If I use a gun cleaning kit on my Winchester, can you tell if the rifle has been used recently?

Question

A character in a story I am writing is claiming he uses his Winchester for hunting (trying to take the blame for his wife), but another character is claiming he can tell the gun has never been shot and, in fact, is new. Is that possible or do I need to come up with another scenario?

Answer 1

It's possible to tell, with the right equipment, if any firearm has ever been fired. Even a once fired, or factory "proof fired" firearm will leave chemical and physical residue of a discharge.

Answer 2

Only with microscopic studies and special chemical tests can someone tell if a gun has been recently fired or not. If a gun is fired and then thoroughly cleaned, the average person will not be able to tell if it has been fired or not. Come up with a different scenario.

Answer 3

Your scenario is believable, don't change it*.... All firearms are test fired at the factory before shipping to Dealers so it would be extremely difficult to tell between used and new without specialized equipment to do so*......