Having just made a purchase (AR)

[Broadside]

Was just wondering what the "sequence" was for those who purchase a new AR (new Silent Cat owner here)? After unpacking, mounting the scope, and admiring, do you start the sight-in/shooting process for "break-in", do you immediately give it a cleaning (prior to shooting), or if you plan to tune (and replace the trigger), do you disassemble straight out of the box?

As it stands, accuracy isn't a concern until after I've completed tuning and cleaning. Is there an advantage to shooting a few hundred rounds prior to doing any work? I'm in the process of gathering the things I need to bring the rifle to it's maximum potential, so if it were beneficial to do so, in the meantime, I could be putting rounds through it if it served a purpose. If not, I could start to disassemble it and begin the de-burr process. It will probably take me a week or so to get the things I need (as well as make a spring compressor), as I'm still trying to determine what the correct parts required will be.

On a related note regarding the spring compressor, I'd bookmarked a post where a member had made a nice compressor (out of 1" aluminum round stock) which mounted in the scope rings. I liked the idea because of it being so compact, and space is a bit of an issue for me, but I wondered how much stress, if any, this style compressor placed on the rings/mounts, since I have no clue as of yet how much pressure is required to compress the spring for disassembly.

Thanks!

[Bullit]

Welcome Brian,
The first thing you need to do is clean the barrel of the assembly junk that they accumulate.  Use a non-petro citric cleaner (Goo Gone is very popular), as it doesn't attack rubber seals or plastic parts.
A length of weedeater line, cut to a point on one end, and a small ball end, will allow you to "skewer" patches on it, and lets you pull thru -  from the loading breech and out the muzzle end.  Pull a few with cleaner on it, and then dry ones until clean.  TIP:  you may need a length of drinking straw inserted in the muzzle, so the pointed end comes thru without snagging up.

Make sure the mounting screws are good and tight. You can remove and clean them, and then reset them with either BLUE Loctite,  or partially dry fingernail polish.  Tight screws are a biggy to accuracy.   Same with mounting the scope.

It will take a few hundred pellets for the gun to settle in.  You will clean again after, and finish out the tin.   I'd shoot it and not mess with it, until you're satisfied everything is good.    Pellets you ask?;  you can go to Wmart and buy Crosman Premeir Hollow Point Pellets inexpensively.  They are really a Dome Pellet with a little dimple.  Good Starter.
ENJOY

[Petey]

Hey Brian!
Welcome To The GTA!

You're on the right track. Go ahead and shoot that new AG for a bit. Make sure everything is in good working.
Then do what ever mods the heart desires and the wallet will bear.

As for using the scope rings (on a dovetail) to hold the unit in the compressor.....I wouldn't. As I recall the unit you are referring too utilized the rings mounted to a weaver rail....that as we know is fine.


Good Luck and HAppy Shootin!
Petey

[Bullit]

X2 on nix that compressor design.  Go to the GTA Library and theres some good instructions there on maintenance, tunes, trigger replacement, and a solid safe compressor.

[Broadside]

Thanks for the replies! Well, since posting, I'd forged ahead  I did put a few pellets downrange, just to get an idea of how things felt and sounded. Being a noob, it certainly seems there's room for improvement, and there's no problem hearing the "twang" of the spring. Not complaining, as tinkering is part of the reason for entering the hobby/sport.

After firing a few times, I'd decided to go ahead and tear things down, and after a few visits and searches back here (thanks to all for their info BTW), I've managed to turn the new AR into a pile of parts (and now have the piston removed). Fortunately, I was able to remove the spring with no problem without a compressor.

I took a jewelers loupe (eyes ain't so good) and inspected the piston seal, and while it's not totally wasted, there are a few nicks in it, and after running my finger inside, it's not hard to figure-out why. So, while it's out, a replacement will be installed after a complete de-burr.

Thanks for the input on the scope ring compressor, while it initially caught my eye, thinking about it brought concern regarding stress on the rings. Since posting, I've learned R&R of the factory spring isn't an issue (at least on my SC) sans compressor. That said, I'll still build one for future use.

Ditto on the thanks regarding the cleaning advice. Now that things are apart, I can work on getting rid of some edges left from the manufacturing process. Oh, and at the time I'd purchased the AR, I also added a couple tins of CPHPs, unbeknownst to me, one was in .22 caliber, so instead of returning them, I'm saving them and will just buy another AR to fit them 

[Bullit]

Taking out the spring isn't the worst of it