Field-Stripping the Thunder 380
by Horge

Field-stripping is a limited disassembly of the gun, in order to allow quick inspection and maintenance. As the term implies, it is suitable to field conditions, as opposed to a more-thorough disassembly back at the armory or at home. 

The Thunder 380 is field stripped as follows:

Remove any magazine from the firearm.  Ensure that the chamber is empty by racking the slide to eject any cartridge left in the chamber, then pulling the slide back, far enough to visually check that the chamber is empty, looking through the ejection port
Switch the manual safety lever off.  Grip the pistol firmly with the trigger hand, with the trigger finger off the trigger, and then pull back the hammer to cock the unloaded gun.
Use your trigger finger to rotate down and hold down the disassembly lever (on the right side of the frame, just above the trigger guard).
Still holding down the disassembly lever, use the free hand  to pull back the slide all the way, maintaining a very firm grip on it, as it is compressing the recoil spring
Lift the rear part of the slide upward and away from the frame. Maintain a very firm grip on the slide, as it is compressing the recoil spring.
Slowly ease the slide forward and then off the frame, gradually relieving the pressure on the spring, which then remains seated about the barrel. The spring can be pulled off the barrel if desired (note that the tight end of the spring should be nearest the breech: the rear of the barrel)
The firearm is now field-stripped and ready for cursory cleaning . To reassemble, reverse the steps for field-stripping, maintaining firm control of the slide at all times. It can take practice to reassemble smoothly. One common hitch for beginners is getting the slide to engage the frame rails (the very last step of reassembly). One has to pull the slide back fully, and then seat it downwards confidently so the rails engage, and then ease the slide forward.  If the rails do not engage, pull the slide back and try again.

 
© 2003 Horge 
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