New pistol....clean before 1st use?

I almost never buy a new gun, but when I do, I don't think I've ever made a point of cleaning one first. I might have, but it's not a policy.

Inspect it? Yes, that's different. I did that back before I ever said "I'll take it."

Now, it won't hurt anything, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

The only exception has been Com-Bloc millsurps. Those I clean. And clean again.
 
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You can wipe the cleaner off and apply oil, no need to leave the parts out to dry. They are easy to take apart and clean, but you could always watch a YouTube video or ask someone at the gun shop. I always clean a new gun prior to shooting as it only adds a few extra minutes. Many NIB firearms have been sitting for years.
 
^Yes, watch a YouTube video on how to field strip, clean, and lubricate your Beretta, then do that to your gun before taking it to the range. You will have your pick of videos because of the popularity of the M92.

Each of my new pistols had a light amount of grease that was easily removed with 90% isopropanol (rubbing alcohol -- cheap and readily available at your pharmacy, dries very quickly, and is nontoxic as long as you don't drink it). The magazines were especially coated with a waxy substance, so I dismantled them and cleaned them inside and out, then lubricated them inside and out with car wax, then buff before reassembling (car wax does not attract dirt).
 
I have seen pistols arrive with packing grease, and others come out of the box bone dry. I haven't seen metal filings, but I am not willing to dispute those who say they have. Field strip, clean and lube for me.
 
I have done both, clean and lube, shot right out of the box. I believe clean and lube is the best. Enjoy your gun.
 
I have done both, clean and lube, shot right out of the box. I believe clean and lube is the best. Enjoy your gun.
 
If I do buy a brand spanking new firearm I will always give it a clean and lube. Most of the guns I buy are pre-owned and in a dire need of cleaning.
 
I've never shot a gun fresh out of the box. I want everything the factory has put on as a "preservative" or such, off, and not "baked on" in firing, so to speak. I prefer certain cleaners, lubes, and greases, and everything I've bought has gotten that treatment before firing.
 
Why wouldn't you clean it? The factory didn't clean it before they boxed it up and shipped it, it got an external wipe down with a preservative and most of the dust and grit was blown out, but that's about it.
 
READ THE OWNERS MANUAL.

Don't think I have ever seen a manual that didn't tell the new owner to field strip and clean the gun. If for nothing else, your own piece of mind that there is no foreign objects in the barrel and that the gun is properly cleaned and properly lubed. And after the gun gets put back together, don't forget the all important function check to make sure it works properly. After you have completed all of the above, take it to the range and enjoy it.

If you make cleaning the gun part of the overall experience, it becomes fun instead of just a chore you would rather not do.
 
Another vote for, read the owner's manual and follow instructions. It will probably say, strip and clean before first use, but I've never owned a Beretta so I don't know for sure. I've bought guns that were fine to fire out of the box (my 340PD revolver for example), and guns that required extensive cleaning - my P210 for example, was packed in grease to the point that it would fail to reset even after cleaning. I had to take the hammer/sear mechanism out and clean it ultrasonically before it would fire reliably.
 
I always test fire before disassembling anything. It isn't difficult to make a small assembly mistake the first time you re-assemble something mechanical. Best to be sure it worked before I messed with it. Since it is not properly lubed I might expect a hiccup here or there, but a bullet should come out the end when I pull the trigger.
Best not to run too many rounds through it without correctly applying lubricant and making sure there are no FODs inside.
 
Thanks for the advice. Cleaning seems to be the logical course. This will be the 1st time I have ever cleaned a gun. If I use solvent, I need to let it dry for awhile before lubing it?

I use a Q-Tip to clean the hard to get areas, slide and frame rails and groves. Always use a clean Q-Tip when dipping into the solvent bottle, otherwise you will contaminate it. Run a clean Q-Tip to clean the solvent off. Use a clean Q-Tip with grease and run it along the rail and groves of the frame and slide, a thin film is all that is needed. After reassembly I work the slide back and forth a few times and wipe off any excess grease.
 
ALWAYS clean and relube a new gun. As others said - it's not always lubricating oil on a new gun - it can be a packing preservative to avoid rust.

I've seen SO many new gun threads on various gun forums where the 1st trip went horrible for the new gun owner. Then, they go home and clean the gun. Next trip goes fine.

Do yourself a favor and just do it right the first time :D
 
Exactly^^^. It can only benefit the firearm, doesn't take long, lets you get a better look at it for defects.
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I almost never clean a new pistol before shooting other than running a couple patches down the bore. I've heard others mention looking for defects but I'm not sure what type of defects you might encounter.
 
I almost never clean a new pistol before shooting other than running a couple patches down the bore. I've heard others mention looking for defects but I'm not sure what type of defects you might encounter.
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Improper machining that slipped past QC, perhaps a chipped feed ramp on an auto, metal chips inside, voids in cast parts that also slipped past QC, and so on.

Globs of grease in the wrong places can cause malfunctions, even possible ADs.

It can and has happened.

It's common sense to clean a gun before you first shoot it.
 
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