How Do You Clean A New Handgun?

M

montelores

New member
I'm curious about how people clean and prep their new handguns prior to firing. Also, does anyone use any particular type of bullet/cartridge the first time? Is barrel break-in a consideration?

Thank you,

Monty
 
I just claen as normal to be sure to get any preservative out of the barrel and to be sure it is lubed to spec. Barrel break in is not needed, and in my opinion is vastly overrated even with rifles.
 
The main reasons I usually clean my guns before firing are:

  1. For Familiarization (This is part of my routine that involves reading the manual and learning to operate and field-strip the firearm)
  2. To Look for Problems. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes you find things wrong. I found a bunch of what appeared to be bead-blasting media in the recesses of a new gun once, for example.
  3. So I know how the gun looked BEFORE I fired it. That way when I come back from the range I don't have to wonder if it was that way when I bought the gun or if that happened to the gun at the range.
  4. To get it clean and properly lubricated. I've never bought a new gun that didn't benefit from being cleaned and properly lubricated. They never seem to come from the factory perfectly ready to take to the range.

I clean a new gun just like I would clean one I just shot but it usually takes less effort.
 
I like to clean any gun before I shoot it. Just disassemble, clean, reassemble, check that the action is ok and go shooting. No need to worry about the ammo as long as you don't shoot lead reloads from a polygonal barrel.
 
I do have the habit of cleaning the gun before I shoot it. I also change the mags every month (rotate fresh ones and let the last one used "rest").

As far as ammo is concerned, I like to test fire different bullet types and brands just to assure all is well.

It's time consuming to maintain your guns, but I make sure to take at least better care of them than I do our cars. They're just as important. :)
 
Today 02:45 AM
snowdog650 Visit this site:

http://www.sigsauer.com/CustomerServ...nceGuides.aspx

Of course, your weapon might be different from the Sigs outlined in the videos, but it gives you a good idea on how to clean a semi-auto nonetheless.
Click to expand...

Snowdog,
Thanks for the link. I watched the lubrication part and the guy wiped the inside of his magazine down with oil, then ran a clean, dry clothe back thru it.
I have NEVER lubed the inside of any of my magazines.

Has anybody else ever oiled / lubed inside their magazines? I'd be interested in hearing if you do or not.
 
I'll field strip and clean a new (to me) handgun for many of the same reasons JohnKSa mentioned above.

I don't use any special break-in procedure for handgun barrels. I try to clean the barrel before changing from copper bullets to lead and vice versa, but that's about it.
 
Terry, I do clean and lube my mags. But use a dry lube that does not attract, but actually repels dirt and grit. If I don't drop my mags in the dirt, I usually just wipe the mags with a clean cloth while I inspect the parts. There are several products that seem to work OK. Mag-Slik (sp.?) is one. I don't see it often at my local gun pusher, but Brownell's carries it. See http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=7618/Product/MAG_SLICK for more info.
 
I strip and clean every new handgun. Grease the slides and moving parts on semi-autos. Wipe the bore with a patch and Break Free or Tetra to fill pores in new barrel and make cleaning easier.
 
Upon field stripping the weapon, I thoroughly clean all parts using a combination of Hoppes no.9 and Flitz polish (for the barrel). Then, I follow things up with a light coat of Weapon Shield.

For a new weapon, the main thing is to remove the packing grease and all of that junk. After you thoroughly clean it, I would suggest a quick function check. In addition, assuming this is a semi-auto, I would give the mags a quick cleaning as well...but, leave them dry inside (in terms of lube).

Regarding barrel "break in," I personally do not believe this is necessary for anything other than high-end rifles or perhaps handguns equipped with "competition" style barrels. However, I generally use only ball ammo for the first 100 rounds or so. But, this has less to do with "break in" and more to do with general (and inexpensive) test firing.
 
I generally take mine out of the box, look it over good, and shoot it.:eek: None of the firearms I have ever purchased (short of a chineese SKS) were overly full of packing grease.
 
Thanks to all for the advice -

My method has been to swab the barrel (and cylinder) with Hoppe's #9, then a dry patch until clean, then a spray of Rem-Oil down the barrel (and cylinder) and then a swab or two with a dry patch. Primarily, I'm concerned about any preservative/shipping grease/machining remnants.

For an auto, the slide is removed and the rails wiped with an oily rag until clean and the innards inspected and sprayed and wiped with oil (again, to remove any metal bits).

Then, I drip or spray some oil into any "hinged" area (hammer, trigger, slide locks, safeties, etc.) and try to exercise the part.

The exterior is wiped with oil to remove factory grease or preservative.

Monty
 
I field strip,clean,oil barrel and all visible surfaces. Mags are just as important to strip and clean also. Factory production gun, since I don`t competition shoot, break in of barrel will happen over time with normal shooting and cleaning.
 
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