What to do when you get your new airgun? – Part 1

This is a very common question that I get all the time. What do you need to do when you get your new airgun? There are some who would say that you need to completely dismantle it and rebuild it. Others will say that you need to take it out and immediately put 200 pellets through it. Well, over the years I’ve come up with a decent routine that I’ll share with you on how I handle a brand new airgun.

Inspect the packaging

A lot can happen in shipping. Most recently I received a brand new Trail NP2 and did NOT closely inspect the rifle prior to taking the first shot. I noticed the packing had been damaged and the muzzle end of the rifle had almost poked through the end of the box. Anyway, I took a shot and wound up blowing the suppressor components right out the front of the gun. They had been bent due to the damage and well… that was that. Had I paid closer attention to the condition of the packaging and the rifle, I may have been able to prevent that from happening.

In my last article about “If I had it to do all over again,” I talked about the RWS 34 as perhaps the best “first” airgun for any new airgunner. Going on that premise, I ordered an RWS 34 Classic in .177 caliber. We’ll get into the features and benefits a little later. For now, let’s get on with the process of checking out your new airgun.

Read the… what is that called again?

If you’re brand new to guns and/or airguns you may already be inclined to take the manual and read it cover to cover. However, if you’re familiar with either, you may feel inclined to think it appropriate to simply skip this critical step. Don’t! So many times airguns are returned simply because the owner’s did not take the time to simply read the instructions. Some airguns have very specific ways they need to be operated and not doing so can not only ruin your gun, but also void your warranty. A good example is the habit of dry firing. There are some airguns that you CAN and others that you CAN’T. Dry firing a spring or gas ram gun can very quickly and easily damage the main seal, spring / ram, and other internal components. Some guns are totaled by a single dry fire event. The manual should also let you know the basic maintenance schedule for the product. If it doesn’t clearly state one, don’t assume. Get on the phone or manufacturer’s website and ask them what’s required for proper maintenance so that you keep your new purchase in good working order and maintain the warranty.

DO NOT RELY ON THE INTERNET for “how to’s” on your airgun. Case in point. While working service for an airgun manufacturer I received a “defective” airgun. The airgun was not producing the power the owner believed it should. Regardless of the fact that they did not have a chronograph to verify their belief, they simply pored oil down the transfer port because they read on the internet that it would increase the power. Oh.. it will.. for 2 or three shots as the gun diesels and then self destructs. Not only did it NOT solve the problem, it blew out the main seal and completely voided the warranty. Stick to the manufacturer’s manual. If it’s not clearly stated, then get clarification BEFORE you try anything. It’s worth taking that little bit of extra time to make sure.

Examine the rifle 360 Degrees

Once you’ve looked over the packaging, and as long as there’s no major damage, it’s time to look at the airgun itself. Examine all the critical areas such as the stock, the sights if so equipped, the trigger guard and trigger, and the muzzle. If there’s anything that looks out of place, contact the vendor or manufacturer so that it can get addressed immediately.

Before I start taking any shots, I like to check the stock screws on spring / gas ram guns. These guns have a lot of recoil and any looseness in the screws can cause you major accuracy issues. The RWS 34 has 3 screws that need to be checked, two forestock screws and one behind the trigger guard. You’ll want to make sure these are secure before going any further.

Time for some initial shots…

Once I’m through all the “pre (pellet) flight” procedures, it’s time to take some initial shots. And this is exactly where we’ll pick things up in Part 2 of “What to do when you get your new airgun?”

Questions or comments? Hop on the chat and let us know what you’re thinking about. We’d love to hear from you!