Newbie Question

Gelicious · February 5th, 2006, 10:26 AM

OK now I'm getting my XD 45.acp this week. Next weekend I'm going to take it out for the first time. Ive never owned a NIB gun before. What should the break in period be? And what are somethings NOT to do to it until its had a few hundred rounds through it?

Also I plan on getting an extra mag for it so i have 3 total. One for the gun, and two for the mag holder that comes with it. I probably wont carry the mag holder. But When i go shooting or camping or hiking here in Central Oregon, Ill probably carry it with both clips fully loaded. My question is. I notice that most ammo departments of gun shops offer "shot shells" Bullets that are tip filled with shotgun bird and snake bb's. Would firing those through the XD cause damage to the barrel? I'm not sure if the barrel of these are grooved to cause the bullet to spin or not but if they are it seems to me that the BB's would cause damage?

rocky · February 5th, 2006, 10:33 AM

I would lightly oil the gun before shooting it. Carrying back up spare mags is a good idea, unless you are a great shot and never miss. Shot shells (soft lead BB's)should not hurt the gun, but very well not cycle the action. A good scrubber /cleaner and a brass brush shold be able to remove any lead fouling.
Enjoy your new XD

Bud White · February 5th, 2006, 10:35 AM

Rocky hit most of it .. and there Mags not clips

Redneck Repairs · February 5th, 2006, 10:40 AM

Personally i field strip a new gun and clean it , then relube with quality oil and or gun grease before the first range session . This gives me a chance to look over the action etc.. for any issues that QC at the factory missed ( like a commander series 80 that somehow colt forgot to mill the feed ramp on the frame i once bought ) . Then basically its the same as any other gun . I really recommend you don't get out the " electric pencil " and carve your initials in the slide until its well broke inn or a bit beyond

As for shot shells personally i wont use them other than in .22 revolvers to clean sparrows and other vermin out of the shop or granaries . That being said about the only damage they could even conceivably cause is leading of the barrel which just requires a bit of elbow grease and proper scrubbing to remove . hope that helps

Bud White · February 5th, 2006, 10:45 AM

Missed the shot shells part i wouldnt use them in anything but a 22 wheelie as said above

AirForceShooter · February 5th, 2006, 11:03 AM

Break in is normally considered to be 500 rounds. I like 1000 to be sort of sure.
Strip it. clean it, lube and then shoot the snot out of it. Actually, try to break it.

AFS

Gelicious · February 5th, 2006, 11:14 AM

Thanks guys. Ill probably stay away from the shot shells then. Rocky made a good point, I was wondering how they would work in the action because they didn't have the bullet on the tip to feed. just a crimped shell.
I slipped up and referred to them as clips...sorry but if you notice i called them mags the other times... LOL.. so take it easy!

P95Carry · February 5th, 2006, 01:47 PM

Most has been covered - but certainly a pre-shoot field strip always good IMO - it familiarizes you with internals a bit too. Do not over lube - less is more to a great extent.

Main priority I always mention is that bore is clean and oil-free - I know some folks who just load up and shoot - but if bore is oily it increases pressures.

Break-in ammo qty does vary somewhat gun to gun. In some cases I think 200 rounds is enough but for total reliability proving etc then maybe 500 should do with most guns. I know my SIG is now (even) better after about 1,000.

rocky · February 5th, 2006, 03:29 PM

I know my 1911 needed no real break in. 300 rnds without a feed problem, other than HP's with aftermarket mags.

PatrioticRick · February 5th, 2006, 09:39 PM

Real happy with my Wilson Mags

February 5th, 2006, 10:26 AM	#1
Gelicious Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Toledo, Oregon Posts: 360	Newbie Question OK now I'm getting my XD 45.acp this week. Next weekend I'm going to take it out for the first time. Ive never owned a NIB gun before. What should the break in period be? And what are somethings NOT to do to it until its had a few hundred rounds through it? Also I plan on getting an extra mag for it so i have 3 total. One for the gun, and two for the mag holder that comes with it. I probably wont carry the mag holder. But When i go shooting or camping or hiking here in Central Oregon, Ill probably carry it with both clips fully loaded. My question is. I notice that most ammo departments of gun shops offer "shot shells" Bullets that are tip filled with shotgun bird and snake bb's. Would firing those through the XD cause damage to the barrel? I'm not sure if the barrel of these are grooved to cause the bullet to spin or not but if they are it seems to me that the BB's would cause damage? __________________ I carry because I care. "An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject." "Cling to the Father and His Holy name, and don't go riding on the Long Black Train" - Josh Turner

February 5th, 2006, 11:03 AM	#6
AirForceShooter Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,157	Break in is normally considered to be 500 rounds. I like 1000 to be sort of sure. Strip it. clean it, lube and then shoot the snot out of it. Actually, try to break it. AFS __________________ Gun control is hitting what you aim at

February 5th, 2006, 11:14 AM	#7
Gelicious Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Toledo, Oregon Posts: 360	Thanks guys. Ill probably stay away from the shot shells then. Rocky made a good point, I was wondering how they would work in the action because they didn't have the bullet on the tip to feed. just a crimped shell. I slipped up and referred to them as clips...sorry but if you notice i called them mags the other times... LOL.. so take it easy! __________________ I carry because I care. "An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject." "Cling to the Father and His Holy name, and don't go riding on the Long Black Train" - Josh Turner

February 5th, 2006, 01:47 PM	#8
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,468	typo's - duh Most has been covered - but certainly a pre-shoot field strip always good IMO - it familiarizes you with internals a bit too. Do not over lube - less is more to a great extent. Main priority I always mention is that bore is clean and oil-free - I know some folks who just load up and shoot - but if bore is oily it increases pressures. Break-in ammo qty does vary somewhat gun to gun. In some cases I think 200 rounds is enough but for total reliability proving etc then maybe 500 should do with most guns. I know my SIG is now (even) better after about 1,000. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

February 5th, 2006, 09:39 PM	#10
PatrioticRick VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rigby, Idaho Posts: 4,691	Real happy with my Wilson Mags __________________ Μολὼν λαβέ USN/USAF Retired/Desert Shield/Desert Storm DAV Life Member NRA Life Member

February 5th, 2006, 10:33 AM	#2
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 13,083	I would lightly oil the gun before shooting it. Carrying back up spare mags is a good idea, unless you are a great shot and never miss. Shot shells (soft lead BB's)should not hurt the gun, but very well not cycle the action. A good scrubber /cleaner and a brass brush shold be able to remove any lead fouling. Enjoy your new XD

February 5th, 2006, 10:35 AM	#3
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gone from Here Posts: 17,375	Rocky hit most of it .. and there Mags not clips

February 5th, 2006, 10:40 AM	#4
Redneck Repairs VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,141	Personally i field strip a new gun and clean it , then relube with quality oil and or gun grease before the first range session . This gives me a chance to look over the action etc.. for any issues that QC at the factory missed ( like a commander series 80 that somehow colt forgot to mill the feed ramp on the frame i once bought ) . Then basically its the same as any other gun . I really recommend you don't get out the " electric pencil " and carve your initials in the slide until its well broke inn or a bit beyond As for shot shells personally i wont use them other than in .22 revolvers to clean sparrows and other vermin out of the shop or granaries . That being said about the only damage they could even conceivably cause is leading of the barrel which just requires a bit of elbow grease and proper scrubbing to remove . hope that helps

February 5th, 2006, 10:45 AM	#5
Bud White VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gone from Here Posts: 17,375	Missed the shot shells part i wouldnt use them in anything but a 22 wheelie as said above

February 5th, 2006, 03:29 PM	#9
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 13,083	I know my 1911 needed no real break in. 300 rnds without a feed problem, other than HP's with aftermarket mags.

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