who doesn't buy a new gun, run home and detail strip it, then get on the internet and post "I just bought this new gun and it must be broke because when I took it apart I found __________________ (fill in the blank) was a) chipped b) discolored with carbon c) excessively worn d) had little flakes of brass on it e) et cetera f) so on g) so forth. Should I send it back to the manufacturer?" before even bothering to shoot the thing?

I don't buy new guns.

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Insert short witty words here

yup............

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Go big or stay home

The internet does not discern experience nor wisdom. Posts of the type you describe are sometimes a beating to read.

Out
West

I dont either, but I do remember the time I bought my ex`s wedding rings. After the honeymoon she said this looks a little tarnished, I will clean them up. Soon I heard a shriek. She found some initials and a date on the inside band! They were used! We took them back to the jewelery store and with her ragging on the owner and him apologiseing profusely, I felt sorry for him!

Ya' mean da guy that just bought a NIB .......CTG, SN ABC1234 and wants to know when it was made, and wants to know if it is used because there are three black rings on the cylinder face??????

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Yup, it's painful. This forum has gotten so big you have no idea what the age, experience or mentality of some posters are. I guess that's the price for growth.

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Dick

Or guys that buy a M1911A1 and immediately "improve" it with new sights, safeties, triggers, grips, or anything you can figure out how to hang off a Picatinny rail...

On the other hand, fellas, it's a good thing that novices come here for advice. We all have differing levels of experience with firearms, specifically S&W revolvers. I treasure the copious amount of information and priceless advice that can be had here. My first cautious post concerned my 1927 .32 Regulation Police. The responses were knowledgeable, precise and welcoming. That being said, there are some posters who use our knowledge base as a reference source instead of researching for themselves. That can be a bit tiresome.

Usually true, but there are some of us who are obviously dumb-butts.

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Georgia On My Mind

Way back in the dark ages when I was new I couldn't wait to get to the range. The field strip could wait until after the first firing. Detail strip, it took a long time for me to get around to that.

Oh, the other one. "I just bought this new________. I went home and took it apart. When I put it back together this funny looking metal thing was left on the table. Do I really need it?"

When it comes to breaking down a pistol for the first time...

Fast Forward to 3min 50sec. Enjoy.

Ruger Mark III 22/45 - YouTube

It appears to me that a goodly portion of the members of this forum are "old heads"...that is to say that we grew up with firearms - using them often, maybe even daily. There are a LOT of very experienced cops, agents of every sort, ranchers, and experienced military folks that contribute daily.

We were all "young and stupid" at one time. Somebody somewhere took the time and had the patience to teach us about the tools of our respective trades and interests....as well as how to stay alive.

We who have interests in firearms - for whatever reason - have to take the time to teach the newcomers whatever their age and origin. Without them, our firearm heritage/ 2nd amendment rights will be taken from us and them and those coming along behind us.
Yes, I agree that some of the questions are silly. On the other hand there are NO stupid questions. There are, however, stupid people that don't or won't ask questions...and consequently sometimes people die.

What a hoot! Poor guy beat that snot out of that little Ruger.

Out
West

Any gun, new to me, either new or used, gets field stripped and cleaned after I read the owner's manual. After a close inspection of all components, it is put back together and then taken to the range and shot.

If I have issues after that then I have to decide what to do.

Two years ago I bought a Charles Daly hi-cap Commander sized 1911, made by Bul in Israel. A week after I bought it, Daly was out of business and Bul has never replied to any e-mails I've written. I did have issues, the gun would not feed or eject worth a rat. With no one doing Daly's warranty work and Bul non-responsive, I sent it to David Sams of Sams Custom Gunworks for evaluation and repair. He found 5 problem areas including a rough feedramp; fixed them all for $275 and now that pistol will shoot anything .45 acp put in the gun.

Only new gun I've ever commented about online was the new Delta Elite from Colt that I bought - very sharp edges on the slide - probably could shave with them...

We were all "young and stupid" at one time.

Geeser, if you were young and stupid only once, you're way ahead in the game. I was young once, but I've been stupid more than a few times. Probably got a few left to go.....unless the next one kills me.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Over on the 1911 Foums there have been two S&W rants regarding poorly rifled barrels or bad crowns. The crown was described as "gnarly". Must be a Machinists term?

Several suggested the guns should be SHOT...then if accuracy was poor...contact the Factory and send it back.

Both fellows decided to simply complain versus shooting the guns. The gun that supposedly had the bad rifling was found to be NORMAL. But that poster still ragged on S&W as the PRICE he had paid for that PC gun should have given him a PERFECT gun, etc, etc.

FN in MT

What exactly is a "new" gun? All my old ones work pretty well. Must have gotten them from the above mentioned guy.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Come on guys---help the newbies out---we all had to start somewhere. I used to manage a couple of large gunstores---you would be amazed at what people do when hand them their first gun. In the motorcycle game, we called them basket-cases because they would come back in baskets and wood boxes. In the gun game, they usually came back in cigar boxes. What gets into peoples minds that the first thing they should do is take apart their gun down to the last screw and spring? Why?

Speaking as a cert de fied newb, thank you all for allowing us to pick your brains!

Also, keep in mind that this format allows us to poise question that we might feel are too stupid to ask in person, hence you guys get more than you share of dumb questions.

I belong to a site like that...


Or...

Poster A: "I really like revolvers. What is a good one in .22LR?"

Poster B: "You should save a little more & buy a G****."