How to break in a pistol

[dizzy]

this is what I do,

unpack the pistol, tear it down and clean the factory goop off, soak it down with breakfree clp, let sit over night so the rust protection and lube can soak into all the nooks and crannies, then blow it down with air and wipe clean then next day, then relube all the main contact points again with breakfree clp, then cycle the action 200-500 times, pull the trigger a few hundred times, take a paint stir stick and use it to cycle the magazine spring up and down (which was also covered in clp) about 200 times, load her up and take it to the range.

cycling the action by hand simply does what shooting 500 rounds would do, which is to smooth out the machining marks and cycle the springs, which can often be too stiff from the factory. So far every single new pistol I have done this too has given me years and many rounds of great service. As for breaking in the barrel? just shoot it.

this is for new pistols, used, just get cleaned lubed inspected and shot.

 

[TDC]

Maybe he's talking about the pistol going full auto. I suppose it's a reasonable precaution, especially with a used purchase. Except, for that purpose, you should load two rounds.

To the OP - Break-in, no, not really. But it IS a good idea to make sure there is nothing wrong with the pistol before firing it. Barrel obstruction, dirty diaper inside the frame, who knows? I've seen some pretty dirty actions straight out of the box. So, a clean and a bit of lube is good, but only as necessary.

So where's the problem if it happens to run away on auto? Muzzle control should be present no? The likelihood of such an event with a QUALITY firearm is near zero.

Nope, I'm not kidding. When I get a new gun, I'm going to inspect it and clean it; I'm going to verify for myself that the gun is good to go. Just like handling a firearm that somebody else handed over to you, you're going to assume it's loaded until you PROVE it safe.

Likewise, I like to be systematic in terms to evaluating the gun's performance and reliability. If you trust that your brand new gun has been 'designed and engineered to function' then feel free to go to war/police duty/competition with it right out of the box. Me, on the other hand, I'd like to shoot several thousand rounds through it and see if I can trust it first.

I don't PROVE anything. I exercise the fundamental four rules, not the ignorant government method. All guns are always loaded, so you can't PROVE it to begin with.

As for trusting the engineering of my firearms. I do, without question. I agree a field strip and a cleaning doesn't hurt, but anything more is just mental masturbation. I know what I buy will run and perform, when I shoot the sh*t out of it. Haven't been disappointed yet.

TDC

 

[bcode]

Nope, I'm not kidding. When I get a new gun, I'm going to inspect it and clean it; I'm going to verify for myself that the gun is good to go.

Niobe: Why do you do that?
Ghost: Do what?
Niobe: Check your guns.
Ghost: You never know.
Niobe: This is a program, they're loaded the same every time.
Ghost: Hume teaches us that no matter how many times you drop a stone and it falls to the floor, you never know what'll happen the next time you drop it. It might fall to the floor, but then again it might float to the ceiling. Past experience never proves the future.
Niobe: So...?
Ghost: So, you never know.

 

[alpining]

So where's the problem if it happens to run away on auto? Muzzle control should be present no? The likelihood of such an event with a QUALITY firearm is near zero.

I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing uncontrollable full auto. No idea what it would be like to try to control in a snappy pistol, hope I don't find out.

But yeah, it's not something I lie awake at night worrying about.

And I am TOTALLY with you on the folly of PROVE.

 

[dealwithit]

hmmmm i never really thought about the whole loading only 2 rounds the first couple mags incase of a malfunction, that mainly being a full auto incident. that wouldnt be possible with a revolver, but if it happened with a .45, or heck a DE .50, that would not be something i would ever want to have happen while not expecting it, even while having a firm grip and firing in a safe manner. im really glad i just read that, that is a bit of forsite im glad i have now, thank you.

 

[Sambaru]

I don't PROVE anything. I exercise the fundamental four rules, not the ignorant government method. All guns are always loaded, so you can't PROVE it to begin with.

TRUTH. The S of ACTS and PROVE are the opposite of true safe gun handling skills.

 

[TDC]

hmmmm i never really thought about the whole loading only 2 rounds the first couple mags incase of a malfunction, that mainly being a full auto incident. that wouldnt be possible with a revolver, but if it happened with a .45, or heck a DE .50, that would not be something i would ever want to have happen while not expecting it, even while having a firm grip and firing in a safe manner. im really glad i just read that, that is a bit of forsite im glad i have now, thank you.

The chances of a run away pistol out of the box(or ever really) is about the same as it kabooming in your hand. Load it, shoot it, and stop worrying about it.

TDC

 

[Dr.K]

The chances are so Nil that anything would happen but it is just a precaution. What if there is a defect in one of the parts that causes a catastrophic failure. I know highly unlikely BUT IF IT DID happen its better to have an empty mag instead of one with live rounds in it. Yes Im a Nancy and I should pull up my skirt but its a personal thing. Any brand new, or new to me gun I get has a handfull of rounds fired off one at a time.

 

[TDC]

The chances are so Nil that anything would happen but it is just a precaution. What if there is a defect in one of the parts that causes a catastrophic failure. I know highly unlikely BUT IF IT DID happen its better to have an empty mag instead of one with live rounds in it. Yes Im a Nancy and I should pull up my skirt but its a personal thing. Any brand new, or new to me gun I get has a handfull of rounds fired off one at a time.

Live ammo outside of the chamber is near harmless. It is the strength of the chamber and the directing of energy that makes cased ammunition function/dangerous. If the gun detonates, the mag will likely fracture and yard sale the contents, not create a sympathetic detonation, which as discussed would be harmless anyway.

TDC

 

[BLACKBRIAR]

I don't think it has been mentioned but, grab some ammo and shoot as much as you can in one day.

Enjoy your purchase.

 

[JoshB0Z]

Easy.Just bring as much as ammo you have to range and go home with a empty bag.