How to Clean a Glock 21

Glock Manufacturing produces a range of polymer-frame pistols with metal slides. Favored by many military and law enforcement agencies around the world, Glock handguns are durable, reliable and easy to use and maintain. The Glock 21 is a full-size pistol chambered to fire .45 auto ammunition and features a 23-round clip. As with any firearm it is necessary to clean the Glock 21 after firing to remove powder and other debris as well as fingerprints.

• 1

  Place a rag on a sturdy work surface. Remove the magazine and pull the slide back to eject any ammunition. Visually inspect the Glock 21 to verify it is unloaded. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and pull the trigger.

• 2

  Field-strip the Glock 21 by holding the gun in your right hand with finger off the trigger. Point the muzzle down and place onto the rag. Push down on the Glock and reach under the gun with the left hand. Release the slide lock with the thumb and index finger.

• 3

  Pull the slide from the frame of the Glock. Remove the recoil-spring-guide and barrel lug from the slide.

• 4

  Place a bore brush on the cleaning rod and run it down the barrel a few times to loosen any debris. Replace the brush with a patch holder and insert a cleaning patch. Dip the patch in solvent and run it down and out the barrel.

• 5

  Change the patch and run it in and out of the barrel. Continue replacing the patch until one runs through the barrel cleanly.

• 6

  Dip a cleaning patch into the solvent and wipe down the exterior of the barrel, paying attention to stubborn deposits of carbon and debris. Wipe the barrel clean with the rag.

• 7

  Dip a cleaning brush in solvent and scrub the underside of the slide and interior of the receiver. Avoid getting solvent into the firing-pin channel. Allow the solvent to sit and penetrate stubborn areas of carbon or debris and then wipe clean with the rag.

• 8

  Apply gun oil to the left and right-rear slide. Apply the oil at the point where the connector meets the trigger bar and on the rear side of the barrel lug. Apply only one drop of oil at each point.

• 9

  Assemble the barrel and recoil-spring-guide into the slide. Position the slide at the front of the Glock frame and slide back into place until is it held in position. Pull the slide back, as if loading, and then forward to reset the trigger to the forward position.

• 10

  Wipe down the exterior of the Glock 21 with a rag dipped in gun oil.