Cleaning and Lubing a Buckmark

[Cookiemann]

I read the book with my Buckmark...now, tell me how it really should be cleaned.  Does it need to be broken down for every cleaning?  Is it OK to just run a patch through the barrel and then break it down after every 1000 rounds or so?  How often do I need to clean the Mag?  I use break parts cleaner on my NEF long guns to clean the action.  Will this work on the Buckmark?  Which direction do you run the patch, muzzle to breech or breech to muzzle?

Where, besides the slide, and how much do I lube it?  What kind of oil do you use?  It may sit for sometime, occasionally, between trips to the range or woods, should I run an oil patch through the bore, after cleaning and then a clean patch before shooting the next time out?

ALL Short cuts, hints, suggestions and RULES NOT TO BE BROKEN , are welcome.  I'm a newbie at pistols and DUMB AS A ROCK  so please feel free to Lay it On Me.

cookiemann

[Handgunner41]

I clean mine after every time to the range and always break it down. It only takes thirty minutes or so to get it really clean. I clean from the breech so I dont damage the crown. Hoppes semi-auto solvent on a patch then a brush a few times does a good job. Then lube the parts of the slide that contact the frame with a q-tip and one lightly oiled patch thru the barrel, any gun oil on hand should work fine. Be carefull with the sight screw washers they bend easily. If you lose or damage a washer dont reassemble without them or you may not get the screws out the next time you clean your gun.I bent an allen wrench trying to loosen a screw without a washer. Most small parts for the Buckmark are cheap and usually cost less than shipping. I know this is all basic stuff but I hope it helps

[Keith L]

While I know I should clean mine more often I guess it has been at least 10 bricks since I broke mine down and cleaned it well.  I wipe out the chamber and put a few patches thru the barrel every couple of bricks.

Here in Wisconsin we have a blizzard warning going on and I am going nowhere.  Looks like today's the day!

[quickdtoo]

Cookie, I'm on the other end of the spectrum, I've had a Buckmark for about 20yrs, I treat it like any other rimfire, clean the bore when it needs it which isn't often, spray the action with one of the dry cleaner/lubes like Hornady One Shot, it shoots just fine with minimal attention. The most I've ever done to it was install Williams Firesights and buy and Uncle Mile's holster for it!!

Tim

[Cookiemann]

Wish all my questions gave me this much option.  The "Old Guy" at the gun shop said he has never broken his down and has had it forever.  Sounds like its gonna be easy to maintain, either way.  Clean a lot or a little doesn't much matter, just shoot, shoot, shoot. 
Thanks guys.

cookiemann

[Swamp Yankee]

Cookieman,
    I don't have a BuckMark but cleaning one isn't any different than any semi auto. I only do a complete break down on my Ruger once or twice a year but I will clean the action after every use. I clean the action with Qtips and solvent and finish off with a dry lube that won't hold the fowlling and grit like an oil lube will. I have recently started using a patch worm on the barrels.....[made from weed wacker line] it's a lot better for the crown of the muzzle.........Jim

[Cookiemann]

I have that line...so, do ya just tie a knot in the line and then poke it thru a patch and pull it through?  I think I could handle that.  Doesn't sound like I should be running a brush through the bore very often, just mostly patches.  Is the brass brush just mostly for when it gets really fouled and needs a really good cleaning?

[quickdtoo]

Cookie, you can buy a real Patchworm for not a lot of money, $7.50 shipped for the pistol kit, I have a 4 of the rifle kits, they're real good for the .17 cals. There are a bunch of horror stories at RFC on the homemade weedwacker line pull thrus getting stuck in the bore. For what little they cost, I'd get one that is made for the task. 20/20 Concepts are good people to deal with, they don't charge a lot of shipping and their products are excellent, their patches are also great if you need some.

Tim

http://www.patchworm.com/patchworm.html

[Cookiemann]

Thanks for the link, Tim.  The PatchWorm seems the way to go.  Doesn't get much simpler than that.  Real quick and I can do it right at the range before putting it in the case.  Have you ever used a Patchworm on a shotgun?  Makes more sense for pistol, but I was just curious if you had the shotgun button, too.

cookie

[quickdtoo]

No, I don't, I usually use a Boresnake on my shotgun for no more than I shoot it!!! Not much into shotguns, I guess, the only thing I hunt with one now is turkeys, maybe 3 or 4 shots a year, most just to confirm the sights are still set right!!

Tim

[Swamp Yankee]

    The nice thing about the patch worm is they come with collars so you can use it with different cals, I bought the one for rifles but use it on my pistols too.......Jim

[Greybeard]

Keep that crap OUT OF THAT BARREL! It's a rimfire and the ONLY time you should EVER clean the barrel on one is when the KNOW ACCURACY level drops off or if you've messed around and dunked it in something bad that needs to be removed. You DO NOT need to clean rimfire barrels and doing so actually reduces their accuracy. I clean mine about every 10,000 rounds, well OK only if I actually think it's necessary then. I usually don't think it is.

[corbanzo]

I break down my buckmark pretty often, and I would say that I overclean it.  whenever I take it apart, there really isnt much to clean out.  i would say wait till you have a problem to give it a good cleaning... which will be a long time.  i have run over a thousand rounds through it between cleanings without a problem, but it was well oiled.

[1marty]

I have a Buckmark and except for once in a while spaying some lubricant around the action I never clean it. I use cci mini mag RN and never had a jam. I once "took it down" and the inside is so well protected there was no dirt or gunk. I have a winchester model 77 rim fire rifle which my Dad gave me 50 years ago and it was never cleaned. I still get great groups at 50 yards.