Breaking down Bretta 96

Question
Could you tell me how to break down a Bretta 96 for cleaning, etc.?

Answer
KC,

First, drop the magazine and pull the slide rearward to make sure the firearm is completely unloaded. After you've verified the chamber is empty and the magazine ejected, release the slide and let it snap forward into the firing position (called "battery"). Push the safety/decock lever downward to lower the hammer.

On right side of the frame, forward of the triggerguard, there should be a button, push it in. While holding the button in, find the lever on the left side of the frame opposite the button you're holding in, thumb that lever downward. Upon pushing that lever downward you should feel the slide unlock from the frame, turn the pistol upside down. Depending on the vintage of your gun, you may just be able to slide the frame backwards completely off of the slide easily. If yours is newer, it will have a retention piece riding on the barrel inside the slide assembly. If so, you'll have to jiggle the firearm a bit as you pull the frame off of the slide in order to get the retention piece properly aligned.

Once you've got the pieces separated, pick up the slide assembly, hold it with the sights facing downward, and push the recoil spring guiderod forward, toward the muzzle and then lift the guiderod and spring out of the slide (careful, it's under tension from the recoil spring. I've launched more than a few guiderods across the living room). You should now be able to remove the retention piece (if your pistol has one) and then lift the barrel up out of the upside-down slide.

That's as far as you'll need to take the gun down for regular cleaning, though you'll probably want to remove the grip every third cleaning or so and get under there. Clean the barrel from the breech end forward. If you haven't tried G96 Complete Gun Treatment yet, I'd highly recommend it. It works and doesn't stink up your whole house like Hoppes and other ammonia-based cleaners will. Break-Free CLP is another good product I use.

Use a Q-tip to get into the slide rails on both the slide and frame, as residue loves to collect there and can lead to malfunctions.

Hopefully I've been of some help. If you've any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Kyle