Cleaning new pistol 5 times between shots before firing?

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jawman

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Here's where my question comes from:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/perry/perry51.1.html

Basically, the author is suggesting that when you get your new gun, do the following before normal shooting:

  1. Clean: Run 1 wet patch of solvent through the barrel. Then run a wet brush or boresnake with solvent through the barrel. Then run dry patches through the barrel until they come out clean and dry.
  2. Shoot 1 round.
  3. Clean it again, following the same cleaning procedure as stated above in #1.
  4. Shoot 2 rounds.
  5. Clean again as outlined in #1.
  6. Shoot 3 rounds.
  7. Clean again as outlined in #1.
  8. Shoot 4 rounds.
  9. Clean again as outlined in #1.
  10. Shoot 5 rounds.
  11. Clean again as outlined in #1.

Now you are ready to do "normal" shooting, and shoot as much as you like.


Okay, so is this truly helpful and a good idea to do or is it overkill?

I know everyone has a different opinion and the answers will vary, but I'd like to hear what everyone has to say on this.

Edit: If you agree with this, please explain why. If you do not agree, please explain why. If you agree somewhat and also disagree somewhat, well you get the picture.
 
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This sort of break in ritual is hotly debated for target rifle barrels.

It is of no use in a pistol. I do agree with his recommendation to clean thoroughly before shooting, though. One of the very early TV shooting shows had a host who believed in cleaning a new barrel with soap and boiling water.
 
I know some who do this with rifles, none who do so with pistols. These days, my new handguns are lucky to get a patch down the bore before I start shooting them. I check the bore for debris, load, and go. Has yet to show any ill effects.
 
Ha! The inside of most pistol barrels are so rough from the factory, that a little fouling might help smooth them out!

Seriously though, there are so many factors contributing to accuracy (or lack thereof) in a semi-auto pistol, that barrel break-in just isn't a factor.

Since you wanted specifics, here's what comes immediately to mind...

You only have a short sight radius to work with, and the sight picture is usually very coarse to speed sight alignment. The barrel-to-slide fit is often sloppy. Most chambers are loose to enhance feed reliability. Many barrels have a bore diameter that's actually a few thousandths OVER bullet diameter, which is extremely detrimental to accuracy.

With all of that said, the single biggest variable in a handgun accuracy system is the shooter -- most pistol shooters have a problem with trigger control, dropping shots low and left and then blaming it on the sights. Or having trouble hitting a 10" circle from 15 yards away, which is well within the mechanical accuracy capability of most any pistol.

It takes a lot of time and thousands of rounds to build skill in pistol shooting, and I wouldn't waste any of it on barrel break-in practices such as described above.
 
I am interested to see if anyone can defend this practice, because I certainly don't see the benefit of it.

But, then I have gone on record any number of times that I think most guns are over-cleaned anyway, an opinion that is shared by some and vilified by others. Ultimately, it doesn't really matter to me because they are not my guns and therefore I don't really care what people do with them maintenance wise.
 
Follow instructions in owners manual. Some firearms contain a grit paste to finish the polishing process,over first few hundred rounds.
 
Wow.

No, don't do that. That's a complete waste of time and cleaning supplies, and it'll make you look like a fool if somebody sees you.
 
I believe that procedure is for fussy old farts who don't have to be anywhere. Or perhaps for shooters who are more accustomed to shooting muzzle-loaders and haven' quite made the transition yet. :)

But seriously, there's nothing wrong with field stripping and cleaning the gun when you first take delivery of it, and inspecting the gun thoroughly for any issues. Not something I've ever done, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't.
 
I check to make sure there are no dirt dobber nests in the barrel and go shooting. :D

Seriously, I might clean a new gun if it's dripping goo from the factory, but I don't worry about it too much.

Anybody who follows the procedure in the OP must be younger than I am, and thinks he's going to live forever.
 
Completely unnecessary for a production pistol. When you get a $3k benchrest *barrel*, then you probably want to be over-cautious.

But seriously, there's nothing wrong with field stripping and cleaning the gun when you first take delivery of it, and inspecting the gun thoroughly for any issues.

This should ALWAYS be done when taking possession of a new gun. Checking the chamber for any signs of cracks, ensuring the safety(s) function properly. I once got a new (used) gun and the firing pin was broke. Took it out on the range and it was just 'click click click'. Now I always check over my guns when I take possession. Things can break even on new guns just being shipped from the factory.
 
Agreed with all above.

Do a thorough field strip, cleaning and oiling before shooting. Then run the gun through a warm up of 500-1,000 rds. Clean again and inspect.

Afterward, field strip and clean every 500-1,000 rds, and maybe detail strip and deep clean every 2,000-3,000.
 
It sounds like the author has severe OCD and wants to pass his rituals on to the next guy. Serious overkill and zero accuracy advantage.
 
My new book: "Zen and the Art of Spending More Time With a Cleaning Patch and a Bottle of Hoppes Than Pulling Triggers", should hit the shelves soon and will explain this in more detail... ;)
 
Serious overkill and zero accuracy advantage.

Aside from being OCD and overkill, excessive incorrect cleaning methods will damage a barrel far faster than just shooting it.
 
I'm with Tuj...... If I'm going to damage a barrel.... I'm gonna do it while shooting...Not while cleaning it... Shooting is way more fun.
 
I have zero inclination to take advice from someone who begins with a non sequitur and then proceeds to loudly proclaim the virtues of some practice without even the most basic explanation as to why that practice would be good. He (the author of the linked article) offers some explanation as to why one should clean before the first shot (which I agree with). He offers an argument in favor of loading 2 rounds first, which at least is not crazy. He offers NO argument or explanation for how cleaning between the first round and the second and third does anything beneficial, and certainly no justification for the subsequent stages.

Reminds me of the stuff one finds on performance car forums talking about various (and often diametrically-opposed) break-in regimens for car engines. At least there they have some theory that doing such-and-such causes the rings to seat better or something. Here, the guy just promises better accuracy and/or barrel life.
 
20:1 this is a rumor started by gun cleaning supplies companies.

Sent from my CZ85 Combat
 
Of course, it won't hurt anything if you do it. But I also only field strip and clean mine up before its first trip to the range and I clean my fired guns when I return even though many say they don't need it. They're mine and I like to keep them clean.

TB
 
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