Shooting a pistol after a few years

[spirit4earth]

Weird question maybe, but it is it okay to shoot a pistol after it has sat loaded for a few years? Gun was/is in great condition, I just didn't go to the range during the pandemic (because of ammo prices), and I'm finally ready to shoot again. Advice? Thanks!

 

[gunny4053]

Unload it, clean it, dry fire it to make sure everything functions, then head to the range. Short answer, go shoot it.

 

[spirit4earth]

Unload it, clean it, dry fire it to make sure everything functions, then head to the range. Short answer, go shoot it.

Thanks! Will do!

 

[Dave Lively]

I would shoot it as is to verify it would have worked if you had needed to use it today. It would be very surprising if a M&P failed just because it has been sitting around for few years.

Exception to shooting it as is would be if there is a chance the bore is obstructed.

 

[Eric300]

If it sat there for 50 years you could pick it up and it'll function as it should. Assuming it wasn't kept stored underwater.....

 

[robertrwalsh]

Every once in a while they find a pistol, automatic rifle or even SMG buried under a pile of wreckage. The powers that be sometimes fire these weapons just to see if they still go bang after sitting loaded and cocked for 70+ years. They often do.

 

[Well Armed]

If it was stored in good conditions, I wouldn't even waste time cleaning it or unloading the mag. Take it to the range, shoot it, and clean it afterwards. I've owned over 100 firearms in the last decade and a half. I never even once cleaned a new gun before taking it to the range. I take it out the box straight to the range. I never had an issue, some people feel the need to completely dissect their guns before shooting them which IMHO is a waste of time and NOT necessary.

 

[murphydog]

If you are familiar with unloading, cleaning and re-loading the gun in question before shooting it I would do that first. To me, it would be the same as starting a car that has been stored for a few years; probably nothing bad will happen when you fire it up but why not check beforehand? And your gun doesn't have a battery to go bad.

 

[biku324]

I deliberately left two black powder 12 gauge cartridges in my great-grandfather's side-hammer double-barreled shotgun from 2011 until last summer. It said 'bang' with both shells.

 

[gun1]

Properly maintained guns should be "wet" - meaning oiled. You, of course, should clean a gun properly before oiling.

That said, if the gun is still visibly wet where it should be that is a good start. If you shot 50 rounds out of it then stored it without cleaning it then I would feel more comfortable field stripping and cleaning before shooting.

However, I have done much the same - shot a gun that had been sitting for a few years without "cleaning" it.

Also note that most manufacturers will give detail in the instructions as to the lube points. S&W usually cautions against over-oiling as the oil can collect debris (lint, dirt). I tend to keep up on the cleaning post-shooting and like seeing wet pistols.

 

[BE Mike]

Basic safety: Check that the bore is free from obstructions before shooting it. Critters can build nests and such in small places.

 

[spirit4earth]

Great input, everyone! Thank you!