New pistol, shoot or lube first?

bcrash15 · September 6, 2007, 01:57 PM

I'm going to pick up a new pistol in the next couple days. Are there any problems with shooting it immediately out of the box? When I buy a gun I normally like to try to break it down and make sure it is clean/lubed properly, but is it necessarily to be that obsessive with it? Thanks! I've very excited about it

Whirlwind06 · September 6, 2007, 02:04 PM

I believe it is in your best interest to clean and lube it first.

MyXD40 · September 6, 2007, 02:07 PM

I always break mine down, but noticed they are always clean, and lubed. Actually my first XD I bought I just took it out the box, and shot it within 10 minutes of buying it. Shot two hundred rounds through it. To this day, thousands and thousands and thoudands of rounds through it, no issues. (cleaned it of course when it does need a cleaning)

18DAI · September 6, 2007, 02:08 PM

I clean, lube, and examine both new, and new to me pistols, before firing them. I examine them closer, looking for wear, or damage, in case I missed anything in the shop, due to new toy syndrome. Regards 18DAI.

FNtastic! · September 6, 2007, 02:12 PM

Well... Just as yourself what you would want if someone came up and said that to you xD

Manedwolf · September 6, 2007, 02:52 PM

Clean and lube.

Factory preservatant lube is not the same as operational lubricant in a lot of guns.

Plus there may be metal shavings from manufacture. Clean it up.

JAYBIRD78 · September 6, 2007, 02:58 PM

I always break down the pistol and clean and re lubricate. However, I think on 90% of the new guns that I have purchased I could have just shot and got away with it. The one gun I definitely had to clean first was my new CZ P-01, it was covered it oil and wrapped in plastic from the factory. This always gives you a chance to look over the instruction manual for any odds and ends.

sholling · September 6, 2007, 03:05 PM

I clean and lube first. Thankfully the closest range has a cleaning table and supplies right there. The main thing is to at the very least run a brush through the bore to make sure it's clean and obstruction free. I also like to make sure the action feels like it's smoothly locking up before pulling the trigger the first time.

ZeSpectre · September 6, 2007, 03:25 PM

My rule of thumb...
New guns are lubed for shipping NOT shooting.

I'm also fussy enough to want a complete takedown and inspection before I ever run the first round through the gun. I also offer the same service to my friends who aren't comfortable with detail stripping their guns.

It's amazing how many things I've found (from metal shavings and grit all the way to mis-machined parts) that were best taken care of before you start to run the gun.

Ranger325 · September 6, 2007, 04:00 PM

Clean, inspect, lube................... shoot.
Repeat -

Regards,

PPGMD · September 6, 2007, 04:03 PM

I inspect, but I rarely lube, because most pistols are overlubed for shipping. I do cycle the slide a couple of times listening for any problems.

MichaelScott · September 6, 2007, 04:31 PM

Is it a Glock? If so then just shoot it. It'll be okay.

Not a Glock? Return it. Buy a Glock. Then go shoot it. It'll be okay.

Mark P. · September 6, 2007, 04:40 PM

Heh, Glock fanatics are always funny until their beloved ONLY pistol has a malfunction, then they are hilarious.

Hallucinator · September 6, 2007, 04:57 PM

I'd clean and lube it. New guns are sometimes really tight, and some slide grease is a good idea, otherwise you may get wear marks the first time you shoot it. The only time I've had a gun jam on me was when it was brand new, and it was because I didn't clean and lube (Sig 239).

Average Joe · September 6, 2007, 05:29 PM

Take it home, take it apart, and clean & lube before shooting the first time.

BigJimP · September 6, 2007, 06:52 PM

Wilson Combat ships their guns with a recommendation to shoot a couple hundred rounds thru it before you clean and lube it ........but I can't do it.

I always clean and lube a new gun before I take it to the range ......and I think it's important. But I also thoroughly clean and lube my guns every time I come home from the range.......nothing else makes any sense to me.

bcrash15 · September 6, 2007, 10:07 PM

Thanks everyone, popular consensus seems to be to make sure it's done right, so that is how I'll treat it. I'm also glad to hear I haven't been wasting my time when I did this previously. The only gun I haven't done this was a revolver. I didn't think there were too many parts I could screw up shooting it without cleaning (although if I were to do it over I would at least have done the barrel and chambers.)

Ocraknife · September 6, 2007, 10:53 PM

I always shoot first then clean. I have never had a problem. Your milage may vary.

ActivShootr · September 6, 2007, 11:13 PM

When all else fails...RTFM!!!!!

DGindlesperger · September 6, 2007, 11:20 PM

Clean and lube....them shoot the heck out of it, if it' a auto 500 rounds before the next cleaning.

**JohnKSa** · September 6, 2007, 11:49 PM

I generally read the manual through at least once, field strip the gun and examine it carefully before going to the range the first time.

CajunBass · September 7, 2007, 03:40 AM

I've never bothered to and never had a problem.

(Mil-Surps excepted. I take a couple of days to clean the goop out of those things.)

Manedwolf · September 7, 2007, 03:50 AM

Quote:

I'm also glad to hear I haven't been wasting my time when I did this previously.

Precaution of any sort when working with a gun is never wasted time.

TheNatureBoy · September 7, 2007, 06:51 AM

Its probably a good idea to check it out before firing. Like many others, I've taken a burner to the range with out checking it and haven't had any problems. Sure wouldn't hurt anything.

Don Lu · September 7, 2007, 07:03 AM

I would suggest reading the manual..For GLOCKS it actually reads

Quote:

"Note that the copper colored lubricant found on portions of the slide of brand new GLOCK pistols should not be removed, as it will help to provide long term lubrication of the slide"

September 6, 2007, 01:57 PM	#1
bcrash15 Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2007 Posts: 455	New pistol, shoot or lube first? I'm going to pick up a new pistol in the next couple days. Are there any problems with shooting it immediately out of the box? When I buy a gun I normally like to try to break it down and make sure it is clean/lubed properly, but is it necessarily to be that obsessive with it? Thanks! I've very excited about it

September 6, 2007, 02:07 PM	#3
MyXD40 Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2007 Posts: 541	I always break mine down, but noticed they are always clean, and lubed. Actually my first XD I bought I just took it out the box, and shot it within 10 minutes of buying it. Shot two hundred rounds through it. To this day, thousands and thousands and thoudands of rounds through it, no issues. (cleaned it of course when it does need a cleaning) __________________ $49.99

September 6, 2007, 02:08 PM	#4
18DAI Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2005 Location: NC Posts: 2,156	I clean, lube, and examine both new, and new to me pistols, before firing them. I examine them closer, looking for wear, or damage, in case I missed anything in the shop, due to new toy syndrome. Regards 18DAI. __________________ S&W Model 19 Combat Magnum. Everything you need in a revolver, and nothing you don't.

September 6, 2007, 02:12 PM	#5
FNtastic! Member Join Date: September 5, 2007 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 37	Well... Just as yourself what *you* would want if someone came up and said that to you xD __________________ God bless America... but thank Christ for Australia

September 6, 2007, 02:58 PM	#7
JAYBIRD78 Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2007 Location: People's Republik of Illinois...in "gun valley" Posts: 366	clean and lube first.......... I always break down the pistol and clean and re lubricate. However, I think on 90% of the new guns that I have purchased I could have just shot and got away with it. The one gun I definitely had to clean first was my new CZ P-01, it was covered it oil and wrapped in plastic from the factory. This always gives you a chance to look over the instruction manual for any odds and ends.

September 6, 2007, 02:04 PM	#2
Whirlwind06 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 998	I believe it is in your best interest to clean and lube it first.

September 6, 2007, 02:52 PM	#6
Manedwolf Junior member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Posts: 3,266	Clean and lube. Factory preservatant lube is not the same as operational lubricant in a lot of guns. Plus there may be metal shavings from manufacture. Clean it up.

September 6, 2007, 03:05 PM	#8
sholling Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 1999 Location: Hemet (middle of nowhere) California Posts: 4,261	I clean and lube first. Thankfully the closest range has a cleaning table and supplies right there. The main thing is to at the very least run a brush through the bore to make sure it's clean and obstruction free. I also like to make sure the action feels like it's smoothly locking up before pulling the trigger the first time. __________________ Proud Life Member: National Rifle Association, California Rifle & Pistol Association, and the Second Amendment Foundation. Annual Member: Revolutionary War Veterans Association (Project Appleseed) and the Madison Society.

September 6, 2007, 03:25 PM	#9
ZeSpectre Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Shenandoah Valley Posts: 3,276	My rule of thumb... New guns are lubed for shipping NOT shooting. I'm also fussy enough to want a complete takedown and inspection before I ever run the first round through the gun. I also offer the same service to my friends who aren't comfortable with detail stripping their guns. It's amazing how many things I've found (from metal shavings and grit all the way to mis-machined parts) that were best taken care of before you start to run the gun.

September 6, 2007, 04:00 PM	#10
Ranger325 Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 428	Clean, inspect, lube................... shoot. Repeat - Regards, __________________ Ranger325 "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. " George Orwell

September 6, 2007, 04:03 PM	#11
PPGMD Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Posts: 348	I inspect, but I rarely lube, because most pistols are overlubed for shipping. I do cycle the slide a couple of times listening for any problems.

September 6, 2007, 04:31 PM	#12
MichaelScott Member Join Date: June 6, 2006 Posts: 42	Is it a Glock? If so then just shoot it. It'll be okay. Not a Glock? Return it. Buy a Glock. Then go shoot it. It'll be okay.

September 6, 2007, 04:40 PM	#13
Mark P. Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2006 Posts: 108	Heh, Glock fanatics are always funny until their beloved ONLY pistol has a malfunction, then they are hilarious.

September 6, 2007, 04:57 PM	#14
Hallucinator Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Posts: 396	I'd clean and lube it. New guns are sometimes really tight, and some slide grease is a good idea, otherwise you may get wear marks the first time you shoot it. The only time I've had a gun jam on me was when it was brand new, and it was because I didn't clean and lube (Sig 239). __________________ Sig 226, 228, 229, 232. XD45 Tactical. Smith Model 60 Chief's Special. Smith 1911. Mossberg 930 SPX. How we behave as gun owners is important. Posturing and threatening does not serve us well in the public eye.

September 6, 2007, 05:29 PM	#15
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,325	Take it home, take it apart, and clean & lube before shooting the first time.

September 6, 2007, 06:52 PM	#16
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Wilson Combat ships their guns with a recommendation to shoot a couple hundred rounds thru it before you clean and lube it ........but I can't do it. I always clean and lube a new gun before I take it to the range ......and I think it's important. But I also thoroughly clean and lube my guns every time I come home from the range.......nothing else makes any sense to me.

September 6, 2007, 10:07 PM	#17
bcrash15 Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2007 Posts: 455	Thanks everyone, popular consensus seems to be to make sure it's done right, so that is how I'll treat it. I'm also glad to hear I haven't been wasting my time when I did this previously. The only gun I haven't done this was a revolver. I didn't think there were too many parts I could screw up shooting it without cleaning (although if I were to do it over I would at least have done the barrel and chambers.)

September 6, 2007, 10:53 PM	#18
Ocraknife Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2002 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,117	I always shoot first then clean. I have never had a problem. Your milage may vary. __________________ "The loudest sound you'll ever hear is a "bang" when you weren't expecting one." -Jimro

September 6, 2007, 11:13 PM	#19
ActivShootr Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2007 Posts: 1,040	When all else fails...RTFM!!!!!

September 6, 2007, 11:20 PM	#20
DGindlesperger Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2007 Location: Portland OR Posts: 124	Clean and lube....them shoot the heck out of it, if it' a auto 500 rounds before the next cleaning. __________________ Dan G. Ebrio quid faciamus nauta :barf:

September 6, 2007, 11:49 PM	#21
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,005	I generally read the manual through at least once, field strip the gun and examine it carefully before going to the range the first time. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

September 7, 2007, 03:40 AM	#22
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,768	I've never bothered to and never had a problem. (Mil-Surps excepted. I take a couple of days to clean the goop out of those things.) __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

September 7, 2007, 06:51 AM	#24
TheNatureBoy Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Posts: 1,204	Its probably a good idea to check it out before firing. Like many others, I've taken a burner to the range with out checking it and haven't had any problems. Sure wouldn't hurt anything.