New XD-9...New to Pistols

[XD-9ServiceB]

Hi guys, I just bought an xd-9 service and i LOVE it! I actuall am still waiting til wednesday to pick it up (damn 3 BUSINESS day crap) even though its been more like 5 days.

anyway, i have fired about 50 rounds through it and it felt great. the only problem is that depending on who you talk to about various things, what you hear is different. my concern is cleaning and re-lubing.

some say use copper on the barrel, some say use nylon. some say use a rag to wipe it down, some say use a liquid cleaner in which some say that some cleaners eat certain parts of the gun. and then when it comes to lubing it, what is too much and too little and then where do you put it and where do you not want it.

sorry for being an ultra n00b, i just dont want to screw anything up as im sure u all can understand...so far in reading things on here you all seem pretty helpful.

so if some one could tell me the best SAFE method to clean all the parts, then i was hoping that someone could take a picture of each part of the dissasembled gun and maybe highlight where to put the oil (or whatever u recommend) and weather its drops or what not.

thanks in advance, i hope to eventually become a pro on here and help n00bs like myself soon. i gotta learn somewhere! (maybe this could be a sticky)

[TYFOON]

Do a search noob.

Quick:

Disassemble.


Rub down with with Break Free CLP. Bore snake. Yes, bore snake...See pistol gear for each caliber.


Pipe cleaner once in a while, in HTR areas, to keep it yumz.(read: smooth.)

Foon

ps. Resist the temptation to over lube.

[XD-9ServiceB]

ok, so u use a lot of break free clp to clean it, blow it all out, then a little break free to lube it? then can i just run the nylon brush through the barrel, brush out some of the crevases and im good?

if thats the case then that sound easy, the only thing is what parts do i put lube on. obviously the slide tracks, but any other parts inside the slide or body or spring or barrel?

[mongoose33]

Originally Posted by XD-9ServiceB

ok, so u use a lot of break free clp to clean it, blow it all out, then a little break free to lube it? then can i just run the nylon brush through the barrel, brush out some of the crevases and im good?

if thats the case then that sound easy, the only thing is what parts do i put lube on. obviously the slide tracks, but any other parts inside the slide or body or spring or barrel?

You don't need to relube it w/ Break Free--the residual will be fine. If you want, the rails can have a dab of oil on them, but other than that, the BF residual will be fine.

As one person has noted, this is a pistol made out of spare Croatian Tank Parts, for God's Sake. It's not made of crystal.

Getting a Bore Snake will be the best decision you ever make on cleaning.

[XD-9ServiceB]

thanks goose, i read that after applying break free caned air is the best thing to "blast it out," if i were to do that will the residual still be enough or should i apply and wipe?

[XDConvert9mm]

Originally Posted by XD-9ServiceB

ok, so u use a lot of break free clp to clean it, blow it all out, then a little break free to lube it? then can i just run the nylon brush through the barrel, brush out some of the crevases and im good?

if thats the case then that sound easy, the only thing is what parts do i put lube on. obviously the slide tracks, but any other parts inside the slide or body or spring or barrel?

As was mentioned above Boresnake with Breakfree is the way to go. Important to note that you run the boresnake through the barrel from back to front. Add some cotton patches, a rag, and an old toothbrush and you should be good to go. I also boresnake the barrel immediately after firing while still hot and this makes it much easier to fully clean when I get home.

[edm24]

Welcome from south Florida and congrats on your purchase.

As one person has noted, this is a pistol made out of spare Croatian Tank Parts, for God's Sake. It's not made of crystal.

It will take an awful lot of trying to damage this gun.

[mongoose33]

Originally Posted by XD-9ServiceB

thanks goose, i read that after applying break free caned air is the best thing to "blast it out," if i were to do that will the residual still be enough or should i apply and wipe?

I've never used canned air so I don't know if it'll have enough pressure. I use air from a compressor, and even that has to be at pretty high pressure to do it adequately (meaning 90psi or thereabouts).

I wipe a bit on the rails just because, and the cycling of the slide moves it around enough.

But that said, even if all you can do is wipe it out of places it's in excess with a paper towel or rag, you'll be fine. If you get a bit of time, do a google search on Breakfree CLP and see what its history is and what the military uses it for.

Have you ever seen the 20,000-round torture test piece? It's here:

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

What that suggests to me is that it's probably not crucial to treat this firearm like other, less-well-made pieces. That doesn't mean I'll abuse it, and I do clean and lube (mostly Break-Free), but I'm not as concerned about those things as I might be on another gun.

Goose

<day 7 of my XD's slide gone to SA to align the front sight begins....sigh>

[Samf]

Welcome from California.

[XD-9ServiceB]

thanks guys. i think i have a good understanding, so bore snake the barrel back to front, break free everything, wipe or blow it out, then wipe a little extra on the rails, done.

the only other thing im wondering is will regular break free clp damage any parts like the sights or is it ok to get on anything?