Bringing My New M&P9FS To The Range Today

View · by **TheRealSOB** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:18 am

Hey guys. This is my first new handgun and I'm wondering how I should go about my first time taking it to the range. I have a 100ct. box of Winchester white box and a 50ct. box of Federal Champion. Both 115gr (Walmart didn't have another variation that weren't defense rounds in stock).

How many rounds should I put down range my first time shooting this pistol? Besides the obvious, is there anything else I should be paying attention to the first time shooting the pistol?

I have a decent amount of shooting experience, but this is my first new handgun and I've never broke in or brought a gun out for the first time with family or friends before. I want to do this the right way. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

View · by **rugersol** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:42 am

RTFM! ... some guns require particular cleaning/lube prior to their first range trip! ... also, ya should be utterly familiar with all the controls ... and how to field-strip ... WHILST keeping the muzzle pointed downrange!

Ideally, ya'd have someone ... who ain't afraid to let ya know yer mishandling the gun ... to watch ya! ... ya'll most likely break the 180° ... several times ... pointing at other folks, along the firing line! ... and until someone yells at ya ... a sufficient number of times ... ya'll probly never stop!

If ya've never taken a basic HANDGUN (not hunters safety) course, BEFORE ya go to the range, would be a good time fer it!

I know some PTC instructors allow folks to "sit in" their class ... fer free ... but ya receive no permit! If ya can find one that takes some time to go over basic handgun safety, maybe they'll let ya do the same?! I only suggest that as, I see PTC classes offered far more often than handgun safety! ... otherwise, such a class would be money well spent!

As to rounds downrange, I'd say shoot as many as ya can afford to! :mrgreen:

View · by **TheRealSOB** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:47 am

Thanks for the advice.

I know how to handle a pistol safely. I've been shooting pistols since I was 12 or so. I've cleaned and lubed it already. My question in in regards to properly "breaking in" the gun. I didn't see anything in the manual regarding a first trip to the range...

View · by **rugersol** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:51 am

TheRealSOB wrote: properly "breaking in" the gun.

RTFM! ... clean ... lube ... shoot ... repeat!

How old were ya when ya took yer handgun class?!

View · by **rugersol** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:57 am

TheRealSOB wrote:I didn't see anything in the manual regarding a first trip to the range...

some guns come sufficiently lubed, from the factory! ... if it don't say it is, I'd lube it anyhow, per "regular maintenance"!

... still never hurts to run a patch down the bore!

... other than dry-fire and field-strip practice ... and good safety discipline ... ya s/b GTG!

View · by **TheRealSOB** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 9:58 am

I've never taken a handgun class. As I said earlier, I cleaned and lubed it already per the instructions in the manual. I was just looking for some advice on breaking it in...

View · by **rugersol** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:04 am

TheRealSOB wrote:I've never taken a handgun class.

that's too bad!

TheRealSOB wrote: I was just looking for some adviceon breaking it in...

I'm sure others will chime in with more detailed instructions!

View · by **mrShinola** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:06 am

I put 200-300 FMJ and 50 -100 hollow points thru mine before I consider them qualified to carry.

View · by **rugersol** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:06 am

TheRealSOB wrote:As I said earlier, I cleaned and lubed it already per the instructions in the manual.

sorry ... I'm having trouble keeping up with yer edits ... and totally missed where ya said that!

View · by **adoptedson** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:07 am

Shoot the snot out of it. Not much needed for break in unless manual says so. If you're cleaned and lubed you should be GTG.

The only thing I'd do if I were you is take more ammo.

Blast away.

View · by **Thunderjohn** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:13 am

The M&P's are good to go right out of the box.
They are sufficiently lubed , without being over lubed as some are. (Ruger, Taurus)
Just go shoot everything you have - 150rds is not a problem.
Clean it and lube it sparingly when you get back home.

View · by **popgun** on Sat Nov 17, 2012 5:59 pm

You should dry fire a few times to make sure everything works, Then load ONLY one round and test fire, then load ONLY two rounds and test again.
While it is rare, a new semi-auto can slam fire, and full auto can happen, and it is less exciting with only two rounds.
After that have fun and let gun cool between mags. for the first hundred rounds. Popgun

View · by **grousemaster** on Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:26 am

popgun wrote:You should dry fire a few times to make sure everything works, Then load ONLY one round and test fire, then load ONLY two rounds and test again.
While it is rare, a new semi-auto can slam fire, and full auto can happen, and it is less exciting with only two rounds.
After that have fun and let gun cool between mags. for the first hundred rounds. Popgun

Huh? I've been loading full mags and letting them rip with my new pistols...didn't realize I was being so unsafe.

View · by **AFTERMATH** on Sun Nov 18, 2012 2:17 pm

grousemaster wrote:
popgun wrote:You should dry fire a few times to make sure everything works, Then load ONLY one round and test fire, then load ONLY two rounds and test again.
While it is rare, a new semi-auto can slam fire, and full auto can happen, and it is less exciting with only two rounds.
After that have fun and let gun cool between mags. for the first hundred rounds. Popgun

Huh? I've been loading full mags and letting them rip with my new pistols...didn't realize I was being so unsafe.

It's not a bad practice, though I'm sure it's not that necessary with new pistols.

I always do this with used semi's - Primary concern being that some previous owner tried their shaky hand at a little trigger work and jacked up the sear. Last thing I'd want is some sorta LEO coming up behind me just as the mag unloads itself.

Generally, the only time you really need a 'break-in' regimen is when you're shooting for precision with precision equipment.
Otherwise, just go. Maybe strip it and check for any unusual wear after 50 rounds or so... Or if it malfunctions. That case, I'd probably strip-clean-lube and keep going. It's up to you.

View · by **Cavscout** on Tue Nov 20, 2012 4:00 am

I guess I wouldn't bother with that.

Advice I got from a gunsmith that does a lot of M&P upgrades said to lock back the slide for a week. I did that, shot and cleaned it, then locked it back again. I left it like that for a week. Also, fully load up all the magazines and do the same. This is supposed to "relax" the springs. Cycling, not compression, wears out good quality springs, so no worries.

For the gritty trigger and sticky slide release, I was told to work the slide and dry fire (literally) 1000 times using snap caps. I opted for a Apex trigger job instead.

This is probably pointless, but breaking in my new Shield I decided to run a boresnake through ever couple shots for the first few magazines. It's what is usually recommended for rifles, with no effect on handgun barrels I'm sure. Oh well.