I took delivery a week ago but haven’t fired yet. Going to the range on Sunday.

I know with most pistols (including my M&P 9) the recommendation is to “clean” before using, which for me is usually just a CLP soaked patch through the barrel to get any dust etc.

Do I need to do that with my new AR or can it be fired as is new?

I would disassemble, clean, and then lubricate as per the instruction manual. You may be surprised how much unknown junk you get out of a brand new firearm.
In direct response to your question, yes, it can be fired without cleaning, but I would not do it.

I don't know anything about AR's.... BUT I can tell you that the general advice is to CLEAN THE DARN THING before firing ANY GUN.... A short story: Several years ago, I was at the range shooting my single actions (yup, I'm OLD), when two or three young men came with three new rifles still in the box. I noticed, as they were unpacking, that they were AR type weapons, so I immediately began packing-up my gear and getting outta there. As I was leaving, one of the rocket scientists asked me if I knew anything about their rifles. I told him 'NO'. He said that they can't get a bullet in them.... any of the three. I went over (cautiously) to see what they had. He opened the action of one of them and I saw what looked like a piece of cardboard sticking out of the chamber. I carefully reached over and pulled on it. Out came about three feet of spiraled cardboard that evidently had been used as some sort of 'packing material' in the cardboard. ALL THREE of them had the same issue. I asked them to wait until I was on my way home before they loaded up and began blasting. YES, I recommend cleaning all firearms before firing..... No one can be so busy that they don't have time for a little housekeeping :-)))))
IMHO as always,
J.

Yes, clean and lube it before going to the range.

Directly from the M&P Safety and Instruction Manual:
- Before using your firearm for the first time it should be cleaned.
- Your firearm was treated at the factory with either a preservative or oil to protect it against corrosion during shipping and storage.
- etc.....
In the manual I have it appears on page 38. A couple years ago it was way up front.
It is advisable to read the manual for any new firearm.

When i picked up my new Sport 2 this summer (my 1st AR) i gave it a cleaning.... not just as that’s what i have done with all my guns but it gave me a chance to become a little more acquainted with the components and basic operations of it.
The gun itself wasn't too bad overall but spending a little time with it before its range visit seemed worth it to me.

I think you missed a good opportunity to educate some new firearms owners not only about basic maintenance but also safety issues as that apparently concerned you.

Might even have included a pitch for the NRA and the Second Amendment.

I just bought a used MP15 Sport II. I haven't fired it yet but this weekend I spent time learning how to take it down and then clean it. It was definitely time well spent. I wouldn't want to fire anything I haven't personally seen. And while I'm relatively new to ownership and cleaning after cleaning everything I have this weekend I would urge everyone to clean before they fire a newly purchased used firearm. There is definitely gained confidence in going through the process.

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Every firearm that comes into my possession, either new or used, gets field stripped, inspected, cleaned and lubed before I fire it.

I lube my ARs with Breakfree LP because it’s more viscous than CLP since it contains no cleaning solvent.

+1. This happened to me the one time I didn’t clean a firearm before shooting it. I gave a new Colt LE6920 to my oldest daughter when she came home on leave. It was a gift so I wanted it new in the wrapper (and I’d never seen anything in the bore of a new AR before). We figured things out when it wouldn’t (thank God) chamber a round. I wasn’t new to AR’s either (in fact I learned to shoot with an M16A1 in BCT & I served as a LE Firearms Instructor).

Bottom line: Always clean a firearm before firing it for the first time.

As others have already said, clean and lube...then enjoy it.

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642-1, M&P15 TS

Wonder how much prices would go down if they quite putting owners manuals in the box? Apparently very, very few read them.

Because 1st time AR owners come to forums like this for the answers. Apparently reading the owners manual takes up too much of their time.

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How many guns are too many?