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What's the best way to break in a new pistol?
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Thanks for the good comments.Clean lube, shoot. What type bullets depends on the gun.
The reality is that what you are breaking in is the user. It takes a few hundred rounds to initially get proficient with a new firearm.
3. Shoot a few hundred rounds, using 124 gr bullets.
Probably not a good idea unless you're shooting a 9mm ;-)
Read your manual, see if and or where it says to put oil, not just the slide channel. sometimes its the barrel or other places.
More of a concern with rifles, but its advisable to run a lightly olef patch down the barrel to clean out and debri or machining /protective oil from the inside of the barrel.
Clean it
Oil it
Shoot it
Most modern pistols do not need to be broken in, unless you bought a high dollar competition gun that is fitted very tightly. But cleaning the gun, and shooting it to make sure its working properly is reccomended.
More of a concern with rifles, but its advisable to run a lightly olef patch down the barrel to clean out and debri or machining /protective oil from the inside of the barrel.
Clean it
Oil it
Shoot it
Most modern pistols do not need to be broken in, unless you bought a high dollar competition gun that is fitted very tightly. But cleaning the gun, and shooting it to make sure its working properly is reccomended.
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Read the manual. Guns aren't all the same. I've learned a lot about guns just reading manuals.
Field strip and clean. During that process:
Shoot it. I've not had issues with ammo preference (in terms of bullet weight) during break-in with centerfire guns, but rimfires may want to be broken in with certain types of ammo.
Sometimes a gun will have some hiccups the first time to the range. I have one pistol where each of the magazines had a weird malfunction the first time they were loaded/shot. The rounds would bind in the magazine and cause a jam. Then they never did it again. That kind of thing is somewhat unusual, but still, I wouldn't freak out if there were some minor issues with the very first time the gun was shot.
Then take it home and repeat the strip and clean. Check for excessive wear, to see if anything changed, and then reapply lube where applicable based on the manufacturer's guidance and based on where you see wear.
Next time at the range I wouldn't expect to see any malfunctions.
Not sure exactly what you mean by the "slide channel", but if you mean the firing pin channel, don't put any lube in there. If you have a dry lubricant, you can apply some to the firing pin channel sparingly, but usually firing pins don't need any lubricant.
Field strip and clean. During that process:
- Remove excessive lube. Some of the lube is there as a preservative, but in some cases, some of it is there to facilitate break in and you don't necessarily want to strip it all off. Had a guy call me from his rental range. He had a new gun that wasn't working. He had used an ultrasonic cleaner to clean the gun and that completely stripped all the lube. Then he re-oiled it, but didn't get all the lube points covered and the gun wouldn't run. I put some oil on the spot he missed and it started working.
- Check things over to see if there are any problems and so you will be able to tell if things change after you shoot it.
Shoot it. I've not had issues with ammo preference (in terms of bullet weight) during break-in with centerfire guns, but rimfires may want to be broken in with certain types of ammo.
Sometimes a gun will have some hiccups the first time to the range. I have one pistol where each of the magazines had a weird malfunction the first time they were loaded/shot. The rounds would bind in the magazine and cause a jam. Then they never did it again. That kind of thing is somewhat unusual, but still, I wouldn't freak out if there were some minor issues with the very first time the gun was shot.
Then take it home and repeat the strip and clean. Check for excessive wear, to see if anything changed, and then reapply lube where applicable based on the manufacturer's guidance and based on where you see wear.
Next time at the range I wouldn't expect to see any malfunctions.
Not sure exactly what you mean by the "slide channel", but if you mean the firing pin channel, don't put any lube in there. If you have a dry lubricant, you can apply some to the firing pin channel sparingly, but usually firing pins don't need any lubricant.
Fine advice, though I would raise two points...
Often a beginner will have no idea what is, and isn't "excessive".
At metal to metal contact points, the finish (blue, or whatever) will get worn off. A degree of this is normal and not excessive.
My other point is, that most people who aren't well versed in the terminology think of the "slide channel" as being where the slide fits over (or inside, depending on design) of the frame rails.
Field strip, clean, and properly relubricate is also sound advice for any used (but new to me) gun. This gives you a "clean slate" starting point for evaluating how the gun performs.
Often a beginner will have no idea what is, and isn't "excessive".
At metal to metal contact points, the finish (blue, or whatever) will get worn off. A degree of this is normal and not excessive.
My other point is, that most people who aren't well versed in the terminology think of the "slide channel" as being where the slide fits over (or inside, depending on design) of the frame rails.
Field strip, clean, and properly relubricate is also sound advice for any used (but new to me) gun. This gives you a "clean slate" starting point for evaluating how the gun performs.
Read the manual. Guns aren't all the same. I've learned a lot about guns just reading manuals.
Yes, purchased a 1911 a couple of years ago and the manufacturer specially said to shoot 300 to 500 rounds before cleaning.