[Shpadoinkel]

Just bought my first shotgun (or any gun for that matter) a couple of days ago, Pardner Protector for HD and fun. Haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet, I hope to get out in the next week or two.
I’ve shot shotguns before, I’ve just never had one of my own. So I know how to shoot them, I just don’t know much else.

I have some questions for you more experienced shotgunners. If you can answer any of the below, I would greatly appreciate it.

1. I plan to fully clean the gun before my first use (after reading one of Dave’s old threads about breaking in a new pump; thanks Dave). I get the wiping down thing, but should I oil everything up while I have it apart or just wipe it down and reassemble?

2. When I ask “oil up everything”, I mean… “Do I oil up EVERYTHING?”. Is there any need to oil the barrel inside and out? The outside of the receiver? Do I need to worry about getting oil on the stock and forearm (they are both synthetic)? Is there any oil out there that is by far the one to go with or does it really matter?

3. I plan on using this primarily for HD. There is a bead on the barrel, but is there any advantage to ghost ring sites on an HD gun? The furthest shot I could take in my house is probably around 50 feet due to the layout, I’m thinking if I can’t hit a bad guy with 6 shots from 50 feet with a bead, I shouldn’t be holding the thing in the first place. But a friend has ghost ring sites and I remember it was very easy to quickly target, I just don’t know if it works the same in an HD situation. If so, would this be something I should spend money on: http://tinyurl.com/n4mzms ? Not a huge fan of the heat shield (a bit too tacticool for my taste), but it’s by far the cheapest option out there for GS sights I’ve seen, and I wouldn’t have to take it in to a gunsmith.

I’m sure I’ll have a few more, but this is all I could think of right now.
Thanks in advance for the help.

[oneounceload]

Did you get an owner's manual? Read it to see what they recommend. Regardless of what ANYONE says here, the maker usually has a pretty good idea of how to make their product work the best

A bead will work just fine - you will need to be focusing on the target, not the sights if you're going to hit it. The heat shield is not necessary - how many shots are you going to fire in a HD situation?

[AcceptableUserName]

When using oil, go SPARINGLY. Oil the bore (barrel), lightly oil the moving parts inside the receiver and trigger group and rub oil into the outside. But go lightly. A little oil goes a long way. What I would do if I were you is give the gun a quick clean and actually not use ANY oil, I'd take an ENTIRE day you have free, go buy at least 100 or 200 shells at Wal Mart (Federal 7.5 is my preference) and just shoot the snot out of that gun. As for the bead, I prefer that over Ghost rings any day. You don't aim a shotgun, you point it. Ghost rings are greast for slugs but you definitely lose target acquisition time. Stick with the bead. Those heat shields with the ghost rings built on are junk and aren't worth the material they're made out of. Learn to insticntively point and hit with your shotgun (even shoot clay pigeons in the air if you can). Basically just shoot it and familiarize yourself with it. It'll become like second nature.

[RevolvingGarbage]

Hello from a fellow Pardner pump owner,

Be ware of powdery surface rust on the outside of the gun, had a big problem with that when I kept mine in the trunk of my car. I find the bead to be perfectly fine for most applications, mine shoots slugs to point of aim VERY nicely.

[Rshooter]

Beware of powdery surface rust on the outside of the gun...

And just how do you do that? You oil the gun, let the oil sink in and then wipe the gun down with a silicone impregnated cloth. Please do not store the gun in a carrying case, unless it is hard plastic. The case material attracts moisture and the gun can rust inside the case. Check the gun about once a week until you know how it is standing up to the elements.

[memphisjim]

make sure to get flachete ammo
as it defeats light body armor

[oneounceload]

make sure to get flachete ammo
as it defeats light body armor

That would be really funny if it wasn't for the fact that some folks would take it seriously........ :D

[AcceptableUserName]

lol @ flechettes

[Shpadoinkel]

Thanks for the tips Walter (and everyone for that matter). I'm picking up some oil today.

Regarding rust and keeping it in a case, would I be alright with a hard-plastic case with the foam on the inside? I have an absurdly hairy lab/husky mix and I need to keep the gun covered to keep the hair away.

[memphisjim]

its true though
flachettes fired at body soft body armor is at about 15minute mark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ievbU3xIYGQ

[memphisjim]

strung buck looks pretty nasty too

[oneounceload]

Regarding rust and keeping it in a case, would I be alright with a hard-plastic case with the foam on the inside? I

If you live in an arid environment like Death Valley, it might be OK - otherwise, NO - the foam will hold moisture like a sponge. If the case is the only place, put it on a top shelf in a closet with the case propped open to allow air circulation and check it now and again to make sure the side facing the foam is OK

[swampboy]

Couple of thoughts:

I'm a big fan of Ballistol. It's a great all-around lube/rust preventer for shotguns. I even like the smell.

Generally, long-term storage in foam-lined cases is a bad idea. That said, I grew up in the humid south in a house that had no central A/C or heat. All our guns, they were not in cases, would start to show signs of surface rust if not oiled regularly. Stored in a modern home with central heat and A/C, rust will be much less likely, even if the gun is stored in a case.

[Shpadoinkel]

Can anyone suggest a case that wouldn't be likely to cause rust?

I live in Michigan (hot/humid summers, cold/dry winters), so rust will be an issue I'm concerned about. But I can't see not encasing it in something. When I took it out of the box for the first time I saw dog hair actually jump from other surfaces to attach to the gun. I brush our dog very often and we vacuum about once a day. I've got to keep hair away from it but not at the cost of rusting.
Any cases out there that will help me out? Or are there any fabrics I could put it on that you suggest in case my best option is to put it in the top of my closet and hope that dog hair doesn't find it?

Right now I just have it in the cardboard box it came in with the lid loosely draped over it for air flow.

[swampboy]

If you're worried about dust and dander, you can get one of those silicone-impregnated "gun socks" and keep it in there.

[AcceptableUserName]

is this why when I open my pistol case after a week (Plano foam lined) the gun looks like it's sweating oil?

[Shpadoinkel]

Hmmmm... gun socks. That might work perfect for me.
Cabelas has silicone-impregnated socks and bags for cheap.

[oneounceload]

All my long guns in my safe are in those socks - WITH a goldenrod, and THREE big dessicant boxes......that doesn't mean you can forget about it for a few months - check it weekly to make sure it is OK. Once you're sure thi ngs are fine, then the inspections can be at longer intervals

[smithmax]

What about these bags http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/BAG196-1.html

Would they be a good solution for things like hunting rifles that don't get much use?

[oneounceload]

Those, at least to my eyes, appear to be for long-term storage as opposed to getting them out and putting them back often. Even a regular cabinet will work IF you use either dessicant or a dehumidifier like a goldenrod. Keeping the guns in a climate-controlled environment really does help a lot.

[Virginian]

Or get a queen sized pair of panty hose to keep the dog in. :evil:

[tactikel]

Shap, It is hard to justify a SD shooting much beyond 30 feet. Shoot your new gun as much as possible to: break it in (smooth out the action), to learn to: load, shoulder, hit the safety, fire, and pump your new gun (and to have FUN). Shoot 4-5 BOXES of ammo before you even think about using the gun for SD- 10 boxes is better. Before you think of changing sights (after 10 boxes of ammo the gun will point naturally -you look and hit, not aim and shoot!) think about a good light source (a xenon flashlight) - you cannot legally or morally shoot unless you can determine that the intruder is armed, you cannot escape, and you have fear for your life. you need to light up your intruder to determine this (God forbid you shoot a drunk neighbor).
If you can find it, #4 buckshot is ideal for HD (00 buck is d*mn good too) or slugs if overpenetration is not a concern.