Do you clean new handgun before first firing?

I'm pretty unconcerned about cleaning, well, other than making sure there isn't a barrel obstruction. However, I like to make sure my guns are lubricated.

You could carry a bottle of lube, or pick up a $10 bottle of lube when you buy the gun and put some lube on it before shooting.

Since some folks seem to think you need to field strip a gun to lubricate it, and if you don't want to do that on the firing line, here is Dave Anderson on "How to lubricate an auto pistol". Skip to about the 2:10 mark and watch him lube without field stripping.



However, choosing to do neither, ensuring there is no barrel obstruction, probably won't hurt anything.

Light cleaning, full lube, before first outing.

I prefer to do a basic clean and lube prior to shooting any gun I buy if for no other reason that I want to inspect it first. I’d rather find something wrong before I fire it than have to go through the hoops afterwards.

Just personal preference .

Stay safe.

I'm pretty sure most manufacturers put a few rounds through their guns before shipping them. I've had guns shipped to one of the local FFLs with a range and have gone shooting with guns I just picked up.

lightly grease contact points before first outing, full clean and lube after every trip

MrBitey said:

Do you clean new handgun before first firing?

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New or used, ab-so-lute-ly ... same for all longguns, too.

I much prefer to have carefully-cleaned & closely-inspected all parts of my new acquisitions prior to touching off the first round.

I never have....

BOARHUNTER

It's just a good habit to get into. Thorough inspection and cleaning as needed before the first outing. Definitely run a patch thru the bore.

Always, if nothing else than to make sure it's lubed, any potential packing grease is gone and any defects noticed.

Detail strip, inspect, clean, lube.

I like my hands. I'd like to keep my hands.

I don't. I'm curious to see what they do out of the box.

On the rare occasion that I have a new auto, I strip it, clean it, and lube it before shooting. I doubt that it's necessary, but I do like to know what I'm getting into beforehand.

With revolvers I take all sorts of measurements to ensure both proper function and accuracy, as well as to determine bullet size, but I don't actually take the side plate off of a new gun. I usually will just run a Boresnake through the chambers and bore and then call it ready to shoot.

Whatever the manual says with the exception of my RIA M200, it needed some TLC before I took it to the range for the first time.

I don't completely disassemble them, but I do spray the action out with Gun Scrubber and then lubricate.

Kleanbore said:

Read the manual

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Best advice so far.

I always read the manual...Now.
I used to tear the whole gun down and detail clean it. Then I bought a Glock. Glocks have a form of what appears to be copper anti-seize lubricant on the slide rails and frame. One shouldn’t “clean” this lube away. The only reason I read the manual was the guy selling me my first Glock told me that I should and to follow the lubrication instructions.

To me, it is something of a game. Unless there is something obviously unsafe, I like to see how the gun will perform "as delivered." It isn't a particularly meaningful test, and I don't pass it off as such. It is just a point of curiosity for me.

too easy not to

Most definitely, first I field strip the gun for cleaning and oiling and if I see anything that looks unusual it gets corrected before shooting.

Unless it is packed in a preservative/protectant, that needs to be removed, there is no need to “clean.” I will wipe away anything that should not be there, if present, apply lubricant, and shoot.

Some weapons are packed with the “break-in” lubricant already applied, which is intended to be left in place, for the first however-many number of rounds. The owner’s manual should provide information on this.

Rexster said:

Unless it is packed in a preservative/protectant, that needs to be removed, there is no need to “clean.” I will wipe away anything that should not be there, if present, apply lubricant, and shoot.

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Agreed. I don't miss the smell of cosmoline.

Yup, I do. Sometimes I find it was a waste of time, other times I'm glad I did. I just bought a new Sig. It didn't need anything but shot. At least it was easy to take apart and put back together.

Any new to me firearm (new or used), I do a field strip on and lubricate and inspect. In some cases, maybe a detail strip.