First AR: What to do?

zualet · May 26, 2001, 02:15 PM

I recently assembled my first AR but I don't know what to do know? Should I take it to the range and have fun or are the things I need to do to make it ready? Background: I bought a PWA lower before they became illegal (CA) and recently recieved the Wilson Combat M4 upper as a birthday gift from grandma. Is it safe to shoot right now? Or, should I clean and/or lubricate it first? The barrel is carbon steel barrel and Wilson told me it did not require breaking in. Or, should I take it to someone to have it inspected first? (It is all new.) Any advice will bring me closer to enjoying my new AR sooner, so thank you for any advice.

Art Eatman · May 26, 2001, 02:51 PM

Well, I bought a box full of AR parts, years ago, and put it all together. Everything seemed to work okay; it dry-fired just fine. I took it out and shot it and it went Bang! with no problems...In other words, they're not real difficult.

It oughta have a very thin coating of gun oil on the moving parts...If the barrel has a shiny hole in it, shoot it.

Shooting will polish the barrel; it sure won't hurt it to run a cleaning rod with a dab of solvent--followed by a dry patch--every five or ten rounds for the first 50 or so shots.

I've shot many different brands of commercial reloads. From what folks say, here, about the only brand to avoid is "Wolf"; it's a dirty sort of powder...

FWIW, Art

Steel Rat · May 27, 2001, 04:11 PM

Haven't you shot that thing yet?

Point Blank · May 27, 2001, 04:56 PM

Here's what you do....clean it up,oil her down real good,then ship it to me for further testing.You can even send me a couple thousand rounds of various ammo if you want.Contact me at [email protected] for shipping instructions.

**4V50 Gary** · May 27, 2001, 06:23 PM

then headspace your rifle with a min & a max gauge. If it passes both test, if you live in the middle of nowhere, you can test fire it at home using a blank adapter and blanks. Of course, wear eye & ear when you try this. Otherwise, make sure the parts are lightly lubricated (barrel & chamber should be oil free) and go to the range. Sight in at 25 yards first and then go out to 100. Good luck and congratulations.

WalterGAII · May 27, 2001, 08:26 PM

The guy bought a complete Wilson upper. He doesn't need to screw around with headspacing, etc. He just needs to clean and lube it (I'd use Mobil 1, 15W50) and shoot a few zillion rounds through it. PLEASE, don't use any Wolf ammo in your new AR!!

Good Guy · May 27, 2001, 09:32 PM

You sure got a sweet, thoughtful and generous lady for a grandma.

Sounds like it's safe to shoot in CA if you registered it last year. If not, save it for a Nevada vacation.

May 27, 2001, 06:23 PM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	If you don't want to take advantage of PointBlank's generous offer... then headspace your rifle with a min & a max gauge. If it passes both test, if you live in the middle of nowhere, you can test fire it at home using a blank adapter and blanks. Of course, wear eye & ear when you try this. Otherwise, make sure the parts are lightly lubricated (barrel & chamber should be oil free) and go to the range. Sight in at 25 yards first and then go out to 100. Good luck and congratulations.

May 26, 2001, 02:15 PM	#1
zualet Junior Member Join Date: December 29, 2000 Posts: 7	I recently assembled my first AR but I don't know what to do know? Should I take it to the range and have fun or are the things I need to do to make it ready? Background: I bought a PWA lower before they became illegal (CA) and recently recieved the Wilson Combat M4 upper as a birthday gift from grandma. Is it safe to shoot right now? Or, should I clean and/or lubricate it first? The barrel is carbon steel barrel and Wilson told me it did not require breaking in. Or, should I take it to someone to have it inspected first? (It is all new.) Any advice will bring me closer to enjoying my new AR sooner, so thank you for any advice.

May 26, 2001, 02:51 PM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Well, I bought a box full of AR parts, years ago, and put it all together. Everything seemed to work okay; it dry-fired just fine. I took it out and shot it and it went Bang! with no problems...In other words, they're not real difficult. It oughta have a very thin coating of gun oil on the moving parts...If the barrel has a shiny hole in it, shoot it. Shooting will polish the barrel; it sure won't hurt it to run a cleaning rod with a dab of solvent--followed by a dry patch--every five or ten rounds for the first 50 or so shots. I've shot many different brands of commercial reloads. From what folks say, here, about the only brand to avoid is "Wolf"; it's a dirty sort of powder... FWIW, Art

May 27, 2001, 04:11 PM	#3
Steel Rat Junior Member Join Date: May 22, 2001 Posts: 1	Haven't you shot that thing yet?

May 27, 2001, 04:56 PM	#4
Point Blank Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2000 Location: Armpit of the South...Atlanta Posts: 516	Here's what you do....clean it up,oil her down real good,then ship it to me for further testing.You can even send me a couple thousand rounds of various ammo if you want.Contact me at [email protected] for shipping instructions.

May 27, 2001, 08:26 PM	#6
WalterGAII Junior member Join Date: November 7, 1999 Posts: 1,516	The guy bought a complete Wilson upper. He doesn't need to screw around with headspacing, etc. He just needs to clean and lube it (I'd use Mobil 1, 15W50) and shoot a few zillion rounds through it. PLEASE, don't use any Wolf ammo in your new AR!!

May 27, 2001, 09:32 PM	#7
Good Guy Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 1999 Posts: 638	You sure got a sweet, thoughtful and generous lady for a grandma. Sounds like it's safe to shoot in CA if you registered it last year. If not, save it for a Nevada vacation.