I've noticed from reading alot of the old threads that there are many of you who say there are things you do to a new gun. Every thing from Sanding and refinishing the stock to oiling the trigger, or polishing the bolt. What are the main things you do when you buy a new gun, before taking it to the range for a break in?

Ricky

STEP ONE: Clean the bore and chamber. Lightly lube the contact surface on the bolt lugs. Check the stock screws to ensure they are tight.
Mount the scope CORRECTLY ensuring the rings are in alignment so they don't put your scope in a bind.

STEP TWO: Take to range and shoot with factory ammo. See if you have any problems. Do a proper barrel break in.

STEP THREE: Fix any problems.

STEP FOUR: Go out and kill something.

If I may;
Step 3 1/2; Step back and admire the fine weapon you have.

Old Elk Hunter pretty well said it.

Read, understand, fill out and mail warrenty card. Then read operational and safety manuals.
Clean the bore (old habits die hard). Then it's pretty much up to you. Do you want to pull the action and barrel out and seal any bare wood in the inletting? Scope, sling, adjust trigger? Have fun, these are not "have to do's" they are "get to do's".

Most of my new guns are rifles that I'll end up using a lot at the range. On my last 3 rifles even before firing them I've taken them to the gunsmith to have the action glass bedded, barrel floated and the trigger worked on. It's an extra $200., but experience has taught me that this will have to be done anyway so having it done first means I won't have any interruptions while working up loads. I hate spending this extra money, but I've come to the conclusion that the manufacturers just aren't going to give us a decent product so we might as well spend the money and grumble a bit in the process. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I'm with Cal on this one . Unfortunately most factory guns are built to a price , not a standard .I solve some problems that are almost bound to be there on the average factory gun before they get to cause me stress . You'll start your shooting with a firearm you have a degree of confidence in .
Of course if you spend enough in the first place these jobs will have been done at the factory - but you're not talking about a couple of hundred dollars extra .

I tell my customers to clean the barrel and then shoot the rifle before we do anything- a POS is a POS -send it back and get a different rifle- something you can't bo if you have been working on it. If the rifle seems to shoot fairly well or sometimes quite well- then do the trigger, bedding, muzzle crown, lap your scope rings, match prep some brass, and load up some ammo for testing- chances are you then will be able to shoot some fantastic groups with consistency- one good group doesnt' mean anything other than you got lucky. A varmint rifle that shoots 20- groups that avg .5 is much better than having 1-.250 group and not wanting to show anybody the rest of the targets. Always keep in mind what the intended use for the rifle is when looking at group size and deciding if the rifle is accurate enough to do the job.

DuaneinND,

You have a PM.

Jim