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I will print out an exploded parts diagram from the www and proceed to disassemble the gun down to the tiniest last piece. I clean each part individually and look at it up close with a flashlight. Then I will put it back together and rub each piece with a cotton patch that has a little bit of light oil (FP-1, Shooters Choice, CLP, etc). If it passes a basic function test and I didn't find anything out of whack internally, it goes to the range with an assortment of ammo.
Yes, I go through this for every gun, even revolvers.

HighVelocity wrote:I will print out an exploded parts diagram from the www and proceed to disassemble the gun down to the tiniest last piece. I clean each part individually and look at it up close with a flashlight. Then I will put it back together and rub each piece with a cotton patch that has a little bit of light oil (FP-1, Shooters Choice, CLP, etc). If it passes a basic function test and I didn't find anything out of whack internally, it goes to the range with an assortment of ammo.
Yes, I go through this for every gun, even revolvers.

that is great advice.

The first thing I do is to track down an owners manual, or at least disassemble diagrams of a used gun, many can be found on-line with a little research. Then I will field strip the gun down to the furthest extent described in the manufacturers instructions and inspect every visible surface for potential defects. Some new pistols will automatically get a bit of feed ramp and chamber polishing as soon as they are taken from the box. I will NOT shoot a newly acquired gun that I haven't first learned how tofield strip and clean, and done the same. I do NOT have the mechanical ability, tools, or dexterity left in my fingers to completely dis-assemble a handgun, particularly a revolver, but admire anyone that does have and does use their abilities as such.

The mention of using the soft cotton patch for each individual part during inspection and cleaning brings up a question. Were you making a point that the cloth could be used to search for rough edges and burrs? If so, that's a great idea, and possibly using material from lady's nylon stockings would work even better for the task of finding those rough edges? Thanks for the idea

I'm not quite as thorough as HighVelocity, but I do strip the gun, inspect the major parts, lube, reassemble, and check for basic function before I head to the range.

On a Glock, I leave the copper-colored lube on for at least the first couple of boxes of ammo.

I bought a 9mm Mk III Browning HP a number of years ago, and as I ws going through the above routine, I noticed that the feed ramp wasn't as smooth as I like, so I polished that up with a Dremel before I went to the range. (Note, I said I used a Dremel to polish the feed ramp . . . for things like this, polishing does not include a grinding bit!!!)

Field strip. Clean. Shoot. Repeat.

Quick6 wrote:Field strip. Clean. Shoot. Repeat.

That's my routine too.

Fondle it a lot, then drool on it, dry fire it, fondle it some more...

Sadly, it usually stays hidden in my garage for a day or so until I can successfully smuggle it into the safe without getting caught by the wife.

Then, I wait until no one is home. I Make a big circle out of 9mm bullets, empty Jagermesiter bottles and burning candles. I lay the new gun in the middle of the circle, put on a t-shirt featuring the logo of the new gun and dance around it in my underwear while waving a coyote carcus and chanting wildly.

I pretty much follow the path everyone else does, except with particular emphasis on eluding the wife-unit!!

My most recent purchase (H&K USP9C) was typical of the general approach I use for pistols or rifles...

First, function-check/dry-fire once or twice before bringing it home from the FFL. Next, review the operator manual; although I've been shooting for a long time I still like to check-out the manual before doing anything else, just-in-case the particular manufacturer has any specific DO's or DONT'S for their products.

Then I field-strip the weapon, check the internals for that thick factory lube/grease, grit/misc. crap leftover from manufacturing, visible corrosion, etc. I then clean the weapon thoroughly, making sure to give all the internals/slide/barrel a moderate scrubbing with a nylon brush and BreakFree CLP. Then I clean the bore with BreakFree Foaming Bore Cleaner and a couple of wet/dry patch cycles. Sometimes there will be copper fouling present in the bore just from the factory test-firing process, so I make sure to get that squared-away from day one!

Finish up by lightly re-lubing the internals (also with BreakFree CLP), rails, slide, etc.; re-assemble and function-check the weapon again. Then it's off to the range!!

I think RtWingNut had the best answer yet.

pbandjelly wrote:I think RtWingNut had the best answer yet.

Nope...Somebody must have seen my YouTube video...

It actually involves sacrificing a dill pickle, and strumming a banjo...











Somebody's got their finger on the "thread" plunger of death...I can just feel it...I'm gettin' while the gettin's good...

I kiss it, and hug it and love it for evvvveeeerrr

Seriously, field strip, thourough clean and inspect, load, and shoot all the ammo I can.

after the initial fondling / drooling is done I do the following.

Field strip it and inspect everything. Get familiar with the inner workings of that gun and lube it up right.

Practice field strip and re-assembly until I can get it apart and together in less than 30 seconds. That usually only takes me about 30 minutes.

While I'm doing that I'm further learning how the gun is put together and any small differences that should be noted.

Dry fire with snap caps (ammo in another room) and get used to where my hands/fingers feel when in proper placement on the gun.

research holsters online

then go make some molten lead at the range, a LOT of it if possible.

I love the smell of gunpowder burning in the evening. :)