New Marlin 981T; clean and lube before first use?

[dnastrau]

Greetings!  I picked up my new Marlin 981T bolt action 22LR last night and was wondering if it is necessary to clean it before I start using it.  I know with my NEF Pardner shotgun the folks over in that forum recommended a full cleaning to remove any manufacturing related debris.  Is that necessary with the 981T?  It looks very clean inside the receiver as far as I can tell and the factory looks to have lubed everything.

By the way, I ordered the 981T through Dick's Sporting Goods and it was $159.99.  That was $20 less than Walmart.  It came in just over a week (even the manager was surprised at that price and how quickly they got it.)

Thanks,

Andrew S.

[KN]

Always clean a new gun before using.   KN

[dnastrau]

That's what I thought; I'll pull the bolt out and clean the bore and receiver before trying it out.

Thanks,

Andrew S

[Glanceblamm]

I think that with the rimfire class velocitys we are exempt from the possibility of a burr in the rifling picking up copper which may cause the next bullet to take a slightly different path down the bore which can happen with the hotter centerfires. (read barrel breakin-Another story)
It has been some time now that I checked my WMR for copper fouling (just as an experiment) and I was never able to get even a slightly blue patch out of the thing.

By all means do go ahead and clean that new bore of lube and such. IMO, a good gun vise along with a Bore/Action guide and a one piece stainless rod are a necessity. Hold that rod by the handle, It is designed to spin so that the Brush\patch combo's will follow the rifling instead of being Pushed/pulled across it.

[Keith L]

I guess I am just compulsive about these things.  All new guns (at least new to me) get taken apart completely and cleaned.  While at it I deburr everything, and make sure that proper lube is applied where needed.  I am always amazed at some of the junk I find inside some new guns.

[bscman]

Remember, new guns are shipping in a "packing grease" which fights corrosion while the firearms are boxed/stored. You want to get all that stuff off--and it's usually in the bore, too.
Shooting through that gunk can create a high pressure situation as well...bad news.

For those that have cleaned a lot of new rifles, I'm sure we could all tell stories of some of the "gunk" left in the action/bore. I've pulled some pretty sizeable metal shavings in the past--enough that would seriously damage the bore if you didn't clean it before shooting.

Long and short of it--always clean a new firearm, as well as any firearm that is "new to you."

What's 10 minutes?

[Keith L]

I am also one of those sickos that likes cleaning guns, so to me it is a pleasure.

[sphpkr]

Congrats on the 981T. Mines a sweet little shooter!