How often do you "flush" your "striker" channel?

[jocko]

OK, I am quite obsessive when caring for and maintaining my carry pistols (so I thought).

From the start, I followed the excellent recommendations on this forum for "Proper Prep of a New Kahr". One of the details was to spray GunScrubber (or similar) directly into the hole in the firing pin channel. Even when new, I was amazed how many metal particles washed out (probably from machining process).

Well recently, I was about 1000 rounds through my K40 and I decided to give it a full detail "prep" cleaning again. I had never flushed the firing pin channel since it was new. WHOLLY SMOKES! MY BAD! When I shot GunScrubber through the hole, flakes of brass and copper came POURING OUT. I kept spraying and spraying until no more metal flakes came out... I used about 1/3 of the darn can! Yes, there was that much junk in the firing pin channel.

Lesson Learned: I will be doing this firing pin channel "flush" about every 250 rounds from this point forward. (NOTE: I only shoot FMJ loads for practice at the range)

Thankfully, my K40 never had issues,... even with all of this junk in the FPC. I should have taken a photo of how much metal was on the paper towel. I was shocked...

Anyway, I thought I would just pass this on to everyone... if it has been some time since you flushed your FPCs, you might want to do it.

Once u get that striker channel cleaned correctly with IMO a detailed strip at least one time to be damn sure everything is out of that striker channel. then if u use that little clean out hole that wills uffice, and I would make that part of every cleaning u give the gun also. Just how long does it take to insert that nozzle in that hole and spray away???5 secnds, 10 seconds?? Its not rocket science. Every gun is perfecrt until it fails to fire that first time, so if ur gonna clean the barrel, why miss the striker channel. The barrel can get dirty as hell and still work OK, u never know about the striker channel.

error on the side of caution.

[JimC]

I don't flush the FP channel on the slide of my PM9.
When I feel my pistol has been fired enough to be dirty enough, I completely strip the slide and clean it and the component parts individually and re-assemble. This may be as much as 3-4 times a year.
I leave nothing to worry about when it comes to the pistol that I may carry for SD.

[Bawanna]

That's pretty much what I do as well. I took mine apart brand new just to see what people were talking about when they flushed theirs out. Both of mine were squeaky clean and lightly oiled.

I just occasionally take them down and clean and verify all is well.

As stated I think they will go a long long way with no attention at all but a little precaution just improves the chances of that happening.

[muggsy]

I believe that the little flakes of metal in the striker channel come from primer smear. If the flakes are allowed to accumulate the result can be light primer strikes. Like I said, I want my carry gun to go bang when needed. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. If it's good enough for "Old Jocko" it's good enough for me.

[jocko]

Iguess my point is , why only clean 80% of the gun when IMO one of the most important areas is the striker channel and I wold tend to agree Muggsy, some of that build up could definitely be primer smear. every gun has itsw own personality, some will let one get away withy far more abuse or neglect than others will My range gun might indeed go a few times with uttin done to it but my pocket gun that I carry 24/7 is always clean inside and out. Just my 21 cents worth on this. Remember its ur gun..

[wyntrout]

I think that due to the dynamics of the firing and the cartridges being knocked about violently during chambering and firing, you can get bits of metal from the bullet, the case, AND the primer strike/smearing BLOWN back through the striker pin hole, the hole on the bottom of the slide, and from the back of the slide that opens toward the frame. Crap is blown everywhere and I've gotten photo stills from videos of my pistols firing with flaming stuff coming from out of the slide to frame areas... sides and rear! As I said then, that's why eye protection is so important!

Wynn

[KahrOnTheFly]

I did my k9 the first time it was full of junk. The second time 500-1000 rds later nothin of consequence
BTW it's called a striker channel, and striker. No firing pins on Kahrs.
Glad you''re enjoying these very reliable guns.

downtownv,... thanks for enlightening me on the proper term of the firing mechanism in Kahr pistols. "Striker Channel" I got it. I continue to learn from this great board. Thanks again!

[jocko]

u gotta listen to downtown, he is one wiser fokker. Just askhim!!!

Just sayin

[downtownv]

u gotta listen to downtown, he is one wiser fokker. Just askhim!!!

Just sayin

Thanks Jocko I mentioned that on YOUR behalf knowing you would rather not have typed it!

[b4uqzme]

+1 on flushing the striker channel. I recently purchased 2 metal Kahrs with scratchy triggers. Flushing the striker channel cured both to the smooth trigger I expected. I had to soak them in cleaner and re- flush them several times. Each time produced more gunk. Like Jocko I figure this is an easy add to my cleaning routine.