Newbie questions (about to buy my first gun)

[The Annoyed Man]

1. Are there any not-obvious etiquette rules when going to a gunstore? Obviously don't point the gun at anyone, check it to make sure it's unloaded, etc.. But is there anything that's not obvious? My local store seems to be really friendly folks (bought ammo, ear/eye protection there for classes and they were really nice).

Don't run around shouting "I have a gun!!!" Seriously though, don't be afraid to ask the salesperson to show you all of the controls, or to ask the salesperson how the controls on this pistol may differ from the controls on that pistol you were also looking at.

2. Once I buy the gun, is there anything I need to do before heading to the range and loading it?

I would spend some time at home simply practicing how to load/unload the gun, and practicing dry-firing it (using a snap cap if recommended for that pistol) to get sense of what the trigger let-off feels like, how the sights line up, how to safe/unsafe it, etc. In fact, dry-firing will help you to diminish the effects of the "flinch" you will almost certainly develop when you start to actually shoot the gun. Want to know if you have a flinch? Once you're at the range and actually firing, pay no attention to the slide locking back. Just keep firing it until pulling the trigger fails to yield a "bang." If, on that last trigger pull when the gun does not fire, you discover that you jerked the muzzle down a bit in anticipation of the recoil, you have a flinch. My advice to anybody I take to the range for their first time is - don't try to anticipate recoil, and don't try to fight it. The gun is going to recoil. Just go with it, and let it happen.

3. Cleaning.... I'll be honest, I'm not the cleanest person on earth. The car gets washed by God whenever it rains. My desk is cluttered and I have enough dustbunnies to form their own society. So, I'm not sure I'm going to be the type to spend hours cleaning the gun each time I go to the range. So, is there a way to regularly clean a gun that is both easy/quick AND good for the gun? Looking around the forums I've seen everything from millions of patches to a quick spritz with CLP and a boresnake...so yeah I'm a bit confused as to what might be the best way to go about this. I want to take good care of it, but I also know that I'm not going to be the type to spend a huge amount of time on it.

Like others have said, you don't have to clean the gun after every trip to the range. However, here are three very good reasons for doing so: 1) If you are using this gun for home defense or carry, or in any other capacity in which you are potentially staking your life on the gun's proper function, then clean it! It is the one way you have to be sure that it will function when called upon unexpectedly. 2) Particularly with a new gun, field stripping and cleaning after each usage will help to familiarize yourself with how the gun works internally, and how the parts all fit together. And 3), if your gun breaks, it will not be when it is not being used. It will break from being fired. Cleaning after each range trip is what gives you the chance to make sure that you don't have a bent or broken extractor, or a slide stop pin with a crack in it, or a crack in the slide, etc., etc. All of that being said, although I usually clean my guns the same day I go to the range, my son and I went pistol shooting last Sunday, and this morning (Friday), we still haven't cleaned our pistols. OTH, that will be done today.

4. Is there anything else a first-time gun buyer/owner should know? :-)

Thanks guys!

As others have said, you have in all likelihood embarked on a lifelong journey, and even more importantly, you will be creating a legacy for your children that will stand them in good stead. Nobody in my family had fired a gun since World War Two, when I inherited my dad's old 1911A1 pistol after he died in 1990, the same year my son was born. By the time my son was 6 years old, I took him to the range with a child sized .22 rifle and a box of cartridges. Almost 13 years later, he and I are regular shooting buddies, and it has added immeasurably to the depth of our father/son relationship and friendship. Today, 2 of the 4 ARs in the safe are his; 2 of the 3 bolt action .308s are his, and one of the 1911 pistols is his. His children will be raised right with regard to firearms in a way that I was not. And from that comes an interest in the meaning of our Constitution that is not common to most 18 year olds; an interest and sophistication in politics, the intricacies of how government works, and the importance of various social issues that is not common to most 18 year olds; and an understanding of what the relationship between a father and son ought to be. That is a legacy that I can rightfully lay claim to, and guns played a big, big, part in that.

Enjoy the trip.

[seamusTX]

Like others have said, you don't have to clean the gun after every trip to the range. However, here are three very good reasons for doing so: 1) If you are using this gun for home defense or carry, or in any other capacity in which you are potentially staking your life on the gun's proper function, then clean it! It is the one way you have to be sure that it will function when called upon unexpectedly.

I agree in principle, but there's one problem with this concept: If you clean your weapon at home, are you 100% sure that it is going to fire the next time you pull the trigger?

This isn't an idle question. I once forgot to reset the slide release. If I had fired the pistol before I noticed, the slide probably would have fallen off.

(There's another piece of newbie advice: When you're handling firearms or reloading ammo, focus! Don't listen to the radio, talk to others, or think about your problems. That's how people end up putting .40 caliber ammo in a 9 mm pistol, etc.)

I used to be able to drive 10 minutes to the range and fire a test shot. Unfortunately, my range washed away during Ike.

Almost 13 years later, he and I are regular shooting buddies, and it has added immeasurably to the depth of our father/son relationship and friendship.

This point can be made often enough: Everyone in the family who is old enough to exercise sound judgment can shoot. It is more of a family sport than anything I can think of. (OK, I'm prejudiced.) You can't play basketball with your grandmother or golf with your 7-year-old.

- Jim

[KC5AV]

(There's another piece of newbie advice: When you're handling firearms or reloading ammo, focus! Don't listen to the radio, talk to others, or think about your problems. That's how people end up putting .40 caliber ammo in a 9 mm pistol, etc.)

- Jim

Or in people.

[The Annoyed Man]

Like others have said, you don't have to clean the gun after every trip to the range. However, here are three very good reasons for doing so: 1) If you are using this gun for home defense or carry, or in any other capacity in which you are potentially staking your life on the gun's proper function, then clean it! It is the one way you have to be sure that it will function when called upon unexpectedly.

I agree in principle, but there's one problem with this concept: If you clean your weapon at home, are you 100% sure that it is going to fire the next time you pull the trigger?

Good point. You don't have to do your cleaning at home, just make sure you do it. Maybe do it at the range, and then fire a test shot to make sure? I've never done it that way, but it would address Jim's point.

[seamusTX]

Some ranges are set up so that you could clean your piece there. That's actually standard practice for bench-rest rifle shooters. Some ranges aren't set up that way. They have little space aside from the shooting benches.

Another solution is to clean your piece just before you go to the range, rather than after.

This potential problem is less of a concern as one gets experience and as long as one stays focused on the task at hand.

- Jim

[Excaliber]

If you clean your weapon at home, are you 100% sure that it is going to fire the next time you pull the trigger?

This isn't an idle question. I once forgot to reset the slide release. If I had fired the pistol before I noticed, the slide probably would have fallen off.

My solution to this issue is to have a clean, organized bench area to work on.

I spread out two double sets of paper towels (one immediately in front of me and one behind it). Cleaning tools and chemicals go on the left rear towel. Cleaned gun parts go on the right rear towel. Dirty gun parts go on the left front towel. Parts are cleaned one at a time on the right front towel, and then moved to the right rear towel.

When they're all clean, I put the gun back together again with all the parts on that right rear towel, check to verify empty, and function test the gun while pointed in a safe direction.

This procedure ensures no missing parts, and any reassembly errors are detected before the gun is placed back in service.

With autopistols, I clean everything every time. It takes almost no extra effort to do so, and dirty and unlubricated slide rails are asking for trouble when you can least afford it. Wiping out the inside of the slide and frame takes only about an extra minute, and helps give me confidence that it'll work when called on.

I clean my guns after every firing session, without fail, usually on the same day. If it's not be the same day, it's never more than 2 or 3 days later.

[bdickens]

I've found that the more often you clean your guns, the easier they are to clean.

[longhorn_92]

I've found that the more often you clean your guns, the easier they are to clean.

The more you clean them...the more you WANT to dirty them up again!

[newTexan]

Lotta good replies.

One guy asked what lead me toward glocks and XD/XDm guns.. Short answer is that I fired a bunch and liked those. They also have the reputation of being reliable even with less than perfect cleaning. I fired a full mag through about a dozen guns all on the same day and the Springfield XD was the best feeling of the polymer guns. Glocks are good too, but I wasn't as happy with the feel of the trigger.

As I said before, I'm definately getting the impression that I don't have to be overly worried about cleaning, which is nice. I'm still searching for good, relatively quick ways to keep the gun happy.

Has anybody tried Break Free CLP. I had one PM that recommended spraying everything down with CLP and wiping it off, using a toothbrush to hit any areas that still look fouled and that would be all I'd have to do. Anyone have any experience or thoughts on that?

[seamusTX]

Many people swear by BreakFree CLP.

I don't use it only because it is rather expensive. And I've already admitted that I'm a slob.

- Jim

[bdickens]

Break Free!

[seamusTX]

If you ever have any kids around, it would be a good idea to get a bedside safe.

Not only kids. If you frequently have more visitors than you can keep your eye on at once, you need to be sure that all weapons are secure against unauthorized use or theft.

You hate to think this kind of thing would happen, but over the years I've had friends and family tell me that after a party, something valuable went missing permanently.

If you don't want to install a full-size safe for whatever reason (e.g., you live in a small apartment) you get a cheap lock with every new handgun purchase, and that will at least slow down anyone who tampers with the piece.

- Jim

[Excaliber]

My take on the two best gun cleaning products out of the current bunch available are:

Hoppe's Elite Bore Cleaner

Gunzilla (which also serves as a good lubricant like Break Free, but, unlike the aging Break Free formula, you don't have to shake it up to make it work)

They are virtually odorless do as good a job as the old heavy duty solvents like Shooter's Choice did in years past.