Rusty rifles

cactuscake

cactuscake

cactuscake

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Joined
22 Feb 2009
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Location
Bampton
Spotted that we have a few gun enthusiasts on here so perhaps someone might have a solution for me.

During the summer I'm a range officer at a children's summer camp in Ohio, we've got a bunch of smallbore .22 rifles that have to survive in an outside cabinet all summer. It often gets humid and sometimes shooting sessions get rained out as well, which has resulted in the barrels getting rust on the exterior.

I recently replaced our entire stock at some considerable cost with stainless steel rifles, but now these too are getting rust specks on the barrels. Have tried re-bluing (on the old, non-stainless ones), oils, various polishes, etc. Nothing seems to stop it!

Anyone got any tips on either how to protect the metal better against corrosion? Or how to make the air drier in an outdoors, wooden lockup?
 
Just wipe them down with an oily rag, if they're going to be stored for a long time, leave them wrapped in oily rags, if they get wet then make sure they're dried out before you wipe them down and store them.
 
fonzee said:
childrens summer camp and shooting .22s?!

only in america :D
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cactuscake
Gangster
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Buckingham Palace :confused:

BigglesPiP said:
It's a water displacer.
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It is. But it is not a water preventer. It is good for getting moisture out of an area immediately, but temporarily. You still have to oil the weapon to protect the metal.

edit: I remember hearing some time ago that WD-40 might also have an additive that breaks down the bluing. I don't know how true it is, but it has kept me from using it for over 20 years.
 
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al123 said:
I'll take it you clean them every time you use/handle them?
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They get a wipe with an oily rag twice a day (after shooting sessions) and a proper disassembled clean once a week. We use Remington oils, supposedly high quality, but even that seems to struggle keeping moisture out for a weekend when they're not in use.

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
Mustard apparently works.
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Knew that would be in the suggestions somewhere :D

JIM_BOB7813 said:
You can get little sachets that you place in the cabinet to help prevent rust, no idea how effective they are though.
http://www.vp90.com/VP90.htm
http://www.napieruk.com/guncleaning.html
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This stuff looks really good! Not having much luck finding a USA supplier though, and would prefer not to have to cart the stuff over there myself.

Raist said:
Oil (Break Free is best). Get a bucket or two of desiccant (Silica-Gel) for your storage area, also.
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Didn't realise you can get such big quantities of this stuff, or that it's reusable. Will look into sourcing some of this stuff.

Thanks for the tips everyone! Now to convince the director to release even more of his budget for range use... ;)
 
Raist
Location: The Motor City :confused:
Raist said:
I remember hearing some time ago that WD-40 might also have an additive that breaks down the bluing. I don't know how true it is, but it has kept me from using it for over 20 years.
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Not an issue for stainless barrels hopefully as they don't have any gun-blue on them anyway. Might be worth using WD-40 after rain, before using the other oils, I didn't know that it displaces water.
 
Sorry, I didn't know you were looking in the US. How did I miss the Ohio thing? :o

There is Dick's Sporting Goods, Outdoor World, and Cabela's are the best shot for desiccant, near the gun safe section. I'm not sure where the nearest one is in Ohio, but there is a Cabela's here in Monroe, Michigan that might not be too far. Where in Ohio are you?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...=froogle&cm_pla=1240490&cm_ite=0005567220673a
 
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The camp is near Carrollton (an hour south of Canton). I don't mind ordering stuff online for delivery, those silica gel cans from Cabela's look ideal.

It's the vp90 stuff I can't seem to find a US stockist for. But since the sachets last 9 months I could just get a couple here and pop them in my suitcase for when I go over.


P.S. I don't really live in Buckingham Palace, that's just what I tell the campers ;)
 
cactuscake said:
Spotted that we have a few gun enthusiasts on here so perhaps someone might have a solution for me.

During the summer I'm a range officer at a children's summer camp in Ohio, we've got a bunch of smallbore .22 rifles that have to survive in an outside cabinet all summer. It often gets humid and sometimes shooting sessions get rained out as well, which has resulted in the barrels getting rust on the exterior.

I recently replaced our entire stock at some considerable cost with stainless steel rifles, but now these too are getting rust specks on the barrels. Have tried re-bluing (on the old, non-stainless ones), oils, various polishes, etc. Nothing seems to stop it!

Anyone got any tips on either how to protect the metal better against corrosion? Or how to make the air drier in an outdoors, wooden lockup?
Click to expand...

Stainless steel should not rust surely ?

Also, aside from keeping the guns oiled, try getting some powder called a molecular sieve that draws moisture from the atmosphere and keep it in pots in the gun cabinet.
 
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