I Just Bought a New Pistol…What Should I Do Before I Shoot It?

1. “Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.”

   If I treat it as if it’s loaded, how can I clean it? How can I dry fire it? How can I strip it?

   • Check it before field stripping it. Drop magazine, check chamber. Most field strip instructions should include that part. Check for loaded status on any gun before field stripping it, especially ones that require something crazy like a trigger pull before stripping down.

     Check it before dry firing. Some say never have live ammo in the same room as you and your gun when practicing with dry fire. Check you gun for live ammo and remove all live ammo from the area while practicing dry fire. Use snap caps as deemed necessary.

     When dry firing, never point at anything you can’t lose if the ammo were live (I know that’s more rule 2, but still something you should do when practicing dry fire).

     Check your gun everytime you pick it up and plan on doing something with it. I prefer to remember that even if I “know” it’s not loaded, to always treat my gun as if it were.

     You probably know these things, but in case someone were genuinely curious…

   • What? Are you NEW to COMMON SENSE??

     You CHECK the weapon for its condition when you PICK IT UP!!

     You TREAT is as LOADED BEFORE you pick it up and WHILE FIRST HANDLING it!

     THEN, you newbie, THEN you take care of stripping it, handling it, firing it.

     • If its a glock, best return it, or risk glock-leg or worse you could end up “(c)gl’ock-less”.

       Best carry without one in the chamber.

       • B.D,

         “Best carry without one in the chamber.”

         Please stop giving bad advice. A newbie might be ignorant enough to believe this.

       • I did not make that comment. Someone trolling under my initials. Sad.

         I own two Glocks.

       • AA

         Stick to your original screen name.

       • Probably our good friend Vlad fuckin around. He seems to have a hair up his ass about the whole “Glocks have no safeties” thing.

         And an apparent tendency to change screen names.

       • No, it’s one of the tools who got their ass handed to them on the “carry with a round in the chamber” debate. Seems like I won that battle, if this is the result. It’s actually funny, but I am worried about their mental health when people result to doing that kind of stuff. They have the ability to remain anonymous and say whatever they want, but still result to trolling like this. Speaks volumes for their IQ level.

   • Heh, heh, serious smart-ass… I bet you were a laugh in school. 🙂

     • Richard Steven Hack – You are the serious STUPID SMART ASS. I wouldn’t trust you a dull stick.. You always consider a weapon to be armed when you first pick it up – then you disarm it. Your best bet ids a water pistol….

   • Maybe you should just get a stick … not too sharp ….don’t hurt yourself.

   • Yeah. It’s worded poorly and people just parrot it as if it’s not. To make more sense it should read “Treat any firearm as if it is loaded until you personally check that it is fully unloaded.”

     • Agreed. I teach the cardinal safety rules worded like this:

       Always be aware of your muzzle, ensuring that you keep it pointed in the relative safest direction.

       Always keep your finger off the trigger and the gun on safe until you are on target and have an acceptable sight picture.

       Always be certain of your target, and its surroundings, ensuring the foreground and background remain clear.

       Always know the state of your gun, treating it as loaded every time you pick it up.

       • Just teach it as written in the NRA Basic Pistol/ Rifle course books. If you don’t have one, find an NRA certified instructor and take a course.
         I swear, everyone to this point in the comment section and probably beyond sounds ignorant. I am becoming more suspicious and wary of those that carry than criminals.

     • It’s not poorly worded, it’s intentionally simplified. Noobs have a lot to learn so compressing the signal is a must.

   • RULE 1
     ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
     The only exception to this occurs when one has a weapon in his hands and he has personally unloaded it for checking. As soon as he puts it down, Rule 1 applies again.
     RULE 2
     NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
     You may not wish to destroy it, but you must be clear in your mind that you are quite ready to if you let that muzzle cover the target. To allow a firearm to point at another human being is a deadly threat, and should always be treated as such.
     RULE 3
     KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER TIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
     This we call the Golden Rule because its violation is responsible for about 80 percent of the firearms disasters we read about.
     RULE 4
     BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
     You never shoot at anything until you have positively identified it. You never fire at a shadow, or a sound, or a suspected presence. You shoot only when you know absolutely what you are shooting at and what is beyond it.

     http://www.tincher.to/flyer.pdf

   • I suspect most will just load it …toss it in a drawer…and hope it works….

2. Read the manual, punch the tube, shoot a case of ammo through it.

3. I tell everyone field strip it clean off factory oil re-lube assemble rack the slide 15-20 times and repeat 4 times to break down burs in the slide as well as any factory crap getting knocked free. The next step is shooting it while heavily lubed for the first time to keep the action smoother than anything else. Teaches gun owners how to clean a gun and then how the gun should run smoothly.

4. The VERY FIRST thing to do on any firearm is assure that it is unloaded ! PERIOD. FULL STOP. Remember a year or so ago when Henry shipped a bunch of new guns out that had an unfired round in the chamber. It can happen. So make checking the chamber a reflex action on EVERY gun you handle. EVERY TIME.

5. better lubes — Shooters Choice FP10 best for the money. I tested it against Remoil

   NRA – MTM TB25 2500 and 3000 nano tech very advanced

   best grease no question Archoil High pressure nano tech its clear too. There 4400 oil is great too but its black MTM is white.

6. Well with the “lower” end pistola’s I’ve bought(Taurus) I make sure they run well. Rack the slide 100’s of times,clean the crap out of it, lube judiciously(I’ve been using Ballistol now)and work the trigger 100’s of times with snapcaps. And they run like a champ. Like the Keltec fluff and buff(but my PF9 sucked).

   • amazing how dirty a new gun is. But its normal all steel is porous and dirty. car engines and trans housing sma. I clean till the white lube no longer lifts dirt. My Tanfoglio all stainless took awhile. Alloy slides have less of course. These new nano tech lubes are fantastic.

7. First time I’ve ever done this. I took my new in the box g19 and ran it through a range session without cleaning it. Worked like it was supposed to.

   Prior to this every gun I’ve ever bought, new or used, got a cleaning before its first use.

   • I also did that with my Glock 22. Put it through the ringer right out of the box – easily 300 rounds the first day. I did add CLP before shooting. Took it home, cleaned it, then shot about 1,000 rounds that first week with it. (that’s what happens when christmas gifts come in the form of ammunition) It is 100% my favorite one and just feels amazingly perfect every time I shoot it. So easy to keep on target. I struggle A LOT with my g43 though, but confident enough to carry it. My S&W m2.0 3.6″ (about g19 size) also shoots well, but I cleaned it before I shot it. Questioning the cleaning before you shoot method lol. Next time I am going to just add clp, put some rounds down range, and clean it later. Break em in raw dog.

     • B.D. says; Break em in raw dog.

       LOL, and that says it all.

       Welcome out!

       • Your dad liked it too.

8. the first 4 rules list above is a good way to do it.period…why do we have to complain all the time, let it be,those rules are good solid rules.

9. Probably not hard to remember to clean excess grease off it – who wants that stuff all over your hands and clothes? If you can feel it, clean it.

10. I always clean / check barrel before I load any firearm I haven’t used before. Have seen lots of obstructions in supposedly clean guns stored in various government armouries. Mostly overuse of grease type lubricant.

11. 1.) Clear the firearm, always making sure!
    2.) Throw that stupid cable lock in the bone pile for other uses.
    3.) Peruse the Owner’s Manual for firearm specific info about disassembly/reassembly.
    4.) Strip, clean, properly lube without over-lubing, and reassemble.
    5.) Field strip and reassemble multiple time until you become so familiar you can pretty much do it with your eyes closed.
    6.) Record the serial number for your records.
    7.) Dry fire the heck out of it until you feel comfortable with the sight picture, functioning, and safety if one is present.
    8.) Take it to your favorite shooting spot and enjoy it.
    9.) Assuming you purchased a quality American-made firearm, do not buy into the idea it has to be fired hundreds of times to be deemed reliable. It is highly unlikely you will have any issues beyond some guns having certain ammo style failures-to-feed which can be corrected by using proper ammo.
    10.) Join the NRA and vote accordingly to preserve your God-given, Constitutionally-reaffirmed Rights and other freedoms.

    Any questions ask another knowledgeable gun owner. We are a generally very friendly and helpful community and would gladly help out another firearms enthusiast.

    • You were good up to number 10.

      • Agreed.

12. If it’s a Glock, it comes with some copper break in grease in a few places. It’s a factory one time application. The owner’s manual says to NOT remove it.

13. Good article!

    I would add a comment about training for new pistol shooters in that try to find a class by a qualified instructor for some one on one training to learn the basics in stance, grip, sight acquisition, and trigger control. That usually will help one shoot a whole lot better. The instructor should demonstrate proper technique and then observe and correct the student. Of course safe handling should be included. Many ranges offer such for little investment. I know my range offers 3 hours with an instructor for $99. It can be very frustrating and fruitless for a novice shooter to figure out by himself why he is shooting poorly.

14. Is there a convenience store nearby, just so you can get a feel for the weapon.

    • LMAO No way…
      You didn’t just say that.

      • trolls are in full swing today. A liberal caught wind of the democratic debate threads here and now they are doing what they do best… annoying patriots.

15. I have more than a few pistols and after taking my first one apart and seeing how dirty is was I always clean and lightly oil the same day of purchase. A number of my weapons have come from the manufacturer with a target indicating the accuracy of the weapon; those weapons have been the dirtiest even though they only shoot a few rounds. Not cleaning first and then going to the range and shooting 50-200 rounds is only asking for a cleaning mess especially if you use cheap dirty powder ammo. I have found SIG ammo to be my best

    • Cheap dirty powder ammo.
      Winchester Olin FTW

16. Something is wrong with comment section. My previous post does not appear.

    • different browsers, cache cleared ect

      Will not let me post a reply

17. Drink some scotch first.
    It totally helps to loosen up your nerves.

    • I do this before, during and after work, driving, school, and pretty much everything else.

      Works every time. Just toobk won. Phel bettr alredy.}

18. If you are just another idiot buying a weapon without prior training, just go and shoot yourself in the big toe.

    • Great advice from a “responsible” person. Good job buddy. Maybe get some life coaching yourself.

      • In second thought Alfonso, buy a Glock, it will do the work for you!

        • Fuck off. Are you such a troll you can’t use your own screen name? Mad cuz you can’t prove me wrong somewhere, now you think you are cute. Sad.

          Good advice though. Glocks are good guns.

      • Yes I’m sure you love them glocks.

        • Pretty sure you own…. zero guns.

      • For you, how about a knee cap or a femoral artery (you have two of each)? Bye boy scout.

19. Well If You Bought A 9mn, throw it in the trash and go get you a .45, ,. Hee hee,,

    • Along that line of thought I was going to say…if it was that Glock in the photo to trade it in for a CZ 75, good wheel gun, or Beretta.

      • Man I’ve shot shit with both of them , gimme that 230gr bb anytime.

20. What a timely article! I just purchased two handguns today. A Kel-Tec p32 and a Ruger charger takedown model.

    Thank you to Sean G. Your review of the p32 was very helpful. I spent about a year researching a replacement for my Beretta 21a. It was time to get a center fire pocket gun. The 21a is a great gun. I love the tip up barrel. But it’s a rim fire gun.

    The ruger charger take down model will be my first “project gun”. I’ve got plans for that one!

    • That Charger is a rad little plinker. My 5 year old absolutely loves shooting it suppressed and with the tiny bipod on a table it’s about the only gun that fits well enough to aim.

    • do not put that short barrel on your 10/ 22 takedown because… uh. something.

21. The way that chick in the photo is aiming that gun, watcha wanna bet she misses the target?

22. Personally, I’ve always felt that rule #4 is really a further breakdown of rule #2. Never pointing a gun at something you’re not willing to destroy, means knowing your target and what’s beyond it. Restating the same principle in a different way is just redundency.

    • I think the point is bullets can travel through things, especially paper targets. Knowing what’s behind means knowing what else the bullet can hit after it destroys what you aimed at (assuming you hit it in the first place).

      A f’rinstance: I’ve seen people trick shooting flying clays with pistols or rifles… they don’t seem to grasp the concept of trajectory and that the fmj projectile they just launched will land somewhere at velocity. That’s when the 4th rule would have been helpful.

23. I must have missed the part about an NRA Hunter Safety course, as a first thing to do. Investing time and words about lubricant arcana indicates to me the author’s ignorance of basic safety princiles.

    Go write a cook book.

24. RTFM…

    • some will follow your advice…but a lot could care less….would hope they would at least read the manual…and actually shoot it a bit…..

25. You bes get you some good boolits brah, don try and shoot that sh!t Ray-Ray give you when you boughts the the gun, dey might not be the right calibers.

    • Heh heh heh heh, in the chuckling laugh of a possum. That wuz funny

26. Most of them DO NOT come already cleaned and lubricated. In face, some even say in the manual to clean and lubricate the firearm before first use. Zero credibility, stopped reading at that point.

27. well, the only thing you absolutely must do before shooting it is to load it!

28. If it is going to be carried I like to have 500 rounds through it before I carry it.

    I have had some defects uncovered during the 500 round break in that would not have been good had they happened in a self defense situation.

29. First thing buy some ammo, lots of ammo. You’re going to need some trigger time.

30. Make sure it doesn’t explode!

31. First thing to do BEFORE buying a gun is examine your circumstances and BUY A SAFE to keep it from getting stolen.
    Break-ins are up and guns are second in priority for thieves after prescription drugs/opiates. Also, consider access by your children or visiting children.

    • A safe is most certainly not a prerequisite to owning a gun. For that matter, a permanent address isn’t a prerequisite. To the point that a person has considered their circumstances and decided a gun is for them, they’ve pretty well done the due diligence.

      Do you keep power tools, household chemicals, and your car keys in a safe? How about your swimming pool and 5 gallon buckets? All things that kill more children than guns…think about it.

32. What was the question? I just bought a new pistol? What to do next?…..
    Hummmmm…. How about buy ammunition for it? Go home read your manual ?

33. My first gun, a Springfield, I took straight from the store to the range, and it worked fine.

    All my other new guns got a cleaning first. One definitely had heavy grease inside the barrel. Glad I cleaned that one first.

34. I note, with a little concern, that no one has specifically mentioned a safety inspection. Over the years I’ve seen everything from a Mossburg with the locking recesses cut too shallow to retain the lugs under firing pressure to a NAA mini revolver in which the rifling stopped half way through the barrel leaving an obstructed bore. I once ‘repaired’ a new in box SW Bodyguard.380 that came from the factory with the magazine protruding over an inch too far due to a lump of polymer slag attached to the internal part of the mag catch so large it wouldn’t allow a magazine to be seated (the fix was to cut it away with a pocket knife, but there is no way this pistol was test fired at the factory as the included literature attested).

    I’ve seen guns from major manufacturers that even came with shot targets attesting to their accuracy that were in such condition as to make firing quite impossible.

    While I’m inclined to say the first thing to do with a new gun is buy ammo and shoot it, experience has taught me to give them a good once over first to ensure they are safe to fire.

    Furthermore, for my own protection, I never consider a gun to be a weapon until I’ve seen it loaded, fired and cycled.

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