Bought a new AR...

[SilentStalker]

So, I bought a new AR off of a trusted family member of a friend. it is a friend of mine's dad I have known most of my life, roughly 26 years.Known him since I was 5 years old. anyways I just bought an old Bushmaster off of him for a relatively good price. Is there anything I should check out on this thing for safety before going to the range with it? Like, should I go get a gunsmith to look it over or do you think I would be fine checking a few things on my own and testing it out. What is the minimum I should be looking at here to make sure this thing is safe to fire. What tools, etc. would I need to do so?

 

[provoartkaa]

Two loaded 30 round mags, factory ammo, have fun.

 

[youngda9]

Make sure the barrel isn't plugged.

 

[ny32182]

Unless you have some reason to suspect it is unsafe... I'd load it up and fire away.

 

[SpentCasing]

check to make sure everything has been staked properly.

 

[moxie]

Here we have "an old Bushmaster." People are recommending it be fired without at least function checking it and making sure the barrel is clear?

Clean and lube it. Make sure barrel is clear and clean. Pay special attention to the bolt that all is moving freely. Function check by cocking and pulling the trigger several times. It should go click each time. Safety check by moving the selector to safe when cocked. Pull the trigger. Nothing should happen. Move the selector to fire. Pull the trigger. The hammer should fall, go click. If all this is good, load it and fire away.

 

[Well Now]

Another check the barrel. Make sure there aren't several thousand dollars in rolled up bills that are plugging the barrel.

 

[john5036]

Clean and lube it.

This one ^

Then go have some fun!

 

[hardluk1]

Go back to this trusted family friend and have them give you a detailed course in dis-assembly for a good cleaning and then assembly of it . Note if he has issue with doing it easily. That can tell you how much he knows and how well the rifle was taken care of. OR find a you tube video on disassemble and assembly , cleaning and do it all first. Clean your rifle and lube it put it back together and then go enjoy it. Just don't start burning ammo till you can manage that.

 

[Gtimothy]

This works for me....

The very first thing I do with any gun (after the usual clearing and verifying) is take it apart, clean it and lube it. Doesn't matter if its brand new or just new to me. This is the best way to check for worn out or defective parts and it lets me become familiar with the way the gun functions, well at least it works for me that way... If you don't have a manual, get one! You can even download one from the internet in PDF format. They are very helpful!

Enjoy your new AR!

 

[sgtstryker]

I'm with hardluk1, the previous owner should have gone over it with you, explained some things. I only say this because you are close friends. It's a fairly easy rifle to get to know. Pretty much whats been said is enough to get you started. After you have fired it, more specific questions might come up with you. Ask away..

 

[GCMkc]

Make sure the barrel is free of obstructions and oil her down. Should be good to go.

 

[SilentStalker]

Now when...

I should have been a little more specific I guess. He probably did not show me much because he knows this is not my first AR, however I am still a newbie. Now when you guys say to oil her down do you mean the internals and externals or just one or the other. I do not usually use oil on the BCG but I use hi-temp bearing grease in all of the necessary spots. It works like a charm. I guess my main concern was that I was thinking about getting another BCG for it from BCM and then I would need to check headspace and stuff, correct? Or, am I putting too much thought into this?

 

[y.old.ndn]

Another check the barrel. Make sure there aren't several thousand dollars in rolled up bills that are plugging the barrel.

Are you speaking from experience?

 

[taliv]

use oil, not grease on the BCG

do a "function check" (do a search). it's more than it going bang or not depending on selector position. it checks to make sure the disconnector is capturing the hammer after the action cycles.

i would inspect the action spring and the extractor too. check the gas rings.
make sure the castle nut (if it has one) and gas key are not loose.

in theory, a new BCG from bravo co should work fine. if you have some disposable income, investing in a set of go/no go gages to check headspace isn't a bad idea.

really, it depends on how much it has been shot.

 

[Sky]

Clean and lube it. Make sure barrel is clear and clean. Pay special attention to the bolt that all is moving freely. Function check by cocking and pulling the trigger several times. It should go click each time. Safety check by moving the selector to safe when cocked. Pull the trigger. Nothing should happen. Move the selector to fire. Pull the trigger. The hammer should fall, go click. If all this is good, load it and fire away.

use oil, not grease on the BCG

do a "function check" (do a search). it's more than it going bang or not depending on selector position. it checks to make sure the disconnector is capturing the hammer after the action cycles.

i would inspect the action spring and the extractor too. check the gas rings.
make sure the castle nut (if it has one) and gas key are not loose.

If you are a true newbie go to youtube and spend a few hours watching cleaning and maintenance of your new weapon. If you know how to already disassemble and clean your new AR then don't just clean but inspect too.

Get some Breakfree CLP at Wal-Mart lube it and shoot it...congrats on your new weapon.

 

[JustinJ]

In addition to dry fire function checking and makings sure the barrel is clear i'd inspect the bolt for any cracks or chips. Also, makes sure the gas key on top of the carrier is tight and secure with no movement.

 

[Ramone]

All good advice above, to which I would add:

load your first mag with One (1) round, your second with two (2), your third with three (3).

after that, load as you like.

This just makes sure that your new rifle isn't going to 'double' or go FA with a full mag, and that any severe jams can be deal without having to wrestle a full mag out.

 

[Agent Tikki]

The only safety thing I'd check is the throat and bore. A simple look down the barrel and a go/no go gauge is all that's needed, if you want to go to a gunsmith, by all means! go for it!

after that, go for it.