I just bought a new mossberg 590 for the big day.how much oil should I put on the bolt and what have you?thanks!

-- new y2k gun owner (howmuchgoo@lube.com), April 26, 1999

Answers

Use CLP BreakFree. When you are down, wipe the shotgun down with a dry, clean, soft cotton cloth. It should feel dry to the touch, but there will still be a thin layer of oil on the metal. Repeat monthly. Clean after every firing. Please be safe.

Regards,

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), April 26, 1999.

New, put enough oil on the gun that it will be so slippery that you will never be able to pick it up.

If you don't like that option, then mix one drop of oil with one cubic yard of concrete, 3000 psi, 4 inch slump, set gun in middle of the one yard pod and leave it until the Big Day.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), April 26, 1999.

most people tend to OVER OIL guns. use sparingly!

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), April 26, 1999.

This is going to be one of the Worst parts of Y2K. Take the gun back to the store or get YOUR BUTT into a gun SAFETY CLASS MR. or MRS. new y2k gun owner. Crap I hope you don't have KIDS in your house!

-- OLD GUN (OLDGUN@!#*.con), April 26, 1999.

Some of you people really suck. The guy has bought a new weapon, and instead of answering his legitimate question as Decker did, you imply that he shouldn't even HAVE the weapon, or else he must attend a gun safety class. What garbage. Don't you think people realize that there is a danger inherent in firearms? Hell, the people who should attend safety classes are the ones I see driving every day. They kill a lot more people.

New, just ignore the gun-culture idiots who want you to attend yet another class so that you can be acceptable to them. Keep a light coat of CLP on the bolt and on the slides if it's a pump gun, and store it where the kids can't get at it. Read the manual and follow all safety instructions, and if you've got kids, get a trigger lock for it and keep the key on your person at all times. Simple - no f**cking "classes", either.

-- classesmyass (they're@ll.authorityproud), April 26, 1999.

New, I may not have been specific enough. Build a form for the concrete, a cube 3 ft. on each side. Put half the concrete in the form. Lightly oil the firearm. Install a trigger lock. Place half the remaining concrete over the weapon. Then place trigger lock key in the concrete and add remaining concrete over the top. In 24 hours, remove forms, wet concrete and cover with 6 mil. plastic sheeting for one month. You're all set.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), April 26, 1999.

Puddintame, please reread. 'new' said "shotgun", not "chastity belt."

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), April 26, 1999.

When I did my military service, the oath was to uphold the Constitution of the United States... the whole Constitution. The last time I checked, a law-abiding citizen has the right to keep and bear arms.

We are not a free society if others pick and choose our "freedoms" for us. The person buying this shotgun may or may not behave in a responsible manner. Asking how to take care of the weapon is not a bad start. The challenge of liberty is to allow this person the opportunity to exercise his rights. Until he fouls up, we are obligated as a society to respect those rights. You may not like it; you may exercise your right of free speech and say so. After that, I am not sure what we can do but pray no one gets hurt.

To the original poster, I will pass on the advice my father gave me many years ago. Don't load a weapon unless you plan to shoot. Don't shoot unless you know what you plan to hit... and what will happen if you miss. Don't point a weapon at a man unless you mean to shoot him. And don't shoot unless you mean to kill him.

It seemed brutal at the time (I was young), but it made more sense as I grew older. You have to decide, before you ever pick up a weapon, what you are willing to do. You have to decide what is worth extinguishing another a human life.

For those who have carried a weapon in the line of duty, no weight is greater. After the novelty of your new shotgun wears off, I advise you to sit and think about what it means. Think about how to avoid having to stand in harm's way, about how you will carry the burden of your choices until your last day on the planet. Think about making a mistake... and having to live with it.

You see, friend, buying the shotgun just takes a photo ID and some cash. Owning one takes maturity, sense, and restraint. Be safe.

Regards,

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), April 26, 1999.

Mr. Decker, Escellent advice as I'm beginning to expect over your sig. However, you did manage to leave out one bit of the "be[ing] safe" item. This is that NEW really ought to have someone who is trained inthese things at his side for a bit to answer the inevitable questions that will come up. We can answer many of the questions, but for some, he really can't get the gun close enough to your or my monitor to get an intelligent answer.

NEW Do yourself and the rest of those you live with, and find someone who has taught shooting, and go shooting with them the first time out of thebox, OK? I have taken a number of folks from friends to CAP cadets out and helped them figure out this new hobby, (or new survival tool in your case).

And before anyone asks, CAP cadets were out with their cadre on a shooting familiarization weekend. My bride and I had been invited to join them. We all went through the pre-range safety talk by two of the cadre members, the woman doing most of the talking but the man doing enough (Bill did 3 tours separated by a 24 month vacation in the Hilton). After lunch, the lady an Bill wakled up to us, said "It's your range, have a great afternoon." They left a couple of non- com cadre there, who, when I made a suggestion said, "We thought you understood it's your range." Yup, Yup, it shore was an interesting afternoon, particularly after one of the Program 14's ran wild on us. LOTS o' fun.

Chuck

-- chuck, a Night Driver (rienzoo@en.com), April 26, 1999.

And before the "irresponsibility of the leaders" get going, I should point out that my bride grew up with a matched pair of Camp Perry Pistols on the mantle (the kind that ain't for sale). Seems that her stepfather's first wife won one of them one year (#2 female shooter, not sure what class), and her stepfather got his that year by loading all the match grade ammo they used for the matches. She is indeed the one who taught me the RIGHT way to shoot.

Chuck, for whom divorce has NEVER been an option (outside of the whole oath and given word consideration, I cain't run faster than a .... fill in a caliber)

-- chuck, a Night Driver (rienzoo@en.com), April 27, 1999.