sig-226 &m1a-m-14

Question
Hey Dave ,I was wondering what you think of the sig 226 in .40 cal as a defensive weapon and for recreational shooting ,I'm thinking about purchasing one but would like an non biased experts opinion .And I own an m-1a/m-14 and the manual says not to field strip it for cleaning stating if you do to keep it to a minimum ,I always clean and lube it after shooting but have never stripped it . How often should this be done or should I just take it to a gunsmith once a year and have them do it ? Thank You for your time .  

Answer
The Sig 226 is known as being a fine gun, but I do not have one. So, I can not give you specific information on it. I use a 1911 style gun in .45 ACP for recreational shooting, competition, and concealed carry. When I can't conceal a .45, then I use a Walther PPK in .380 ACP. Sorry that I can't be more help on this one.

You can take the M-14 to a gunsmith, but he'll probably charge about $50 to clean it. Stripping is not difficult, but tends to wear the sheet metal parts unless you do it carefully. If it doesn't malfunction, it probably doesn't need stripping.

That said, stripping it once a year won't be a problem. When they say not to strip it often, they're cautioning people who shoot a lot and might want to strip it every couple of weeks.

Hope this helps!

Dave