Reading The Manual
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TallPine
Member
No, unless the new gun is an action type that I am unfamiliar with
I scan the manual for any special care and then file it away with the receipt stapled to the inside front cover.
I scan the manual for any special care and then file it away with the receipt stapled to the inside front cover.
41mag
Member
If I have a problem I skim the manual until I find the solution.
I have always read them if only for the purpose of learning to properly tear it down and clean it. Usually end up going through the whole thing though. There is a lot of repetitive stuff in most gun manuals though. How many times do you need to read how to load a magazine? The gun safety stuff is good, but it is repetitive also.
Control Group
Member
I went with "I usually read only parts of the manual I feel are needed to operate it safely but not always," because it's closest to the right answer, but it's still not quite right. I can't claim to read the whole manual, because I always skip the parts that explain: if I hear something odd, I should take it to a gunsmith, if it fails to fire, I should take it to a gunsmith, if anything more than the slide needs to come off, I should take it to a gunsmith, etc., etc. I don't feel bad skipping that.
I also skip anything that explains to me how to use the included cable lock.
I also, admittedly, skip the portions of the manual that are restatements of the four rules.
I do, however, always read every word about the functioning and maintenance of the gun (where each control is, how to field strip the gun, which parts in particular need cleaning/lubing, etc.)
I also skip anything that explains to me how to use the included cable lock.
I also, admittedly, skip the portions of the manual that are restatements of the four rules.
I do, however, always read every word about the functioning and maintenance of the gun (where each control is, how to field strip the gun, which parts in particular need cleaning/lubing, etc.)
RUBZERK
Member
I read mine & then had it read to me & then read it again just for the heck of it.
Bayou Boy
Member
Same as above. I look at the manual to learn how to strip the firearm. The other 20 pages or so are usually about the same in every manual anyway.
I do read all the manuals that come with a firearm, but I also only scan many parts of it. So my response is actually a mix of #1 and #3.
Red Tornado
Member
It depends on when I pick it up. If I can't go to the range immediately, I usually skim the same parts as everyone else. If I can hit the range, I'll glance at it for safety features.
RT
RT
Technosavant
Member
I try to read the manual before even buying the gun, let alone using it. Most manufacturers have a manual available for download, and I go through it as part of my research before purchase.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Hey, I've been a Macintosh guy twenty years now. All these things work about alike, right?
Actually, I do look at manuals as needed.
Actually, I do look at manuals as needed.
As usual with these polls, there's not a category that fits me. I skip the parts that read something like "CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION!!! If you're a moron, please don't attempt to use this product. Set it down on the floor and back away."
I will read the parts that say how to disassemble and assemble the thing. Hell, I *still* sometimes have to break out the manual to get my Ruger Mk2 back together.
Tim
I will read the parts that say how to disassemble and assemble the thing. Hell, I *still* sometimes have to break out the manual to get my Ruger Mk2 back together.
Tim
Control Group
Member
TimRB: exactly what I was trying to say, but you said it better.
TimRB,
I guess I goofed and left the choices to open to interpretation. When I gave a choice about reading parts of the manual to be able to operate the gun safely, I did not mean general firearms gun safety rules per se, nor rules for morons, but specific info for the particular gun in question on how to operate/disassemble, reassemble and so forth (operate safely). You actually fit right in with the one that says you read the manual but only the parts that would allow you to operate it safely - just my poor choice of wording.
All the best,
GB
gb
To quote a friend of mine, if you guys used the manuals, us guys in IT would be out of a job.
I'm betting a gunsmith or two has said the same thing.
Sometimes the manuals are funny... in unintentional ways. Sometimes they are informative (oh crap I can't shoot +p++ out of this thing?) sometimes downright scary (oh THAT's why the damn thing went off and blew a hole in my Gameboy)
I'm betting a gunsmith or two has said the same thing.
Sometimes the manuals are funny... in unintentional ways. Sometimes they are informative (oh crap I can't shoot +p++ out of this thing?) sometimes downright scary (oh THAT's why the damn thing went off and blew a hole in my Gameboy)
After seeing all the replies to the poll with the overwhelming 'read it all choice', I'll have my son sit down tonight and read the whole Ruger 10/22 manual. Even though he is familiar with one it cannot hurt especially since he is 15 and his noggin is kind of hard like the old man's. Maybe there is a bit of new stuff for him to learn but, most will be old for him. Still repetition may help to sink in the basic safety rules and the 10/22 operation just a little deeper until they are second nature. The rest of the manual may tell him something about the ridiculous situation we all find ourselves in because of leftists, politicians, lawyers, law suits and greed.
It is amazing how many times they have to bop you over the head with warnings, cautions and other safety stuff because they are afraid of law suits and politicians. Out of the first six pages there are about 5 full pages of warnings. In among those pages you can also find the table of contents and the first two paragraphs of the operating instructions. This is all followed by the rest of the manual which goes to page 53. Since the manual started on page 3 that makes it 51 pages long not including the back and front covers. In that space it contains 18 additional warnings/cautions (in addition to the already mentioned warnings within the first 6 pages) in individual text boxes throughout. My guess is that the other text boxed warnings/cautions amount to about another 5 or 6 pages. This does not include additional red colored text (also meant to warn) that is in among the regular black text of the instructions. Nor am I including the 4 pages of general firearms safety rules as warnings/cautions. Unbelievable.
It is, I think, time to put a leash on the greedy lawyers, their greedy clients and the sky is the limit law suits. Then maybe we could all own guns without half of the hassle. Ccertainly we would at least be saving a tree or two each because of the amount of pages that could be cut out of those manuals and the amount of paperwork that would be kept out of the courts.
Oh well so much for getting sidetracked.
All the best,
Glenn B
It is amazing how many times they have to bop you over the head with warnings, cautions and other safety stuff because they are afraid of law suits and politicians. Out of the first six pages there are about 5 full pages of warnings. In among those pages you can also find the table of contents and the first two paragraphs of the operating instructions. This is all followed by the rest of the manual which goes to page 53. Since the manual started on page 3 that makes it 51 pages long not including the back and front covers. In that space it contains 18 additional warnings/cautions (in addition to the already mentioned warnings within the first 6 pages) in individual text boxes throughout. My guess is that the other text boxed warnings/cautions amount to about another 5 or 6 pages. This does not include additional red colored text (also meant to warn) that is in among the regular black text of the instructions. Nor am I including the 4 pages of general firearms safety rules as warnings/cautions. Unbelievable.
It is, I think, time to put a leash on the greedy lawyers, their greedy clients and the sky is the limit law suits. Then maybe we could all own guns without half of the hassle. Ccertainly we would at least be saving a tree or two each because of the amount of pages that could be cut out of those manuals and the amount of paperwork that would be kept out of the courts.
Oh well so much for getting sidetracked.
All the best,
Glenn B
lee n. field
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Don't always get a manual. Milsurp Makarov, anyone?
I'll read it, skip the obligatory safety section, read up on the controls and how to field strip.
I'll read it, skip the obligatory safety section, read up on the controls and how to field strip.
mcmoyer
Member
I read the manuals for everything that comes with one....from guns to coffee pots. It's an old habit.
Hell, I even read cereal boxes before I dig in!!
Hell, I even read cereal boxes before I dig in!!
JohnBT
Member
I read the barrel on a Ruger once. Does that count?
And I read the manual for my dad's new shotgun. Since it wasn't my gun I wanted to make sure I didn't foul it up somehow. I hope the parts of the manual written in Italian, Spanish and all those other languages didn't have something important in them.
I usually read the parts of the manual about dry firing and assembly. I can take 'em apart, but I appreciate a manual that helps me put them back together. I also like to know how far I have to send them to get them fixed.
John
And I read the manual for my dad's new shotgun. Since it wasn't my gun I wanted to make sure I didn't foul it up somehow. I hope the parts of the manual written in Italian, Spanish and all those other languages didn't have something important in them.
I usually read the parts of the manual about dry firing and assembly. I can take 'em apart, but I appreciate a manual that helps me put them back together. I also like to know how far I have to send them to get them fixed.
John
stevelyn
Member
Only for field stripping and part #s.
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