First range session with rifle

[Diabolus]

I purchased a brand new M1A rifle and I want to shoot it at the range tomorrow or Sunday.

I took it apart completely and lubed everything as one would normally do for a full takedown.

The original owner had this in a safe for about 4 years and never shot it, the only rusty part on the rifle was the main trigger spring which is common and it has been replaced.

I ran a few patches down the barrel and they came out clean, just a bit of grease around the muzzle brake.

Should I have any concerns with the condition of the barrel before I shoot this?

[jkasandiego]

You said it's brand new..nothing to worry about. Just shoot it.
Got mine last month from a fellow calgunner. This rifle shoots great.

[Diabolus]

Its never been fired, but its been sitting in a safe for 4 years. I was concerned with rust down the barrel that I can't see, but I am not sure if that would even be a problem.

[Fjold]

Take a tight white patch and push it through the barrel, if it doesn't come out with orange stains on it you should be good to go.

Also you can lock back the bolt and put a white piece of paper in the chamber area at a 45 degree angle so that it reflect a strong light up the barrel and then look down the bore. You should be able to see the barrel surfaces pretty well.

[Diabolus]

Thanks for the advice - I ran a patch through the bbl and there was no orange stuff.

[Paradiddle]

You should not oil an M1A - you need to grease only certain parts with Lubriplate.

The Garand, M1 Carbine, and M1A do not enjoy oil - don't use it.