basic handgun questions

[heidad01]

I always lower the hammer or dry fire guns after cleaning and before putting it away.

Logic, No need to keep them cocked while unloaded and sitting in the safe. Makes better sense than the other way around. I have done it that way for 50 years with no ill effects.

[CiccioC]

A few more tips on extending the life of your new firearm:
- skip Starbucks once in a while and support organizations like NRA and CRPA
- educate the anti-gun people around you
- vote
- come back to this forum a lot (these crusty old farts are an invaluable source of information)

Welcome to neighborhood. Good shootin' to ya!

[IVC]

Dry firing when clearing a gun is a safety protocol.

Springs won't get affected by leaving the gun cocked any more than magazines will get damaged by leaving them loaded (not counting side effects such as effect on feed lips of polymer magazines and alike).

When you're done shooting, you pull the magazine out, rack the slide, look into the chamber and (important) down the magazine well, you ease the slide forward and pull the trigger while pointed in a safe direction. This is how guns are cleared in competition and there is a reason for it - safety protocol. If it's a DA/SA gun, you don't decock it, you still pull the trigger. You're verifying the gun is empty, you're not playing with springs.

If you have a carry gun, you leave it loaded pretty much all the time. I have a 1911 on my CCW permit and it's been in condition 1 at all times except when shooting at the range. Same goes for magazines - loaded at all times except when actually shooting.

[IVC]

Yup, there is a reason for cleaning it the first time you take it to the range, although not everyone does it. After the initial range trip, you just check for obstructions before shooting...

[BigPimping]

I always dry fire before storage. I try not to do it too much because I've always wondered if it would negatively affect the firearm. Who knows? It's a very subjective opinion.

[Skip_Dog]

One more trigger pull is always good. Just be safe about it.

[Wordupmybrotha]

A lot of people do this because Hickok45 is a very popular Youtube channel. He does this because he's an old IPSC/IDPA/USPSA competitor and they require it before leaving a stage. Outside of that it's not necessary.

^^This

This is probably a super basic question, but haven't seen any info on this. After the slide is racked for clearing or inspection purposes is it nessesary to dry fire? I would assume not dry firing after racking would leave tension on the trigger mechanism and dry firing would relieve that.

Also I plan on going to the range, manual sais I need to clean the gun out before first time use. Is this absouletly nessecary?

Not necessary. Spring tension won't damage the spring or the gun. However, should dry fire after reassembly to function check it.

Should clean the gun before shooting the gun for the first time. The preservative oil from the manufacturer is thick and the gun may not cycle smoothly. Bore may have obstructions. Also, cleaning it allows you to learn about your firearm by learning how to field strip it in case you need to clear a jam at the range.