[Lightsped]

I know most gun manufactuers test fire their guns before sending them out to distributors.

My question is, when buying a used gun that is advertised as "never fired" how can one determine if dirt in the barrel is from one or two factory test rounds, or 100 or 200 private individual "test rounds" ?

[DMK]

I don't see how you can tell except by judging how dirty it is. Most of the time, the factory doesn't clean the gun after three or five rounds test fired. It would be a bit dirtier after 20 to 100 rounds. If it is cleaned, it might have had a joy ride, but that's not definative of course.

Realistically, what difference does it make? How much difference in wear is there between 3 rounds and 100?

[bad_dad_brad]

They test drive cars from the factory, and they test fire guns as well.

The only difference is folks . . . a new gun, like an automobile, when bought, even if never fired or driven, becomes used. Sad but true.

[10-Ring]

I have started to understand "NIB" as meaning unfired since leaving the factory. Now, 100 or 200 rounds would make it a USED gun!

[SteelyDan]

Actually, I've got a deal with most of the big name manufacturers, and a few who aren't so big. They send me all of their production runs for test firing, and I shoot a few rounds to make sure they function correctly. The good ones get sold to consumers, and the bad ones get scrapped. Takes about 16 hours each day, but I'm willing to make the sacrifice.

Um..., maybe that was just a dream I had last night...

In truth, I've wondered about this myself. Most of the time, "new" guns have reasonably clean barrels, but I did get one that was filthy. So how do you know? Got me.

Why did I waste the bandwidth to post this? Sorry.

[Lightsped]

With a car you have a odometer. Nothing like that with a gun, at least not yet.... :/

I just like to know what I am buying. Specially when buying from a private individual or over the internet.

Its not a big deal really. Just curious. I have a supposedly "never fired" Colt 1911 and am curious as to if the previous owner really never fired it....

[Standing Wolf]

I'm always extremely skeptical of "new in box" claims, and the older the gun that's supposedly never been fired since it left the factory, the more skeptical I become.

[BigG]

When I used to buy factory new S&Ws, they usually had burn rings on every other chamber - 3 shots per gun. That was a while back.

In my opinion, once somebody has bought a gun it can never be NIB, but YMMV.

[Navy joe]

I do a lot of things to decide if it is really new in box, one of the funniest is the sniff check so I can decide who's been cleaning it with what or if it was recently shot. A really reliable indicator for autos is to look at the magazine body and follower for any wear or scuff marks, the factory doesn't usually test fire with your mags, they should be pristine.

[Jim K]

Most reputable makers fire at least a proof load, even though there is no law in the U.S. requiring proof. Some fire a cylinder/magazine full (Ruger does, or at least did). The reason is simple. They feel that 99% of the problems will be found in those few rounds and the customer will get a more reliable gun. The guns are usually cleaned afterwards, but that costs money so many makers don't bother.

As to "new", I don't consider a gun that was factory tested a "used" gun. The comparison to cars is a good one. Cars are driven from the factory to the factory lot, from the lot to the truck or train loading point, from the unloading point to the distributor's lot, from the distributor's lot to the dealer. A car on the showroom floor may have 50-100 miles on the odometer, but it is still considered a new car until it is sold and titled.

Jim