[BrentK]

I'm new to guns, so I'm trying to find out if there's any proven methods of treating/preparing a new gun both before shooting for the first time, and during its first few rounds, that will lengthen the gun's life. I'm thinking that a thorough cleaning and lubing before shooting is a good idea--probably can't hurt, and will allow me to get more familiar with the gun. But beyond that, is there anything else?

I also would like to use the best dry lube that I can get, so if you have any recommendations for this I'd like to hear it. My dealer sold me some Poly-Pro Tec Gun-Guard as being the best, but you know how it is when someone stands to make a profit from a recommendation...and I'd say he made a hell of a profit from this one!

By the way, my first gun will be a Steyr M40 (if my dealer's FFL EVER gets to CDNN!).

Thanks,

[Zundfolge]

When you get it, field strip it and clean it thoroughly (if nothing else its a good way to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of your new gun). Great thing about your choice is that it's hands down the easiest gun to field strip ... remove the magazine, make sure the chamber is empty, push in on the little internal lock and turn that lever down ... then the slide just slides off the front of the gun (you may have to pull the trigger first, so do that with the weapon pointed in a safe direction).

Then lube it up. The Steyr won't require a lot of oil (and too much can cause problems). Just a light bit of oil on the slide rails, in the little hole on the back side of the extractor, and on my Steyr I put a little on the breechface and work it in with my finger (trying to make sure a little bit of oil gets down into the loaded chamber indicator). Also touch a little oil on the trigger assembly.

After shooting I usualy rub a little bit of oil on the outside of the slide (because the matte finish looks better that way :) )

I'm a bit of a traditionalist, I've been cleaning my Steyr M40 with Hopps #9 and lubing it with RemOil since I bought it, and its functioned flawlessly for the last couple of years (and more then 1000 rounds).

[synoptic]

Good first gun, my first was the M9. I have used Militec-1 on it since I got it.
http://www.militec-1.com/ go to their website and they will send you a free sample so you can see how you like it. The sample will last you a little while, depending on how many guns you have, so you can get a good idea of how it works.

Good luck

[10-Ring]

Conrgrats on the 1st gun! ;)

As for things to do prior to your first shoot, I like field stripping, cleaning & lightly lubing. Then shooting some quality ammo to help insure proper function...at least a couple hundred rounds at first to help break in.

[Blackhawk]

Welcome to THR, Brent! :D

You've got it on cleaning and lubing when your first get it. Be prepared to field strip, clean, and relube it on your first range trip as well. As was mentioned, you'll want to put a couple hundred rounds through it to break it in.

Gun lube products are practically a religious issue among shooters, but I don't know of any of them that are harmful to guns, and they're generally pretty slick so they do their job.

Hoppe's gun oil that you find in the $6 Hoppe's cleaning kit at Academy is fine for starters.

My favorite lube is FP-10, especially for my carry guns, and you could say that I'm devout about that.... :D

However, my all time favorite combination is treating the parts with Moly-Fusion, then using FP-10 as the lube. Makes the guns' actions buttery smooth and resistant to dust, lint, etc.