911 field strip video around, and this is by far the most informative and well spoken. I don't own a 1911 ( yet ) but I'm drooling over bringing one home sooner or later.
Only issue: The Wife. she's not overly cool with the one .22 bolt gun I've got, and the two 12ga I inherited from my Dad, and the idea of a handgun scares her to death.
I appreciate that. One reason I haven't done more of these is that I didn't figure I could do any better than what's out there. It doesn't take a range or shooting ability to do a cleaning or break-down video. Anybody with a camera and gun can do it.
Well, there's more than a camera and a gun to make a good "instructional" video.
You have to be well spoken for starters: and you are. You're clearly accustomed to talking in public, and the lack of "uh, um, ah..okay, nomesane?" makes the video more enjoyable.
Plus, you know what you're talking about. and it shows.
Your best bet is an original GI gun in "shootable" condition. Not a safe queen, not a "mixmaster" either.. just a fair one. Either than that, it's all outsourced companies or high-dollar custom guns.
go with a kimber i know they can be exspensive but there well worth the money the craftsmanship of the gun is amazing and there very accurate if u can shoot half way decent u wont regret it
How often do you detail strip?
gooztala 5 days ago
Thanks alot for the video. It helped me a lot and didn't drag on LOL. Thanks again man!!!!
chloeiigirl 1 week ago
Thanks, this video helped a good bit on my first breakdown.
moistbuttmonkey 2 weeks ago
Just a minor point to avoid confusion. The "man spring" on a 1911 is the spring at the lower rear of the grip that operates the hammer, inside the small housing that forms the lower part of the grip backstrap. The large spring under the barrel is the recoil spring
lswasserm1 2 weeks ago
@DarkHorsePSH check out Hickoks Ruger sr1911 vid and that should answer your question.
CarolinaJbird316 3 weeks ago
Thanks for this clip. Easy and straightforward.
ghilljr50 3 weeks ago
Quick question on 1911 barrel cleaning versus Glock. On your Glock cleaning video, you generously spray Ballistol all over the barrel inside and out, let sit, then wipe down later. Do you do the same Ballistol procedure with a stainless steel 1911 barrel? Thanks in advance.
DarkHorsePSH 1 month ago
pretty sure i could do it with my eyes closed, and i never did it before...
Just because i watched your video! it's the most well-done fieldstrip video i've seen up to date
mikelagaffe 1 month ago
Thanks for the video, this helped me a lot.
miket1590 1 month ago
Is there a way to tell if your 1911 was actually used in WWI? How do you determine if it is a replica or not?
OmieNice411 1 month ago
What keeps the barrel bushing in place?
Thanks.
everready19373 1 month ago
@everready19373 there's a notch on the inside of the slide.when you rotate the bushing to the right(when facing the cannon) the notch lines up with a little crack,allowing it to be taken out...maybe not exactly like i said but that's what i see.
mikelagaffe 1 month ago
Awesome video. I don't have a .45 yet but now I'll be ready for when I do. Not as complicated as I imagined it to be (i'm a Glock and XD guy so I'm spoiled).
K2Nemesis 1 month ago
Excellent Video, thanks for posting. My Uncle who is an old Army Vet needed his Colt G'ment Model 1911 cleaned and I told him I would do it for him and this video helped me to be able to field strip and clean it up nice to be able to get back to him. Thanks Again!
CUFFEM3232 2 months ago
Thanks showing that the barrel link should be down (forward)!!! Smith and Wesson's manual doesn't mention that anywhere and neither did other videos I watched. I had it pushed back and could not get my gun to go back together. Very frustrating. Spent quite a while trying to figure out what I was doing wrong, then I watched your video. After seeing the proper way to do it, it took me less than a minute to complete the reassembly. Very, very helpful.
LVen21 2 months ago
This video was a great reference point when trying to reassemble my Kimber 1911. Thank you.
bigmoneyb0ss 2 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
Can you do a 1911 cleaning/oiling video?
Anonymous1226 2 months ago
You're the man, Hickok! I just got my first 1911, an RIA GI model, and your vid made it way easy to take it down. I always wanted a 1911 since I was a kid, and watching you have so much fun with em really was the last straw...hadda snag one! Keep up the awesome work, brother.
crashstitches79 2 months ago
Very informative thank you.
FJM160 2 months ago
Hi Hickok, all of your videos are a great source for the gun buyer, since you tend to make a lot of small comments that speak to your experience. One thing I have noticed is that you rarely let the slide release freely on an unloaded gun. You usually allow it forward softly using your left hand. Is there a reason for that, or is is simply a polite habit? Just curious if allowing the slide to slam forward in an unloaded gun could damage it over time? Happy Thanksgiving !
kiki231000 3 months ago
"united states property" lol
airic554 3 months ago
Hickok comes through once again.....Recently got my first 1911, stripped it down, but was having a little trouble re-assembling it....reviewed this video, went back down to the dungeon & had my 1911 put together in about 2 minutes flat.
MisterBorg9 3 months ago
Cool, Thanks for making this video. ;)
vcatzz 3 months ago
Hickok45, just wanted to say THANKS! I recently purchased a 1911 (my first handgun) and was a bit nervous about the first field strip, but after watching this video...and actually having it playing AS I was doing it - was GREAT!
Thanks!
ec51 4 months ago in playlist Liked
Comment removed
ec51 4 months ago
helped me through my first field strip thank you.
DreeaMzLoL 5 months ago
CAN YOU DO IT BLINDFOLDED SIR ! WHOAAAAA !!! : )
SuperLonerunner 5 months ago
best 1911 field strip vid there is, thanks, i forgot all about that barrel link being a pain!
DaytonaRoadster 5 months ago
Thank you sir for the video. I purchased a 1911 .45 on Saturday. I have never owned one before and was not familiar with the basic field strip procedure. I own other weapons of other calibers just not a 1911 so I was looking for a video to learn how to break it down. This video is great for the precise detail and expert instructions.
DocEddie123498 5 months ago
Very detailed and well explained, thank hickok45.
lahirumc123 6 months ago
what happens if i push the thing in front so deep it doesnt come out??? help
xidle15 6 months ago
roughly how much does it cost sir?
blackoo828 6 months ago
My 1911 has the WORST idiot mark...
ThunderousWrath 6 months ago
thanks for this video.
hollowpoint45acp 6 months ago
Hickok45 i was just browsing and i just got a Mossberg 500 28" barrel and my little brother found it. What kind of trigger lock do you recommend? I really don't feel like buying a whole gun case.
u2bwachr 6 months ago
6 people shot their selves while field stripping, because of unsafe/ improper handling...
markhluber 6 months ago
I just bought a new Sig Sauer1911,was a little nerve about taking my pistol apart..After watching this video,I had no problems..Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us..Hickok your the best..
blitznk9 6 months ago
Thanks big guy!
evox9256 7 months ago
Thanks! Finally a field strip video that is well lighted.
hawkerpt 7 months ago
I like how you have buckets and buckets of ammo on your work bench :)
MrToadland1 8 months ago
Ballistol is amazing stuff, but dang it smells funny
Glockcrazy19 8 months ago
@4:13 your thumb looks a little wierd...
pytte98 8 months ago
your thumbs look wierd...
pytte98 8 months ago
@pytte98 Says the idiot with no videos. Gtfo.
AdoreYouInAshXI 6 months ago
Got a Sig Scorpion last week and 1K rounds. Can't wait to get to the range. Like the cautionary section at 5:30. Mahalos for the help and advice... Hickok45. Aloha
808Golfr 8 months ago
I just got a Ruger SR1911 and this helped a lot! Thanks Hickok45!
diggingforgold 9 months ago
Great video! My buddy Ron always used to keep his handloads in the exact same Party Mix containers. He passed this year but I still keep the handloads he passed on to me in those plastic containers. That's cool.
idsman75 9 months ago
Just bought a Regent 1911. Beautiful gun!!!!! Thanks for the help Hickok!
skeeterbeanz09 9 months ago
thanks sir. this helped me
multicam2000 10 months ago
6 people can't field strip their 1911
mattmagbanua7 10 months ago 2
Nice job. Thanks. Very, very helpful. (And yep, I still scratched mine. But w/o your video, I probably wouldn't have gotten it back together.)
mazdaface 10 months ago
I just got one of the Colt 1911 100th anniversary guns. It's just like yours just has some 1911-2011 stuff on it. Took me a LONG TIME to disassemble it and then put it back together.
ThePechanator2 10 months ago
Thank you.
NottheFacePlease 11 months ago
The greatest handgun on Earth.
YoshiFan100 11 months ago 29
@YoshiFan100 i prefer the vis radom
bulldogrj5020 1 week ago
hey do you have a springfield m1903
TheTrapper1998 1 year ago
Hi, do you have to rack the slide before stripping it? Also, you say to keep the barrel link down when putting it back together so that the holes align..cutlery lover says to keep it up..in his video, his 1911 has an extended guide rod though. Is that the reason for the difference?
corismsyn 1 year ago
Some minor comments... (not meaning to be a smart ass...) That's not the plunger tube. That's the guide rod spring plug. That's not the mainspring. The mainspring is located in the mainspring housing at the rear of the grips and its function is to supply a spring load on the hammer. The spring you're referring to is the guide rod spring.
The plunger tube is located on the same side of the pistol as the slide stop.
Otherwise... nice video, and very helpful...
Thanks...
gillis9999 1 year ago
whats your personal opinion on the Chiappa 1911-22?
TheDesert92 1 year ago
imagine having to do that whilst being shot at
i'd probably put the slide on backwards the safety would fall of and i'd shoot myself in the foot :p
KittenWithA9mm 1 year ago
Very educational and informative. The good thing is seeing how a professional does it makes it much easier if you are evaluating a model to operate. The best 1911 field strip video I have seen.
tiggerr42431 1 year ago
Do you have to pull the hammer pack when you field strip it?
Anonymous1226 1 year ago
Kimber makes a .22LR conversion for Series 70, 80, Govt. and clone models. Do you have any experience with these conversion kits? I'm thinking about getting one for my Gold Cup Trophy but would like to know your insight on them.
redneck1413 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
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tamishamurchakg 1 year ago
Thank you great video
TimODon87 1 year ago
This guy keeps referring to the recoil spring as the mainspring. The mainspring on a 1911 is in the grip.
FranticsRoyal 1 year ago
Hello Sir Which cleaning /oil do you recommend for the 1911.
Thanks
kirk189 1 year ago
@kirk189 , I use Ballistol on all my guns.
hickok45 1 year ago 5
@kirk189 you should use hoppies number 9.
bulldogrj5020 5 months ago
I also found this to be the best 1911 field strip demo of all the ones I've seen on youtube. Thanks.
dtranger 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Nice video, check out my videos on field stripping,
Thanks,
Jessie
nitenshininrmor1 1 year ago
Great video. I've got a scratch on my Smith 745 from reassembly in exactly the same way.
newtboys 1 year ago
yeah, i scratched my dad's Norinco with the slide lock putting it back in...he was not happy...
corismsyn 1 year ago
Thank you very much for this video- I followed your video step-by-step never having taken apart or cleaning a firearm before, and it all worked out, thanks to your concise directions.
wlmmn 1 year ago
You live on your own range? ...Adopt me!
Richiepookinshoo 1 year ago
on a rough estimate how much presure do you think is on the recoil spring
TimmyJ1597 1 year ago
@TimmyJ1597 , I couldn't guess. I have no experience estimating spring pressure.
hickok45 1 year ago
@TimmyJ1597 About 16lbs is milspec.
Crich775 1 year ago
@TimmyJ1597 anywhere from 15-18# for a standard 1911.
Oughriend 3 months ago
@TimmyJ1597 to test force of spring depends on how much the spring is compressed. if you would like to know the force you must first research the spring constant from the manufacturing website or owner manual, then multiple that constant with the distance compressed (in correct units). pressure is just force divided by area of contact.
frisc45 3 months ago
@TimmyJ1597 It's got a spring constant of about 1250 newton-meters.
stuntmanmike37 2 months ago
thanks hickok45 for your video, my very first field stripping was successful!
nextdoortoalice 1 year ago
Just brought my first handgun, a 1911, home, thanks for taking the time to make this vid it really helped. God bless the republic, much respect from this Aussie.
cladam81 1 year ago
Hi Hickok,
You are my primary source for shooting, love the sport!
Bought a Springfield .45 mil-spec after seeing your field-strip video.
Will keep watching!! Thanks
jetair58 1 year ago 6
@jetair58 , Congratulations - nice gun.
hickok45 1 year ago
Thank you that's very useful thank you
unclenum 1 year ago
Hi hickok45, could you please make a video showing how to oil and clean 1911
ALShooShoo 1 year ago
im hot
supersexytammra 1 year ago
i learned how to do this via an airsoft 1911 1:1 scale lol ik lame
MrSean1997 1 year ago
Thank you ! thank you ! thank you ! Finally a field strip video I can actually see ! Thanks for the good lighting conditions and not having a black table or a black shirt in the back ground. So many people have no clue about how important that is. Not a clue !
highpointdad2006 1 year ago
very nice video hicock45. I was at a local gun show Saturday and was blown away on asking prices for original 1911's. This one guy had a few ww1 1911's one of which was an original black army 1911 in around 95% shape, and he wanted over $2400!! Nice guns though...I am thinking on getting a Springfield if i decide to get a 1911.
xxBleedxxLikexxMexx 1 year ago
@xxBleedxxLikexxMexx that isn't that surprising considering how old and rare the wartime guns in firing condition are becoming.
vector6977 1 year ago
I really like these kind of vids. Just as much as when you film out in the shooting range.
Also, what are the laws in Tennessee, or USA as a whole, regarding setting up a shooting range on your own farm?
I live in Sweden and to have something like you have on your farm would be impossible for us to have here in this country.
But just out of curisoity, what are the laws in USA for that?
FreddoX1 1 year ago
hey hickok, i've seen people take the slide off by removing the slide stop first and then taking the spring and plunger out. i know thats not by the book but does it hurt anything?
kilika1000 1 year ago
@kilika1000 ,
I guess that would work, too.
hickok45 1 year ago
I'm a left wing liberal Californian and I think that's one of the most beautiful guns ever made, specifically the WWII GI issue. I don't personally understand why we switched to the 9mm. The 92FS is a great gun but I can't stand the double action, nor would I use it over a .45 in combat. Keep up the videos. Nice M1 btw. :)
TAXavier 1 year ago
you should review trench guns
ACKKNIGHT 1 year ago
is that 45 from war I have 3 that my great grandpa and my grandpa and my dad used
ACKKNIGHT 1 year ago
I have a few glocks, Beretta and a XD tactical .45 and soon a para 1911. Any incite on why i cannot shoot with glocks??
Ive been with you since day one. Your the glock guru and help would be sweet cause my lady friend can sure out shoot me with her G17 and sometimes makes me look bad to my buds. My career involves me handling firearms (a lot) and i know how to shoot.. just not glocks ;) Love watching your vids... beats "nutn" ha
Madador12 1 year ago
Geez, I don't know. I guess it's the trigger that you can't get used to. You've looked at my techniques videos? Hopefully, they will help some.
hickok45 1 year ago
Could u show how to strip the main spring housing and maybe trigger hammer firing pin
danmerica123 2 years ago
@danmerica123
I'll do one of those, too, at some point.
hickok45 2 years ago
THE BEST 1911 field strip video on youtube!!!
Hickok45, your steps were ultra prescise. Bravo!
asianhugh 2 years ago 24
If you are having trouble lining up the barrel link I have found a golf tee works really well. It is almost the perfect diameter so you don't have to wiggle it around all you have to do is insert it and the link is lined up.
ptakesq 2 years ago
I loooove your videos, my friend. You have put a lot of time and effort into your marksmanship skills and it shows.
I hate to correct someone who knows 10X more about shooting than I do, but what you're calling the mainspring is actually the recoil spring. The mainspring is held captive in the grip (mainspring housing) of the 1911 and isn't a part of basic fieldstripping.
Thanks again for the entertaining videos that you provide! :-)
tjtaco1 2 years ago
Is the annotation not working? I think I added an annotation to that effect a few days ago. I'll have to look at it.
hickok45 2 years ago
Being as you have a lot of Glocks, you can probably understand what I'm about to say.
I feel completely spoiled by my G17 :D. I'll be sure to remember this after the next range visit and I need to clean it.
s8nv2 2 years ago
Another great vid!
vanslam 2 years ago
I inherited a 70 Series Combat Commander and it came apart just like your video says. Videos like yours are what make it easier to understand and enjoy. Thanks, Augie
PS it eats everything.
augiegonebad 2 years ago
That's a lot easier than I understood it would be. Some people I know spoke to a great complexity in breaking one down. Nice to see the details of the breakdown. Thanks.
voices01 2 years ago
If someone has never owned a pistol other than one of the newer polymer wonders, it probably does seem a bit complicated.
hickok45 2 years ago
I started watching this video and you were turning the bushing, I turned my back to put away a dish and heard you say something about the "main spring" and thought, "HOLY MOSES, That was fast!" For a second there I thought you really had stripped her down to the guts. Then I realized you meant recoil spring.
That Colt is beautiful and there's nothing like seeing a take-down on one of the oldies.
limalife 2 years ago
Geez, Limalife, you not only do the laundry and empty the dishwasher while messing with guns; you also try to watch gun videos while cleaning up the kitchen! If you lived in the South, you could be elected mayor of any city without any problem! Yep, I meant recoil spring; I rarely dig down deep enough to even see the main spring on a 1911. I'd rather take down three Colt SAAs to the last screw and five Glocks to the last pin than completely disassemble a 1911. A gap in my education!
hickok45 2 years ago
These days the computer practically lives in the kitchen with me. In between messaging, gun talk, research and everything else I'm making breakfast, feeding the kiddo, doing dishes.... it never seems to end! It's a good thing I like my kitchen because I live here. It's a good place to test out holsters too. ;)
limalife 2 years ago
the 1911 is more than a firearm it is a work of art
DarkheartTheHeritic 2 years ago
Awesome vid sir
knivesngunsccw 2 years ago
another informative video hickok! excellent lighting. i love the ease of take down with a g.i. guide rod. that flgr almost cost me my eyes and a friend a bottom tooth! :)
be well! thanks again for the vid!
J1Z06 2 years ago
Sounds like you can appreciate the difficulty in getting enough light for this sort of thing. It's quite a challenge.
hickok45 2 years ago
Another great video. Thank you.
Xxoo0o0o0ooxX 2 years ago
i must say i love your videos you have many of the guns i wish i had ive been trying to talk my dad into letting me buy a 91/30 however he thinks that i dont deserve to buy a gun yet even though i already own one : /
mburgessownage666 2 years ago
If you have time could you fieldstrip a ruger mk 2 or 3 .22 pistol?
They are a pain to put back together.
multicam2000 2 years ago
@multicam2000
I agree - one reason I sold mine.
hickok45 2 years ago
I've owned 7 1911a and I usually have trouble with the slide stop every other time.
seadevil38 2 years ago
great video....I have to agree with the other posters on kimber and the paperclip needed for disassembly
glockster68 2 years ago
in an emergency..you can use a 45 casing for a plunger tube..i.e. lost plunger tube..
kymopar 2 years ago
Great vid as always you made it look SO EASY !!! especially for people that have never done it before ...
amessad 2 years ago
Thanks hickok, just bought a Kimber and I'm sure this will be very helful.
SlayerStang69 2 years ago
Um, no, Kimbers do not break down like a standard 1911, make sure to read your manual...
zombie4569 2 years ago
Actually it does field strip the same.
SlayerStang69 1 year ago
Yeah, it's my bad, my Kimber Pro Carry II uses a takedown tool to come down. I have a Colt that takes down like a regular 1911, but my Kimber is different, but it only has a 4" Barrel. Sorry about that, wasn't sure that the full sized Kimbers were the same...
zombie4569 1 year ago
GREAT VIDEO!!!
FOREX07 2 years ago
When I first got my 1911 my mistake was putting the slide stop pin in .. I do have a nasty scratch on mine now unfortunately. Nice video Hickok !
mixwell1983 2 years ago 2
Great video. Made it look very easy
jaypowell0185 2 years ago
Hey where is the Ed Brown???? Would love more vids of that 1911!!!!! Good vid!
thrasher123 2 years ago
@thrasher123
I started to used the Ed Brown for this video, but then I figured a standard 5" gun might be more useful to more people than a custom gun. Although there's nothing too different about the Ed Brown. He does not use the full length guide rods as do many other custom gun makers.
hickok45 2 years ago
Good video, as always.
A couple of comments:
I typically remove the firing pin stop, firing pin and spring, and extractor whenever I clean it. 1911s are dirty pistols, as you know, unlike Glocks. Folks new to 1911s may want to look into disassembling these guns and cleaning as recommended.
Also, it may be worth noting that the OPEN end of the recoil spring points forward, the closed end contacts the guide rod.
rtn1911 2 years ago
Very good video Mr. 45
86mountainman 2 years ago
can you do a vid about changing grips next?
FatMikesGunnery 2 years ago
good video like always.
5 stars again. thanks for taking the time to make them. Wish more folks on you tube would make some decent videos like yours, including myself lol. anyway, good videos!
arridedry 2 years ago
Excellent video !!! verrrrry big help
6x5mm 2 years ago
I really like the 1911 look.
skater3shefik 2 years ago
There is a tool that makes it a bit easier to turn the barrel bushing while depressing the spring. It also has some funtions on the AR-15 as well, and should cost less then $10.00. Some people may be interested in that if you own both.
Jesses001 2 years ago
Great video, hickok! Teaching must be in your nature. Could you maybe do a video on a functionality check of the 1911, i.e. grip safety, thumb safety, disconnector, half cock, etc? I'm from Birmingham and now live in IL. Your videos always make me feel a little closer to home.
mcfly5555 2 years ago
Great vids, i have a couple .45 acp's i have a Springfield champion and i have a kimber stainless with the full length guide rod, its a bit of a pain in the ass having to use a pin i have a piece of stainless steel mig weldering wire i use to compress the spring. I love the way the Kimber shoots so i dont mind dealing with it. What i would love to see if you have it is any tips you have for taking apart a ruger mark 2 .22 cal... i dont know if im doing it wrong but its a pain in the ass for me
Armor71 2 years ago
First thing I did with my Kimber was yank out the full length guide rod and replace with a standard GI rod and standard bushing plug. Much easier to disassemble and no downside in performance, at least for me.
rtn1911 2 years ago
Awesome video. You're one of the best You Tubers.
jasonsg4111 2 years ago 11
Agree, great video, loved the insider tip on re-setting the slide pin. I'll give it a try next time I clean my Norinco 45.
Revolver and Colt 45 videos - thumbs up!
p.s. love my talon grips.... thanks for that tip too.
fishlanding 2 years ago
Hi Hickock - I do it the same way. Nice Colt. How would you compare it with others like Springfield Armory GI or Mil Spec? or even Kimber? Do you shoot it much or is it a collector's gun. Thanks Sir. Sincerely,d JAMES.
buzzclark 2 years ago
thanks Hickock, ive always loved the 1911
obituarylist 2 years ago
Great video as usual ! 5*s
BiGBeRt3o5 2 years ago
THANKS MAN, I wanted to get a 1911 when I turn 21 and this was my nain concern THANKS!
ChromeGhost0219 2 years ago
i wish mine was that easy i have to use a stupid tool kimber gives u and im also guilty of scratching under that slidestop pin i wish i would have known this before it hapened but at least the scratch is covered up by pin
jtmoney606 2 years ago
@jtmoney606
I had a custom 1911 I competed with many years ago, and it had the full length guide rod. I had to use a little pin or paper clip to get it apart. I didn't really enjoy that. It was a high-dollar compensated model, so I lived with it.
For me personally, I will never, ever have a full length guide rod on a standard, carry 1911, but that's just me. Lot of people have them and don't mind it. The general consensus is that it does little or nothing for accuracy. Ed Brown seems to agree.
hickok45 2 years ago
i agree i hate how kimber does that u pay that much for the gun and have to use a tool that is cheap lookin i do love the barrel that's on my kimber pro model it's fat at the end supposed to help with accuracy i guess it's a bushing barrel really nice
jtmoney606 2 years ago
Well, Hickock, you're once again my hero.
I've watched each and every 1911 field strip video around, and this is by far the most informative and well spoken. I don't own a 1911 ( yet ) but I'm drooling over bringing one home sooner or later.
Only issue: The Wife. she's not overly cool with the one .22 bolt gun I've got, and the two 12ga I inherited from my Dad, and the idea of a handgun scares her to death.
Anyway, Hickock, you're the man.
TheHiddenPart 2 years ago
@TheHiddenPart
I appreciate that. One reason I haven't done more of these is that I didn't figure I could do any better than what's out there. It doesn't take a range or shooting ability to do a cleaning or break-down video. Anybody with a camera and gun can do it.
hickok45 2 years ago
Well, there's more than a camera and a gun to make a good "instructional" video.
You have to be well spoken for starters: and you are. You're clearly accustomed to talking in public, and the lack of "uh, um, ah..okay, nomesane?" makes the video more enjoyable.
Plus, you know what you're talking about. and it shows.
TheHiddenPart 2 years ago 2
Great video...all of your vids are :D:D:D thanks !:P
Mattymiller3 2 years ago
Great video! thanks
ajgsxr 2 years ago
how long is that barrel?
156TYSON 2 years ago
@156TYSON my guess is 5"
soulis1000 2 years ago
Nice video, Thanks.
biguy525 2 years ago
Thanks!
xxSURExxSHOTxx 2 years ago
I really enjoy these maintenance videos, they're a public service.
latveria1024 2 years ago
Cz makes a 45cal that I have and they took all the ideas from the original 1911
cz97bd 2 years ago
CZ 97 is not a version of 1911
21petr21 2 years ago
Great vid as always
cz97bd 2 years ago
Hicock I have the CZ version of the 1911 they have taken all the ideas from the origanal
cz97bd 2 years ago
Hicock I have the cz version 45 they took all the ideas from the 1911
cz97bd 2 years ago
that really is a pretty 45, the blueing looks great
nivin69 2 years ago
Excellent video.
I think this video is going to give me the push I needed to go out and finally buy a 1911. There are just so many models, it's hard to choose.
I want an American made one. I don't have any American made guns in my collection and I think this will be my first.
Any suggestions anyone?
Hellsredeemer 2 years ago
Your best bet is an original GI gun in "shootable" condition. Not a safe queen, not a "mixmaster" either.. just a fair one. Either than that, it's all outsourced companies or high-dollar custom guns.
TheHiddenPart 2 years ago
go with a kimber i know they can be exspensive but there well worth the money the craftsmanship of the gun is amazing and there very accurate if u can shoot half way decent u wont regret it
jtmoney606 2 years ago