Just bought my first shotgun - what's the best way to break it in?
Hey everyone, I'm brand new to this and just picked up a used Remington 870 Express 12 gauge. The previous owner said it's only had about 50 shells through it. I've heard different things about breaking in shotguns - some say just shoot it, others say clean it thoroughly first. What should I actually do before I take it to the range this weekend?
1 Answer
Welcome to the sport! For that 870, I'd start by giving it a good cleaning - field strip it, clean the barrel with a proper solvent and brush, and lightly oil the action. Those Express models can be a bit stiff when new, so cycling the action a bunch while watching TV helps. Start with some light target loads like Federal Top Gun 7/8 oz at 1200 fps - shoot a couple boxes, clean it again, and you'll be good to go. How does the action feel when you work it now?
You need to be signed in to answer this question.
Sign in to Answer