Do you clean new handgun before first firing?

I am in the crowd (maybe a few, rather than crowd) that reads the manual first. Most manuals I can recall indicate the firearm should be cleaned and lubed prior to first shooting. Some even provide a "break-in" schedule of rounds to be fired between cleanings (DW comes to mind).

 

Always, but that could be because I get them home before I get them to the range. With used guns, you never know what you'll find in there upon takedown. With a new gun, to at least get the preservative, machining oil and stuff off.

 

LOL, tell me about it! Saw that in the Glock manual after bringing new gun home and totally cleaning it with soaked cotton patches. I figure I could always reapply the copper anti-seize inside the slide.

The brand new Glock is now meticulously clean and properly lubricated, so it probably is not really worth the effort of finding, buying, and applying the Loctite copper anti-seize.

 

Hell yes, I clean them, and lube them. This removes manufacturing debris that's been missed along the way, and re-establishes a good working surface for all parts. Rod

 

Field-strip, clean and lube, always. If for no other reason, to learn the process before my first outing. Some I've found to not really need it, some were atrocious.

 

I can’t wait to get my new firearm home and fully disassembled on the bench for clean and lube. Figuring out how it works, what is rough, what needs what kind of lube, what needs replacing or improving. Then it goes back together and I spend the next 6 months buying dies, brass, bullets, and figuring out how to best tune it. Then something shinier comes along and it sits in the safe for a decade or two till it catches my eye again.

 

most manuals I've seen have a strongly worded instruction to remove the storage lube from the bore, and to clear the bore all the time before shooting

 

Yes Sometimes they get cleaned and fired , sometimes fired then cleaned .

 

Thanks for all the replies! I'm planning to get a new Glock 19 this week. The manual does say that one should run clean patches through the barrel before firing the first time, and to clean and lube before first use. I think I'll just field strip it and run patches through at the range.

 

Americans don’t need to read manuals or instructions
Ask any mechanic , service rep , help desk person , sales person , service tech etc!

 

I do...I love to see what makes them tick. It's a great way to get familiar with it.

 

Well, I was an Armorer and a gunsmith. What do you think I'd do?

 

I do. Take a look around and get a feel for it before you shoot it. QC isn't what it once was.

 

If I buy it at a range, I'd shoot it, without cleaning, but I generally don't go to public ranges anymore. If it's factory new, I give it a light clean and lube. If it's used, I prefer to field strip, clean, and also clean the firing pin, channel, and spring. Just my OCD, I guess.

 

Why would I clean all the break-in grease on my new Glock before shooting?

 

I ran into a fellow who was having issues with his new Glock not feeding and ejecting properly. I asked him if he cleaned it prior to shooting it. He said no. But it worked when he 1st shot it. So while i was cleaning it the best i could on the field. I explained the importance of cleaning a new gun. After i was done he tried his gun. It ran a mag of ammo through it fine. I told him when he gets home. Get the book out. And clean and lube it according to their instructions. This was his 1st firearm. He was happy i could help. And thanked me for the tip too.

 

That's certainly not a bad thing, especially if it's one you're not super familiar with already.

 

As already mentioned, it depends on what it is and what the manual says. Most of mine other than Glock get at least an application of lube before firing the first time.

 

I do. I field strip them, run a patch through the barrel and add a drop of oil to the points that require it. Sometimes I find some nasty trash in the barrel or action and sometimes I don't find anything.

 

I disassemble and clean my new guns before going to the range. I inspect it completely to see if anything may be wrong, When I know it functions correctly I take it to the range and wring it out with at least 100 rounds to break it in.

When I get home I clean it completely, oil it and put it in the safe for my next outing.

 

I've bought brand new guns that weren't range ready with something mechanically unacceptable. I hate burning a range day with a gun I should've checked out more thoroughly.

So, from my own experience, I prefer not to take a new gun straight to the range. Which can be fairly hard to make myself do if I bought a gun from a place with a shooting range in the building. Which means I try not to look at the gun counter until after my range session is over with the guns I brought with me.

 

I'm guessing the op got the answer by now. I'm generally in the "read the manual first" crowd. I actually look forward to doing a field strip and cleaning to check it all out. Since I use frogslube (now be nice everyone) it's pretty much required any how. I also enjoy cleaning them after every trip, it makes for a relaxing day for me.

 

I believe that you should.....but, don’t always follow my own advice!

There could be fine metal shavings or particles left from the machining process that could do damage to the new firearm! memtb

 

I have only purchased used guns, and they always get stripped to the bones, cleaned, inspected, and lubricated before use. I imagine a new pistol would at least get field stripped and inspected, and any preservative from the manufacturer removed.

 

Field strip, inspect, clean & lube as required.